Nature and Nurture - Ku'u Home Magazine

A cozy retreat bridges island elegance with health-and-wellness amenities

By: Darlene Dela Cruz

Jul 1, 2026

Spaces that are truly restful for the body and mind can be grounding and uplifting, nostalgic and forward-thinking, private and welcoming all at once. The comforts of home come with fascinating contradictions that reflect both the simplicity and complexity of a holistic lifestyle.

Thoughtful residential design and construction, when done well, can beautifully resolve these emotional and practical tensions. Design and renovation firm Lanikai Homes exemplifies this by reimagining a Windward Oʻahu property that blends a combination of vintage Hawaiian plantation style and advanced spa-like features.

“Rather than feeling like separate amenities, each element was intentionally designed to flow together as a cohesive escape inspired by Hawai‘i’s landscape, textures and slower rhythm of life,” says Jazzie Jenkins, Lanikai Homes’ lead designer. “The use of natural lava rock, flowing water, tropical greenery and organic materials helped create an atmosphere that feels grounded, restorative and deeply connected to the island itself.”

The home fosters a sense of wellness inside and out, taking cues from amenities seen at resorts and spas.

Earthy neutral furnishings and natural materials like the kitchen’s Italian marble surfaces ground the elegant aesthetic.

Touches of nature bring the outside in. Dramatic Italian marble in the kitchen shines on countertops and backsplashes under warm lighting from white-and-gold fixtures. The gilded stonework “feels almost impossible to replicate artificially,” Jenkins explains, with the unique character of “a material shaped organically within the earth over time.”

The result is an aesthetic that’s “rich and timeless without becoming overly formal,” Jenkins notes.

Earthy neutrals carry over to the spa-inspired bathroom and open-air shower. This customized space has built-in planter boxes that serve as a nod to the “biophilic design” trend promoting live indoor foliage for health benefits. The planters are adjacent to a handmade wood door that directly leads from the inside bath to the outdoors.

“We wanted the space to feel immersive and connected to nature while still maintaining the comfort and privacy of an indoor bathroom,” Jenkins says. “The shower was intentionally designed to open completely to the sky, allowing you to shower in the rain, under moonlight or surrounded by morning light and tropical greenery while still feeling enclosed within the architecture of the home.”

Outdoor “spa retreat” amenities for relaxation and physical rejuvenation round out the home, Jenkins shares. A lava rock cold plunge “was designed to resemble a secluded Hawaiian tide pool tucked along the coastline.” Natural island materials also comprise the lava rock hot tub, waterfall-edge pool and steam sauna.

The bath space cleverly brings nature indoors, featuring a shower that opens completely to the sky and built-in planters.

“More homeowners are beginning to prioritize how a home feels emotionally, not just visually,” Jenkins says. “People want their homes to support rest, recovery and overall well-being, especially as daily life has become increasingly fast-paced and overstimulating.”

The “home wellness” movement is growing, according to Jenkins, and has increased demand for outdoor showers, saunas, cold plunges, resort-style pools, fitness areas and spa-inspired baths. If these major investments and buildouts aren’t possible, homeowners can still achieve a holistic home with smaller, balanced design decisions.

“In Hawai‘i especially, there is a strong appreciation for homes that feel connected to nature and encourage a slower, more grounded lifestyle,” Jenkins says. “Natural materials such as warm woods, woven textures, stone and linen can instantly soften and brighten a space. We also recommend layering lighting thoughtfully and incorporating greenery to create a more relaxed and organic environment.”

One of the biggest takeaways from this project, she notes, is to “focus on atmosphere rather than overdecorating.”

“Creating a summer-inspired home is often more about how a space feels than how much is added to it,” Jenkins says. “Even simple changes such as improving natural light, creating outdoor seating areas, adding tropical landscaping or opening up visual sightlines can completely transform the feeling of a home and make it feel more peaceful, open and inviting year-round.”

This story appears in the July/August 2026 print issue of Ku‘u Home magazine.