For $30 Million You Could Live In Julia Roberts' Former Kaua‘i Oceanfront Estate

Forbes

27-05-2025

Limahuli Ocean Estate borrows its name—and its sweeping vistas—from the lush Limahuli Valley.
Walk down a road in Kaua'i and you might just get a sore neck.
This street, aptly named "End of the Road," commands you to look up—at emerald cliffs, mist-laced peaks and the drama of Mt. Makana.
Keep going north—past waterfalls, taro fields and single-lane bridges—and you'll reach Hā'ena. Beyond that? The Kalalau Trail, gateway to the Nā Pali Coast and described by at least one YouTuber as "the most dangerous hike in the world." And just before the trail begins, sitting amongst rainforest and reef: Limahuli Ocean Estate.
Sheer ridgelines supply all the drama, while a soft, green slope down to the water kisses the waves.
What sets this property apart? For starters, 400 linear feet of private beachfront. Surf breaks just steps away. More than 8 acres of gently undulating land, punctuated by freshwater springs and near-daily rainbows. 'You really do see rainbows all the time,' says listing agent Neal Norman of Hawai'i Life. Paradise in its purest sense.
And then there's the celebrity cachet. Records show the estate was once home to actress Julia Roberts and her husband, cinematographer Danny Moder. During their ownership, they enlisted acclaimed architects Walker Warner for a full-scale renovation.
Every sightline in the main living pavilion floats toward the surf.
The updates were comprehensive: hardwood floors, custom cabinetry, upgraded landscaping. There's also a 490-square-foot sunken infinity pool with a wooden deck, perfectly positioned for gazing into the landscape. Sustainability features include Tesla batteries, solar panels and a whole-property water-filtration system.
Inside, the design stays true to its rustic, coastal soul. White walls, natural wood tones and exposed beams lend warmth without pretense. The single-story, low-profile home houses three bedrooms—nothing oversized or ostentatious. Here, scale belongs to the mountain.
Tropical foliage weaves a natural privacy screen, though solitude is innate—the closest neighbor sits well out of sight.
A detached guest cottage adds a private bonus room, while one of the main house's guest bedrooms now serves as a sleek, air-conditioned gym. According to Norman, though, air conditioning might be more of a luxury than a necessity. Kaua'i boasts "perfect weather," with temperatures rarely climbing above 90 or dipping below 60 degrees.
Throughout, indoor-outdoor living sets the relaxed island tone. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows blur the lines, framing views that stretch endlessly. 'You're surrounded by Tahiti-style cliffs, green and steep, with waterfalls pouring down,' adds Norman. It would be churlish not to let that in.
Transom windows travel to the roof's apex, letting the house keep its sleek, low-slung profile while flooding the interior with sun and sightlines.
Despite the seclusion, the estate sits just 15 minutes from Hanalei, a postcard of a town dotted with surf shops, food trucks and local charm. Life here blends retreat with adventure.
And there's room to grow. Limahuli spans three contiguous parcels, offering potential for expansion. 'You could build two more homes,' Norman notes. 'Or leave it as is and enjoy the openness. That's what makes it a legacy property.'
The island's North Shore has long attracted famous names. Mark Zuckerberg, Owen Wilson, Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos have all planted roots nearby. You'd even recognize the island in a few of box-office hits—the Jurassic Park franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark and the 2011 George Clooney vehicle, The Descendants, to name a few. But the draw isn't the starry spotlight. It's the stillness.
400 uninterrupted feet of beach grant the estate true barefoot access to the Pacific.
In Hawaiian tradition, the land—'āina—is considered to be a living being. Sacred. Capable of healing. And in places like Limahuli, that belief feels less like folklore and more like fact.
Here, the cliffs are ancestral. The ocean, restorative. The daily rainbows? A reminder that nature, when honored, offers both refuge and renewal.
Hawai'i Life is a director member of Forbes Global Properties, an invitation-only network of top-tier brokerages worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.