A wildly original architectural gem set on a high terrace overlooking the Kona Coast, the Onion House was built for the McCormick Spice family, by renowned architect Kendrick Kellogg. With the whole home to yourselves, you’ll relish the privacy to swim, sunbathe and enjoy the 70' pool in a lush tropical setting. Walls of screen and stained glass let you live in touch with the environment, so this experience is like luxury camping.

All guests must be 12+ years old.

The space
Translucent arches filter the glow of sunlight and moonlight. Walls of screen and colorful stained glass invite the ocean breezes. You can slip into the pool any time of the day or night. You’ll feel the pulse of the natural world. “Eye candy” abounds in countless details.

The lyrical arches of the main structure are echoed in the separate master bedroom suite, featuring private meditation garden, bath, and king-sized bed. With no outer walls, only screens and stained glass separate indoors and out. The main structure holds two smaller bedrooms with full size beds, bath, great room, and fully equipped kitchen. The terrace overlooking Kailua Bay offers an extraordinary setting for candle-light dinners.

Set on nearly an acre of mature trees, the Onion House is 5 minutes from beaches and Kailua-Kona town, yet a world apart. This landmark of Organic Architecture has been featured on the Travel Channel, HGTV, the Learning Channel, Fine Living Channel, and MTV, and in “Global Architecture,” “Architectural Digest.”

IMPORTANT: This home has many stairs and uneven surfaces. Not suitable for people with mobility limitations. This home is by no means an accessible space. This home is not suitable for families with younger (<12 years old) children.

PRIVACY: While the grounds are private from neighbors, within the space, especially with larger groups, privacy is a bit limited. The home is most ideal for parties of 2-4. While there are sleeping spaces for 6, this situation will be a bit crowded in the third bedroom and privacy will be limited.

Please note that the County of Hawai'i has implemented new vacation rental regulations. The Onion House has been officially licensed by the County. Common sense rules apply to guests:
(A) Quiet hours shall be from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., during which time the noise from the STVR shall not unreasonably disturb adjacent neighbors.
(B) Sound that is audible beyond the property boundaries during non-quiet hours shall not be more excessive than would be otherwise associated with a residential area.
(C) Guest vehicles shall be parked in the designated onsite parking area.
(D) The STVR shall not be used for commercial purposes.
The STVR Registration Number is: STVR-19-361289
The Nonconforming Use Certificate Number is: NUC-19-1205
("Nonconforming" basically means that our vacation rental is not located in a resort zone.)
Hawaii State Tax ID # GE-157-258-9568-01

Guest access
You'll have the entire estate to yourself. You’ll experience “Luxury 5 Star Camping” fully immersed in nature. Stunning visual aesthetics combine with tranquility, comfort and convenience. Although the home appears to be composed of light and air, it still features luxury bedding, high speed internet, fully outfitted kitchen, outdoor grill, downstairs laundry, pool and gardens of nearly an acre producing seasonal tropical fruit… but most of all, we have a really great crew.

The home is perfect for one or two couples, but three couples might feel a bit crowded. 4 people is idea, 6 person STRICT max.

“Global Architecture” magazine described this as “An architecture so full of life that it seems to breathe.” One writer described it as “The Sydney Opera House Meets Stonehenge.” A guest commented, “I feel like a butterfly living under a leaf!” The Onion House was chosen by HGTV as one of “The Ten Most Romantic Bedrooms on Earth.”
The Kona Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the few places that this kind of open architecture is feasible.

Other things to note
The Hawaii State tax of 14.962% is included in the price and collected by the owner directly. Hawaii State Tax ID # GE-157-258-9568-01. An additional 3% Hawaii County tax was implemented on 1 January 2022 and is collected in addition to the above.

Please note that the County of Hawai'i has implemented vacation rental regulations. The Onion House has been officially licensed by the County. Common sense rules apply to guests:
(A) Quiet hours shall be from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., during which time the noise from the STVR shall not unreasonably disturb adjacent neighbors.
(B) Sound that is audible beyond the property boundaries during non-quiet hours shall not be more excessive than would be otherwise associated with a residential area.
(C) Guest vehicles shall be parked in the designated onsite parking area.
(D) The STVR shall not be used for commercial purposes.
The STVR Registration Number is: STVR-19-361289
The Nonconforming Use Certificate Number is: NUC-19-1205
("Nonconforming" basically means that our vacation rental is not located in a resort zone.)

The Onion House is not suitable for families with young children under twelve and the owners will respectfully decline reservations for parties with younger children. This is for the safety of the children and is a function of the many nonstandard construction features present clear, objective hazards for younger guests. This is not about how well behaved youngsters are -- it is about the features of the house that simply are not suitable for younger children.

The home is not suitable for those who have difficulty with steps or have limited mobility, due to safety considerations that are inherent in its design. Inquire and we can send you specifics and photos, but in general, there are steps throughout the home, and in non-standard places. The lighting in the home is intended for effect and mood, and lower light with nonstandard steps presents hazards we especially wish to highlight to our older guests or those with visual impairment.

Registration number
GE-157-258-9568-01 (Hawaii GET and TAT taxes collected and paid on all reservations)