Lihiwai, the nearly 25,000‑square‑foot estate tucked into Honolulu’s lush Nuuanu Valley, has landed on the market with a $22 million price tag. The Mediterranean‑Revival compound, originally built for Territorial Governor George R. Carter, spans roughly 1.8 acres and includes a grand main residence, multiple guest cottages, a natural auwai and a waterfall. A recent museum‑style restoration focused on reviving original materials while keeping the estate’s historic personality front and center.
What’s for sale
The property is listed at 51 Kepola Place and is described as having six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and 24,899 square feet of interior space, set on about 1.81 acres with a heated saltwater pool. Listing materials highlight finishes that lean into old‑Hawaii luxury: ohia hardwood, old‑growth redwood, plaster, bronze windows and limestone, along with outdoor features that include a flowing stream and a dramatic waterfall. The asking price is $22,000,000, and the listing identifies Jovanna Giannasio‑Fern of Hawaii Life as the agent, according to Xome.
Historic pedigree
Locals know the estate as Lihiwai. Completed in 1928, it was commissioned for Territorial Governor George R. Carter, with architects Hardie Phillip and Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue credited for the design, per the National Park Service. The home’s National Register nomination cites its Mediterranean and Spanish‑Revival architecture and notes its importance to both landscape design and the political history of the islands. It also appears on lists of notable historic residences on Oahu, according to the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, which helps explain the care taken to preserve original craftsmanship and finishes during recent work.
Restoration and market timing
Marketing materials and recent coverage state that Lihiwai underwent a meticulous, museum‑quality restoration by Welch & Weeks that reportedly stretched over four years, as reported by the Pacific Business Journal. That same reporting notes that the current marketing rollout includes a cinematic video package, with Peer Films LLC credited for the production.
Price and context
At $22,000,000, the asking price shakes out to roughly $883 per square foot, according to Realty.com. Large, fully restored historic estates remain scarce on Oahu, and Lihiwai is being pitched as both a carefully preserved landmark and a secluded retreat, a mix that tends to appeal to a relatively small group of high‑end buyers.
The property is being offered through Hawaii Life and is marketed by Jovanna Giannasio‑Fern, with showings and offers routed through the listing agent. For prospective buyers, preservationists and neighbors, Lihiwai’s return to the open market is a pointed reminder of the island’s layered history and the premium placed on keeping that history intact.
