NIAMALU — With views of the Pacific Ocean, Nawiliwili harbor and the Hule‘ia River, The Headlands of Kalanipu‘u is now for sale at a record-breaking listing price of $79 million for 1,395 acres on Southeast Kaua‘i, along the eastern boundary of Kipu Ranch.
Most of the property is located in the rugged Kaua‘i mountains, with a ridge that hosts three mountains: Kalanipu’u, Keopaweo and Hokunui. The terrain rises from sea level to about 1,600 feet in altitude on the property.
No utilities currently service the property, which has two additional kuleana parcels and is listed through Oceanfront Sotheby’s International Realty.
“This is probably the most pristine, untouched, one-of-a-kind property…perfect for someone to ‘live off the grid’,” said Paul Kyno, listing agent for the property. “Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, you have the mountains, valleys and rivers as your playground. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Kyno says the Headlands have the least constrictive conservation zones on the island, so there is potential for “consolidation and re-subdivision”, and emphasizes the property’s unique location that makes it perfect for an ideal “off-the-grid” situation that’s still about 5 minutes from civilization.
“The possibilities are endless,” Kyno said his broker’s description of the property. “Create hiking and walking trails through the mountains and valleys and along the shoreline and within the property. These trails will have unobstructed Pacific Ocean, Hule‘ia stream and Nawiliwili Harbor views.”
The Headlands of Kalanipu‘u are originally part of Kipu Ranch; all of those land holdings came down through the royal family to Ruth Keelikolani. The property was sold to William Rice in 1881, who formed Kipu Ranch to breed cattle and horses. Since then, the property has been split, with Kipu Ranch retaining about 1,070 acres of the original property.
The Headlands of Kalanipu‘u is billed as a piece of land that features both sunrises and sunsets, beach and mountains, rivers and pasture lands, with annual taxes estimated at $6,612. No roads are located on the property; access is currently via helicopter or by boat from Nawiliwili Harbor.
In 2017, Kaua‘i listed the most expensive property in Hawai‘i — a 15-acre Kilauea waterfront property known as Hale ‘Ae Kai for $70 million. That property sold for $46.1 million, which then was the highest price for a residential property in Hawai‘i.
