DIGS is the premiere luxury real estate lifestyle magazine serving the most affluent neighborhoods in the South Bay and Westside of Los Angeles, California.
Issue link: https://uberflip.westsidedigs.com/i/1276484
38 DIGS.NET | 8.7.2020 M A R K E T S W E E T D I G S | 9 B AY D R I V E From the central courtyard—a tranquil space where fire glows atop a rippling pool of water, and there's a palm tree in each corner— there are separate wings. These sections of the homes can be linked together or, when not in use, sectioned off to scale the grand resi- dence down to a more intimate feel. The home can comfortably host a dozen or more overnight guests, who enjoy private bedroom suites, along with separate entrances and individual lanais. Materials that reference those in nature, like sand-hued limestone and exotic hardwoods, are plentiful, as are oversized windows and entire walls of sliding glass that bring together the interior and exterior. Nota- ble in the master bedroom, for instance, are a series of glass doors that open the airy, circular space to a 270-degree kaleidoscope of sky, ocean and land. A pretty bonus, particularly after hours, is the luminous glow of the historic Hawea Point Lighthouse, a charmed relic of Maui history that dates back to the early 20th century and is steps from the house. Though the estate is a private oasis unto itself, its location is a strategic one for those who might want to step out or entertain visit- ing friends and family. "Within a few minutes' walk," points out Fitch, "you can access the resort amenities at Montage Residences Kapalua Bay, which is an exclusive oceanfront community located within Kapalua Resort." It's a low-key, elegant place, garnering top slot last year among Hawaiian resorts by Travel + Leisure. Among its five-star niceties are two PGA- and LPGA-level courses that are home to pro tournaments and consistently ranked among the finest in Hawaii. This, along with torch-lit al fresco dining and a full-service, 30,000-square-foot spa, where one can partake in fresh-air massages and personal training sessions on the beach. One imagines that, no matter how luxe the outside lures, within a short time one would crave the scene back home at 9 Bay Drive. It's a property that, no matter how long one's been in residence, always has a fresh and changing feel. "It can feel intimate, and it can accom- modate a crowd, too," notes Fitch, recounting a recent event at the estate where, despite a crowd of over 150 people, the bluff-top para- dise still felt roomy. Similarly, while the island's climate makes for comfortable visit no matter the month, on Hawea Point nature always serves up a different experience. "In summer," Fitch explains, "the waves are softer, and the ocean is calmer." Winter is still warm, yet the waves swell, and the winds are energized. No matter the season or hour of day, unchanged is the effect this rarified air and outlooks have on a person. "There is nothing else like it on Maui," Fitch says of the property, "and arguably, not in the entire state of Hawaii."