This famed author’s former Hawaii home seeks to turn a new page for $8.9M

The modern home was formerly owned by lawyer-turned-bestselling writer Kristin Hannah, author of more than 20 novels including “Firefly Lane,” which became a two-season Netflix series starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke, chronicling best friends throughout the decades.

Hannah has also written historical fiction, like “The Nightingale,” about two sisters in Nazi-occupied France. It was in pre-production with Elle and Dakota Fanning playing the sisters before the pandemic — and may be resurrected.

Hannah purchased this contemporary beach house for $4.45 million in 2003 and sold it for $7 million to the current owner in 2021, according to property records.

Not much has changed since then, said listing broker Amy Frazier of Hawaii Life. Located at 3704 Anini Road, the offering sits on half an acre on the north shore of Kauai. It’s just steps from Anini Beach, which boasts the largest coral reef in the Hawaiian Islands — an ideal spot for kitesurfing, snorkeling and paddle boarding, per the listing. Surfing, away from the lagoon, is about a mile from the home, the broker added.

The residence also includes a coveted vacation rental license, which allows for nightly rentals. Built in 1998, the 2,778-square-foot abode features three bedrooms, 2½ baths and an outdoor shower. Each bedroom boasts ocean views.

Designed by architect Norman Lacayo, the multi-level residence features an antique carved wooden front door, an open layout, floor-to-ceiling windows, custom cabinets with Hawaiian koa wood, decks with ocean views, tropical landscaping and around 150 feet on the beach.

There are also 9-foot-tall glass pocket doors in the living room that fully open to the outside. “It’s like living outside with a roof over your head,” said the seller, a female executive in the wellness industry from the Bay Area who first studied aero engineering at Stanford University.

The seller, who declined to be named, adds that one of her favorite things about the home is a garden path that leads to the beach — and the sea turtles that swim nearby.