10 Celebrities Living the Hawaii Life 20 Photos
Drawn to the world-famous beaches and secluded hideaways, these VIPs — including Obama, Oprah, and Rihanna — love to escape the red carpet for Hawaii’s island paradise. Take a look inside these exclusive residences with million-dollar ocean views, sprawling beachfront grounds and floor-to-ceiling star appeal.
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About the Show
Most people only dream of living in Hawaii, but the real estate brokers at Hawaii Life can make that dream a reality for anyone. From Oahu to Kauai, to Maui and The Big Island, there are properties to suit any lifestyle from ultra-affordable, to totally outrageous. We follow everyday families as they turn their fantasy of a Hawaii Life into real life.
Episodes
See Episode GuideUpsize and upgrade from Washington to the Big Island
Kristen and Tony Arrindell moved from the beautiful but wet state of Washington taking jobs at a hospital on the Big Island because they realized how much better they feel in the sun and warmth. Now they are looking for a home to accommodate their twin toddlers. Realtor Jene Green shows them three homes near Kona that also keeps them close to to their favorite hobby: motorcycling the coast. The Arrindells must pick a home that will give their family the room to grow as well as fit in their budget.
Newlyweds Search for a Home in Honolulu, Oahu
Newlyweds Jarrett and Becky Walters are working with realtor Caron Ling to find a new apartment in downtown Honolulu. Jarrett is looking for a high-rise condo near his office that offers the kind of amenities they would expect from living in Hawaii. Caron must find them a first home that fits all of their criteria while not exceeding their modest price range.
Hula Dancer Wants Family Home in Upcountry Maui
Tiare Lawrence and her two children are seeking a plantation-style Maui home that they can make their own, that's not too far from Taire's clothing store. Realtor Tobi Fisher takes Tiare to three properties that show off what Maui has to offer. With some homes needing more work than others, Tiare must decide how much effort she wants to put in to making the home fit her family.
From Oregon to Maui for Scuba Diving Fun
Haley Van Noord is moving to Maui from rainy Oregon. Haley is an avid scuba diver, so realtor Tobi Fisher shows her three Maui properties near some of the best beaches and dive spots. Haley must decide on a property that gives her access to the outdoor activities she loves while still fitting in her price range.
Indianapolis Couple Drops Everything and Moves to Kauai
When Jennifer Beyers got a job offer at a hospital on Kauai, she and her husband Brady packed up their large home in Indianapolis to live their dreams in Hawaii. They know they'll have to downsize from their 3500 square foot mainland for something half the size, but Brady and Jen are happy to trade the space for their new island life. Jennifer must be less than thirty minutes from the hospital in Lihue, which could be a challenge for broker Miriam Perlmutter.
Family Moves from New Hampshire to Kauai to Live the Classic Hawaii Life and Hit the Water Everyday
Jill and Chris Caisey are ready to leave New Hampshire to fulfill their master plan of moving with their kids to Kauai to live the good life. Hawaii Life broker Roni Marley shows them several plantation-style properties with good proximity to the beach to complement the outdoor lifestyle they seek. They're willing to spend $500,000 for the right place in Kapa'a or Kilauea as long as it means no more wetsuits when playing in the ocean.
Goodbye Snowy Canada, Hello Sunny Big Island
Nancy and Vrejj Biegler along with their two children have moved from snowy Calgary to the Big Island and are now looking for their dream home. They're looking at three properties: two in the dry area of Waikoloa and one in the wetter tropical climate of Waimea. They'll have to decide which version of the Big Island is right for them. With all the opportunities for snorkeling and diving available to them, the Bieglers know they're not in Canada anymore!
Family Moves from New Hampshire to Kauai to Live the Classic Hawaii Life and Hit the Water Everyday
Jill and Chris Caisey are ready to leave New Hampshire to fulfill their master plan of moving with their kids to Kauai to live the good life. Hawaii Life broker Roni Marley shows them several plantation-style properties with good proximity to the beach to complement the outdoor lifestyle they seek. They're willing to spend $500,000 for the right place in Kapa'a or Kilauea as long as it means no more wetsuits when playing in the ocean.
Baltimore Couple Moves to Hawaii to Start Exciting New Careers on the Big Island
Chris and Nina Lambert are moving from Baltimore with their two dogs to begin a new life on the Big Island. Nina was offered a position as a director of Marine Life, while Chris is taking the opportunity to fulfill his life-long dream of becoming a pilot. Their biggest requirements are ample yard space for their four-legged family members and a two-car garage to protect their four-wheeled possessions. With a budget of just $375,000, finding both of those items will be a challenge for Hawaii Life agent Kristi Cotton.
