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| Upstairs, Downstairs:
The homes at Haleakea, Gentry Homes’ newest and most luxurious homes on
the Ewa Plain, offer large living areas, both inside and out. (above):
The Palehua formal living room features high, cathedral ceilings. |
When
Gentry Homes’ development team plans one of its new communities, team
members travel to the Mainland to look for new building trends, check
with design consultants and, finally, speak with clients and customers
to find out what they like about their Gentry homes.
When
it came to Haleakea, Gentry’s newest and most luxurious residential
development on the Ewa Plain, that last design component may have been
the most important. To date, approximately 80 percent of Haleakea’s
buyers are current residents of an Ewa by Gentry home. The remaining 20
percent are Ewa residents from other developments, who are moving up to
their dream homes.
“People
have put down roots in Ewa. This is their home and they don’t want to
live anywhere else,” says Rick Hobson, vice president of sales and
marketing for Gentry Homes. “This is our best effort yet. These are the
highest end homes that we’ve built in Ewa to date and people have
responded. They want to stay in Ewa, and they want a luxurious home.”
When
it is completed, Haleakea will feature 171 four- or five-bedroom homes
with more than 2,800 square feet of covered space on lots of 5,000
square feet each. Fifty of the homes will border the lush fairways of
the 27-hole Hawaii Prince Golf Course. All Haleakea homes, which range
in price from $640,000 to $825,000, will have two stories, so many
homes not directly on the golf course will still have breathtaking
views of the fairways and greens, as well as the Waianae mountain range.
Haleakea
features five different plans, all of which combine kamaaina style with
contemporary convenience. The efficient Waimea features four bedrooms,
three baths and two covered lanai, which extend the home’s 2,100 square
feet of interior living area. The beachy, 2,381-square-foot Kalaeloa
has four bedrooms, three baths and a bonus room off of the master
bedroom. The modern, 2,501-square-foot Waialae features three bedrooms,
two-and-a-half baths and an option for a separate den and bath, ideal
for multi-generational living. This secluded study is separated from
the main house by a protected courtyard. The plantation-style Nuuanu
has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,718 square feet of interior space.
It has two enclosed lanai, (plus two on the second floor), as well as a
courtyard. At a massive 2,989 square feet, the Palehua is the largest
home at Haleakea. It features four bedrooms, three baths built around a
porte cochère, interior courtyard and as many as four enclosed lanai.
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| (left):
The Nuuanu has four enclosed lanai, two in the front, two in the back.
(right): The Palehua spacious kitchen and family room. |
Customer
input and past experience taught the developers that Haleakea’s homes
would have to be energy efficient. Ewa’s year-round sunny weather meant
that effective and affordable central air conditioning would be
important to comfortable Island living. As a result, every one of
Haleakea’s homes has a high-efficiency central air-conditioning unit,
as well as dual-paned, low-emissivity windows, which reflect hot,
infrared light, to keep all the cool air circulating inside. Foam
insulation blown into the walls creates an air-tight barrier against
the outdoor heat. Exterior finishes, such as large overhangs, provide
further protection against the sun. In addition, a Hawaiian Electric
Co.-approved, 120-gallon solar water heater and a fluorescent lighting
package keep electricity bills low.
But
it wasn’t enough to build a home that saves money and protects its
occupants from the elements. The designers set out to design a home
that brings the outdoors in and vice versa. All of Haleakea’s homes
feature between two and four lanai, all of which are built into the
main structure of the house, not tacked onto the back. This means
homeowners can benefit from all the protection that a well-built house
can provide while enjoying the comforts of the outdoors.
“Multiple
lanai and courtyards are special design features of the Haleakea floor
plan … these homes allow for maximum enjoyment of our wonderful
climate,” says Hobson. “In addition to large, front-entry lanai and
back lanai, some of the floor plans include additional lanai off the
second-story bedrooms and master suite. The ground-level lanai are
actually designed into the home and could be considered additional
living spaces. They are fully covered and include lighting and concrete
flooring. These are ideal spaces for dining and entertaining.”
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| Master of the House:
The Nuuanu master bedroom has a 182-square-foot, enclosed lanai, which
substantially increases the living area. This lanai overlooks one of
the fairways at the nearby Hawaii Prince Golf Course. |
Each
of the five Haleakea floor plans is different and new to Ewa by Gentry.
In addition to the lanai and courtyards, the homes include an abundance
of Gentry VIP features (value included in the price), such as formal
living and dining areas; gourmet kitchens, with GE Profile appliance
packages; European-style cabinetry with dovetail constructed drawers;
Corian countertops with integral double sinks; family rooms or
additional space for a home office and master suites with large,
Roman-style, walk-in showers.
It
is no wonder that Haleakea’s homes have sold as well as they have. The
first release of 17 homes in March of this year were sold within a few
weeks, sight unseen. Eight more homes offered in May nearly sold out,
and activity on an additional 12 released in June was brisk.
“We
are selling them at a good rate,” says Hobson. “It’s fast, but it’s not
a panic. Buying into Haleakea is a big decision. These are higher-end
homes, one of the last high-end developments that Gentry will offer for
some time. Some may take a little more time to decide to sell their
current homes to move up.”
However, for many who are familiar with the area and with Gentry Homes, it’s not a tough decision at all. |
