The island of Kauai is often deemed the most beautiful in the Hawaii archipelago, and its lush windward north shore is the most cherished of enclaves. So it’s hardly a surprise that many prominent individuals make their second homes in this exclusive corner of the Garden Isle.
Grammy-winner and Oscar nominee Will Smith and his talented clan are no exception: in 2009 the Smith family—Will, Jada, Jaden, Trey, and Willow—took possession of a major estate near Kilauea Point, whose main charms are its expansiveness and serenity. Its’s a rare and generous 28-acre tract that enjoys access to the aptly named Secret Beach, a secluded stretch of white sand and blue Pacific that is so hidden that visitors often have it all to themselves. According to listing agent Roni Marley, “the Smiths fell in love with the residence the minute they saw it. “ She notes that the charm of the property comes from the fact that once on the grounds, visitors feel as if they were millions of miles away from the stresses of modern life.
The home itself is only a part of the property’s charm, but it’s a significant part. Designed by James Antony in 2006, the main residence is a combination of a craftsman bungalow and tropical plantation, in keeping with traditional Hawaii estates. Just over 2,000 square feet, the single-story house enjoys three bedrooms, three full baths, and extensive leisure amenities including a 55-foot swimming pool with outside showers, a hot tub, and a gym. But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the home is the view it affords—sweeping panoramas that look out toward the Na Pali Coast and Ha’ena Point (famously visible in the classic movie “South Pacific,” filmed nearby), as well as eastward toward nearby Kilauea Point, home to a celebrated wildlife refuge and picturesque lighthouse.
The main residence enjoys many outdoor living spaces, an adjacent swimming pool, and pool house.
The grounds include an additional 500 square feet of outdoor living space provided by screened-in lanais, and trails that wind through acres of organic avocado, grapefruit, and banana groves—ultimately leading to Secret Beach itself, a beautiful secluded spot to swim, surf, and watch whales and spinner dolphins and even see the endangered Hawaii monk seal come ashore.
The estate’s colonial bungalow design includes lanais that open out to tropical vistas in every direction.
Expansive lawns lead up the ocean’s edge, with trails leading to secluded Secret Beach.
The estate’s colonial bungalow design includes lanais that open out to tropical vistas in every direction.Expansive lawns lead up the ocean’s edge, with trails leading to secluded Secret Beach.The estate’s colonial bungalow design includes lanais that open out to tropical vistas in every direction.Expansive lawns lead up the ocean’s edge, with trails leading to secluded Secret Beach.prevnext
Although the Smiths only lived in the home for two years, selling it in 2013 to a trust associated with Ekaterina Rybolovlevya, the daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, they still have a warm spot in their heart for it, according to agent Marley. It is easy to imagine young Jaden Smith practicing his “Karate Kid” moves in the lush gardens, or his daughter Willow singing and dancing along the tropical pathways.
What the Smiths have left for future buyers is not only a marvelous, secluded compound but a property that can accommodate three additional residences within its rare, 28-acre precincts. The actor who starred in “The Wild Wild West” truly showed an appreciation for this wild, wild stretch of the farthest western reach of the United States, and this estate may well be the only one of its kind on the market for some time.