Single Mother Looks for a Home on Kauai
Rebecca Hart fell in love with Hawaii more than 10 years ago when she came to Oahu for college. After graduating, she knew she didn't want to return to her home in Minnesota, and after traveling the world, she is ready to plant her roots in Kauai. Very successful in her line of work, Rebecca works long hours as an autism specialist for the board of education and loves the fact that Kauai offers her a blissful getaway on the weekends from her often stressful career. Rebecca is a single mother to her 5-year-old daughter Kailani and loves the quality time Kauai allows them to spend together. With the budget of $400-600,000, Rebecca turns to Hawaii Life broker Miriam Permutter to help her and her daughter find a place where they can do yoga and plant their own garden.
Couple Searches for Their Dream Home on Maui That Would Double as a Bed and Breakfast
Oregon-based couple, Lisa and James, decided that they wanted to make a permanent move to Maui when they first vacationed there, swam in the ocean and stuck their heads underwater to hear the whales singing. With James' work as a real estate appraiser and Lisa's work as a writer and performance artist, the two can do their work easily from Maui with business trips back to Oregon every so often. With a healthy budget of close to a million dollars, they're looking for a place with Hawaii Life agent Todd Hudson that would be their dream home and could double as a bed and breakfast.
A Family Moves From Pittsburgh to Princeville in Search of a Laid-Back Lifestyle
JT and Doreen are leaving Pittsburgh for a more laidback lifestyle in Princeville, Kauai and turn to Hawaii Life broker Roni Marley to help them find their piece of paradise. Their main requirements are privacy and a good kitchen, as Doreen would like to bring her cupcake business right along with them. Will any of the houses Roni shows them provide the perfect combo of a baker's dream kitchen and the level of seclusion they're looking for?
Goodbye Snowy Canada, Hello Sunny Big Island
Nancy and Vrejj Biegler along with their two children have moved from snowy Calgary to the Big Island and are now looking for their dream home. They're looking at three properties: two in the dry area of Waikoloa and one in the wetter tropical climate of Waimea. They'll have to decide which version of the Big Island is right for them. With all the opportunities for snorkeling and diving available to them, the Bieglers know they're not in Canada anymore!
A View From the Big Island
Chris and Annette Hodges live a comfortable life in Atlanta with their three children. They are a very active family and have always dreamed about moving closer to the ocean so they could enjoy snorkeling and sailing all year round. They have finally taken the plunge, and with the help of Hawaii Life broker Beth Robinson, they are looking for a house on the Big Island. For the Hodges, location is key - they must have a beautiful view of the ocean. And with three kids, they also need plenty of room to spread out. With a budget in the million-dollar range, the Hodges have their choice of houses or plots of land where they can build a home of their dreams.
Shipping Out to Oahu
David and Valori Lundstrom and their two teenage sons have been living in Colorado since 2005 all the while trying to find a way to make Oahu their home. The Lundstrom family has spent lots of time exploring the different islands of Hawaii but feel particularly drawn to the lifestyle and pace of Oahu. David and Valori own and operate three shipping stores in Colorado, and when they were presented with an opportunity to open a store in Hawaii, they knew it was a sign for them to make their dream of living in Oahu a reality. David and Valori and their boys are ready to leave behind the cold Colorado winters for a life of beautiful sunsets and whale watching.
Big Move to the Big Island
Sam and Kathryn Schartz love being active with their 4 kids and really enjoy outdoor living, even in the cold weather of their hometown of Pleasantville, Oregon. They have visited Hawaii many times and it was on one of their trips that the couple realized that instead of vacationing on the Big Island, they could make this paradise a permanent home. The Schartz's are working with Hawaii Life agent Adam Veloria to help them find a home so that they can transition from dark days and cold winters to a lifetime of beach living on the Big Island. For Sam and Kathryn being able to provide their children with a lifestyle that connects them to family and nature is the true meaning of living the Hawaii Life.
A Home with a View on Hawaii's Big Island
Lewis and Kirsten Paragona have lived their whole lives braving the cold New England winters in the suburbs of Massachusetts. They lived a hectic life of caring for their two daughters and managing their high stress careers. Retiring to Hawaii is something Lewis and Kirsten always planned on, but they've decided that waiting for retirement is too long. With their oldest daughter going off to college next year, no time seemed better to start making their Hawaii living dreams come true, so the Paragonas set out on a search for a home with a view on the Big Island. The slower pace of life on the Big Island and the commitment to family is something that the Paragonas crave, and they're ready to make the sacrifices in their career and give up the harsh northeast winters for days of constant summers.
