Pu'u Menehune

View from Lanai - a horse grazing just below the trees

View from the front yard looking south east

Approach to Pu'u Menehune

Side yard

My writing desk

Chair on Lanai

Path leading to waterfalls

Shed on the west side

View of house looking North east (direction of BC)

Hill behind house

Looking into living room

Pristine Parlour/Living room

Joop happy at his computer station.

Life at Pu'u Menehune is pretty wonderful. I think a person could sit contented on the Lanaii morning, noon and night and never tire of the bird songs, the horses and foals galloping on the hill tops, and the occasional view of Mauna Kea looming like a spectre, reminding us all of the volcano that caused such splendour.
Staying at any of these spectacular vacation rental homes you become very intrigued by the owners. My number one question of all of them is how often do they get to stay here themselves? Especially this home. It is such a labour of love - such a clear vision that inspired it.
The home has an interesting history of being a part of the original Waimea hotel. It was built in the 1920's and consisted of 4 identical rooms - 2 bathrooms to share. It was slated for demolition in 1999 so the present owners had it sawed in half and moved to this location - a 13 acre former steer pen on the Historic Parker ranch. You can see by the photos in the house that the land was more barren than it is now. Most of the trees around the house were planted by the owners in the last 15 years - all native Hawaiian species. I'm amazed by the rapidity of growth.
The house has almost a museum feel to it. Just a moment of time at the turn of the last century captured and catapulted into now. I love the purity of their vision - I realize that despite all of my attempts to capture the same feeling in my homes and in my clinics - I am more messy - bringing in way more modern elements - partly for convenience - partly for comfort.
It is relaxing though to have such simplicity, when there was way less stuff. The thank you book in the house has not many entries for the number of years that have passed. I would hate to see it become too popular. It has a fragile feel to it.
It is funny how these vacant Hawaiian homes have the same musty Hawaiian smell - you can get quite fond of it. Our days are really routine already - Morning on Lanaii, starbucks then afternoon on beach snorkelling, evening on Lanai and supper at the Mexican restaurant - Big Island Brewhaus- I told the waiter last night when he was so pleased to see us again that he'll be sick of us soon.
One of my favourite things is sitting on the Lanai in the dark evening and hearing the horses snort around us.