Extraordinary Onion House in Hawaii Lets You Vacation in a Work of Art

Introduction to the Onion House

The Onion House is a favorite of many visitors, located in Hawaii this personal retreat in a work of art can have a profound transformational effect. The home was created for the McCormick Spice family, offering visitors a unique vacation experience set in an unforgettable slice of Hawaii's history. During your vacation stay, you'll have the entire place to yourself, perfect for a personal retreat, creative rejuvenation, or as a base camp for exploring the Big Island. The Onion House has been featured by NY Times, Architectural Digest, Global Architecture Magazine, The Travel Channel, The Fine Living Channel, The Learning Channel, MTV Extreme Cribs, HGTV, and Southern Possibilities.

Stunning Design and Tropical Surroundings

Lava Rock walls create a high terrace that overlooks the sea, where two arching domes lie surrounded by a pool, terrace, and gardens. Light filters through colorful stained glass walls and translucent roof panels. With stunning visual aesthetics and luscious tropical surroundings, the compound affords ample privacy in which to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy the gardens, terrace, and 70-foot turquoise pool. There is a covered outdoor walkway that connects the separate master bedroom, with a private walled meditation garden, to the main structure, which holds two smaller bedrooms, a bath, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Accommodations and Location

The Onion House has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and sleeps 6, with 1 king bed, 1 queen bed, and 1 double. The vacation retreat has grounds of nearly an acre, the home is five minutes from town, restaurants, adventures, and beaches, yet worlds away. The home was hand-built in 1962 by renowned architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, an innovator of Organic Architectural design, the home features stained glass by James Hubbell. The home has been lovingly restored by artist Beth McCormick (niece of the original owner) whose artwork germinated in this setting. In 2017, the home was purchased by new owners, who continue to offer it as a unique destination.

Exclusive Amenities and Activities

You will have the entire place to yourself. During your vacation stay, you'll have the privacy in which to swim and sunbathe, enjoying the 70-foot turquoise pool and gardens. The home has a fully appointed kitchen, laundry, WiFi, TV, stereo, outdoor shower, terrace, and grill for outdoor dining. There is a separate master suite, each bedroom steps out into gardens. Friendly, knowledgeable crew. Just five minutes from town and beaches, yet worlds away. The Onion House makes an ideal 'base camp' to explore the Big Island, a mini continent with almost every climate on earth to include tropical rainforests, plunging waterfalls, beaches, snowcapped mountains, world-class diving, and an erupting volcano. Year-round sun.

Organic Architectural Design

The Onion House is true Organic Architectural Design it is not a climate-controlled, sterile resort-like location. There is no air-conditioning (the owners use many fans). It is truly indoor/outdoor living in a shelter of a roof, screen, glass, and rock cooled by nature passive design. Kailua-Kona is in the tropics, and the owners instruct guests on best practices to keep tropical visitors at bay (cleaning after meals, putting food away, removing trash daily), but if you've never lived in a tropical environment, you may see more wildlife than you are used to.