A Home with Character on the Big Island
Living an active lifestyle is somewhat of an understatement for partners John and Jason. John is a triathlete and Jason is an avid surfer. When John and Jason met four years ago, they both already had a connection to Hawaii and could've only dreamed of one day living and working on the island that they both loved. Recently they decided that their lives had reached a point where they could make a full-time move to Hawaii and the Big Island fit all their wants and needs. John, who is a physician was recently offered a job on the Big Island, and Jason, who is an artist, can work from anywhere and hopes to open an art gallery on the Big Island. With their careers in place, John and Jason are looking for a home with outdoor space and character and are ready to make the transition into living a life full of sunshine and surf on an island that has everything their hearts desire.
Island Hopping and House Hunting
Veronica and Scott Rahn have always been big travelers. They've visited most of the 50 states, but nothing ever compared to Hawaii and it wasn't long before they decided to make it their permanent home. Although the Rahns know what they want from their home - open floor plan and lots of outdoor space - it's the location that they're not settled on. So they turn to Hawaii Life agent Jene Green to show them around the Big Island and broker Monica Hayward to help them explore Kauai to ultimately decide which island suits them best and begin living their Hawaii Life.
Newlyweds Search for a Home on Oahu Where They Can Start a Family
Newlyweds Kenny and Kaitlyn currently live in Boston, and although they love their hometown, the two could not deny the sense of home they felt when they visited Oahu on a vacation years ago. They knew right away that Oahu was where they wanted to raise their family and as soon as they tied the knot, they flew to Oahu to meet with Hawaii Life agent Sandra Sagisi Moser to help them find a home close to the beach with a yard for their dog and plenty of space for when their families come to visit.
Navy Family Moves to Oahu
Donald and Dorothy Merrill both grew up in the warm temperatures of the Southeast, so when Donald was up for his next rotation in the Navy and Hawaii came up as an option, the young couple jumped at the opportunity to raise their 2-year-old daughter Amelia in paradise. With the help of their Hawaii Life agent Alison Wisnom, the Merrills hope to find a home where their daughter can play outside, they can grow their family and comfortably accommodate their soon-to-be many visitors on the beautiful island of Oahu.
Lifestyle upgrade from Colorado to Kauai
Jen and Carl Sokia, along with their two daughters, are looking to escape the Colorado winter for the tropic warmth of Kauai. Carl just took a job in the North Shore community of Princeville so realtor Tiffany Spencer shows the Sokias three properties in that neighborhood. The Sokias love the amenities of the nearby resorts, and have a tough decision between three properties with 3 very different price tags!
Indianapolis Couple Drops Everything and Moves to Kauai
When Jennifer Beyers got a job offer at a hospital on Kauai, she and her husband Brady packed up their large home in Indianapolis to live their dreams in Hawaii. They know they'll have to downsize from their 3500 square foot mainland for something half the size, but Brady and Jen are happy to trade the space for their new island life. Jennifer must be less than thirty minutes from the hospital in Lihue, which could be a challenge for broker Miriam Perlmutter.
From Oregon to Maui for Scuba Diving Fun
Haley Van Noord is moving to Maui from rainy Oregon. Haley is an avid scuba diver, so realtor Tobi Fisher shows her three Maui properties near some of the best beaches and dive spots. Haley must decide on a property that gives her access to the outdoor activities she loves while still fitting in her price range.
So long Florida, Aloha Maui
Linda Lindsay has traveled all over the world, but the moment she got off the plane in Maui, she felt that she belonged there. So she packed up her mom and her two boys and made the move from Florida to Hawaii. With the boys spending too much time playing video games, it's important to Linda that the house they find is close to the beach, so they have more reasons to get outside and be active. With the help of Hawaii Life agent Tobi Fisher, Linda and her mom Jeannine set out on a search for their dream home.
Newlyweds Search for a Home in Honolulu, Oahu
Newlyweds Jarrett and Becky Walters are working with realtor Caron Ling to find a new apartment in downtown Honolulu. Jarrett is looking for a high-rise condo near his office that offers the kind of amenities they would expect from living in Hawaii. Caron must find them a first home that fits all of their criteria while not exceeding their modest price range.
