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.
Some 15 or more years ago under the leadership of the late great Senator Daniel Inouye, Congress directed the National Park service to study the south east Kaua’i coastal area for possible protection options. The study area included Kalanipu’u, Kipu Kai and Mahaulepu. The report recommended National Seashore designation But was never acted upon hopefully this valuable resource of Kalanipu’u can be protected buy a land trust or other stewardship option.
Very appreciative of National Parks Planner Keith Dunbarʻs accurate recollection of the large, inspiring vision for southeastern Kaua’i which recommended preservation from the coastal conservation trail past the Hyatt, the ahupuaʻa of Māhā’ulepū, Kīpū Kai, Kalanipuʻu and up the Hulē’ia River including the Alakoko Fishpond property and Fish and Wildlife Wetland Refuge. The study called for continuing agriculture and collaborative management. The endless possibilities of scenic trail , would NOT be for the public if this property- previously valued at $3.5 million with perhaps one house site – were sold for any inflated price abetted by realtor hype. Mālama Māhā’ulepū has actively advocated for the second phase of the NPS study which would entail public participation and consideration of the pros and cons of different kinds of national park designations. Me ke aloha.
Thank you for the above information. This land is zoned conservation- what can be built on it?
Try build and see . Not gonna happen!
This land is SACRED and should always and forever be UNTOUCHED!!!!
Beryl Blaich and I have worked on preservation of the Maha’ulepu coast for many years. Her mention of the NPS study is only one of the options available to us, the public. We come across many challenges to take away our open coastal lands. This for sale for 79 mil is another way to give us a purpose of what we do as a preservation group. I have been Maha’ulepu wise for 50+yes and will keep on . Join me by going to our site. Malama-Mahaulepu.org.
If I could help in anyway