Carlos Santana may live in Las Vegas most of the year, but he loves spending time in Hawaii. The Grammy awarded artist bought a four-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot vacation property on Hawaii’s Kauai Island for $8 million in 2020 and doubled down by buying another holiday home in Princeville for $20.5 million on July 1, according to Neal Norman and Ben Welborn of Hawai’i Life in Hanalei.
Norman — who helped Santana find his new getaway and recently listed the musician’s smaller residence for $12.9 million — says the newly purchased contemporary stunner is unique.
“We live in this amazing place, in what I like to call ‘rarefied air.’ The site is amazing. Only a handful of people on the planet can have views like this of Hanalei Valley and Buffalo Ranch,” Norman says.
Welborn, who has been selling real estate on the North Shore for 21 years and co-represented the sellers with Norman, says the home is “far and away the most well-built and well-designed residence I have stepped into on Kauai. The views are exceptional, and the large, covered outdoor living space, the lanai, is an amazing place to entertain,” he adds.
Why upgrade? Santana wanted a larger home to accommodate family and friends when they visit the area, Norman says.
Santana’s latest buy was built in 2006 and has four bedrooms set in 8,200 square feet on a 35,000-square-foot bluff that overlooks Kauai’s Hanalei Bay, the largest bay on the North Shore of the island. The house features a series of interconnected pods. The 1,300-square-foot master suite includes a private study and an outdoor shower. A 1,000-square-foot guestroom pod has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. A 3,800-square-foot main pod showcases living and dining rooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen with custom cabinetry, a den, a bathroom and a gym. In addition to a garage, the home has 1,700 square feet of covered outdoor living space and a retractable roof for rainy days.
Also, Welborn adds, the home is very private and well suited for a celebrity like Carlos.
Other selling points? The views. “There can be 20 waterfalls at any given time that can be viewed from the house. And they are so magical and inspirational for what Carlos does with his music. We came to look at the house about five times, and every time it just got better and better. Every time he came to the house, there would be waterfalls and rainbows; it was mind-boggling and really inspired him,” Norman recalls.
While Kauai has limited land resources and housing inventory, Norman says the market has appreciated and appeals to many buyers from the West Coast and those with a love of nature.
“In selling real estate in this area since 1985, I have learned that there are many beautiful and soulful people looking for this kind of experience. A lot of people have worked hard and made enough money to have their dream scenario in Kauai. But Kauai is not for a person who is looking for a big nightlife. Carlos Santana and his wife are into natural and raw beauty, not a lot of distractions; they want a more natural experience with beautiful oceans and mountain hiking,” he adds.