HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hollywood star and Texas native Matthew McConaughey has found his island escape. In late 2020, the Oscar-winning actor bought a brand-new $7.8 million home on Hawaiʻi Island.
Located in the exclusive Kukio Beach and Golf Club community in Kailua-Kona, this luxury retreat blends high-end design with the peaceful beauty of the islands.
Here are the top 12 things to know about the actor’s Hawaiʻi home:
1. First-time owner
The home is brand-new, and McConaughey and his family are the first to call it home. The one-acre lot was originally purchased in 2018 by Esperanza Residence LLC for $1.65 million. Over the next two years, nearly $3.8 million was invested into the construction of the house and resulted in a custom-designed residence that sets a new standard for island elegance.
2. Designed for barefoot luxury
Architect Paul Bleck of Kona led the home’s design, with a clear focus on “barefoot elegance”. It’s a term that perfectly describes the home’s effortless mix of comfort and sophistication. This isn’t just a glamorous getaway. It’s a carefully curated space that invites you to kick off your shoes and feel at home in nature.
From the warm tones of the wide-plank European oak floors to the cool surface of La Paz stone, every inch of the home is designed to feel grounded and relaxed, yet undeniably high-end.
3. Doubling down on comfort
One of the standout features of McConaughey’s home is its abundance of dual features. The house includes two expansive primary suites that offers flexibility and privacy for family or guests. There are also two pools that are ideal for a quick morning dip or a sunset soak.
The home also features both indoor and outdoor kitchens that allow for easy entertaining no matter the occasion. Whether it’s grilling under the stars or preparing a full meal inside, the space was made to host.
4. A view that takes your breath away
Perhaps the most iconic feature of the home is its 66-foot-long infinity pool. Set against sweeping beach views, the pool creates a seamless visual link between the water and the horizon. As the sun sets over the Pacific, the pool mirrors the sky’s shifting colors and adds a dramatic backdrop to any evening.
5. Disappearing doors
Inside, a massive great room features 63-foot-wide pocket doors that disappear into the walls and open the home entirely to the outdoors. The design encourages natural airflow and allows island breezes sweep through the living space to create a peaceful, open-air environment.
6. Materials that tell a story
Craftsmanship is everywhere in this home. The kitchen, for example, is a showcase of natural textures—modern bar fronts and warm wooden cabinetry come together with sleek stone countertops. Floors are made of wide-plank oak and La Paz stone, while countertops and surfaces throughout the home are finished in hand-carved limestone, quartzite, and Italian Calacatta marble.
7. Custom touches
Some of the custom touches for the home include teak cabinets, oversized cedar sliding doors and a cedar-paneled ceiling in the lanai. Each element was chosen to create harmony between the built environment and the natural surroundings.
8. Firelight and starlight
In true McConaughey fashion, this home includes two cozy fire pits designed for intimate gatherings. As palm fronds rustle overhead and cool breezes roll in from the ocean, the fire pits provide a perfect setting for quiet conversations or laughter with friends and family under the night sky.
The outdoor design isn’t just for show. It also supports the laid-back, open style of life that many in Hawaiʻi cherish. There’s a flow to the space that invites you to slow down, unplug and just be present.
9. An elite lifestyle, steps from the beach
Located inside the private, gated Kukio community, the home comes with access to one of the most prestigious beach clubs in Hawaiʻi. As a resident, McConaughey can join the Kukio Golf and Beach Club, which features two golf courses, multiple clubhouses, a state-of-the-art sports complex and indoor and outdoor spa facilities.
The community is nestled near the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and the newly reimagined Kona Village–Rosewood Resort, offering even more luxury options for relaxation and recreation. It’s more than a home; it’s a lifestyle.
10. Living with nature, not just near it
What makes this property stand out from so many other celebrity homes is how deeply it connects to its environment. From the moment you walk up the plant-lined pathway, you’re immersed in lush, tropical greenery. The house does than simply sit on the land. It flows with it.
The backyard features a manicured lawn that fades into the geometric beauty of the pool. Natural materials throughout the home reflect the textures and colors of the island to make the home feel like an extension of the land around it.
11 Spaces for inspiration and escape
Inside, the home includes a glass wine cellar, a sleek media room, a bonus office and six bedrooms. These aren’t just rooms; they’re sanctuaries. The kitchen, with its spacious marble island, is perfect for crafting a gourmet meal or just sharing coffee in the morning.
Bathrooms mix modern design with nature views to give the space a spa-like feel with tropical flair. Bedrooms open directly onto lanai that allows his friends and family to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean and wake up to sunlight through swaying palms.
12. A reflection of the star himself
This home is both beautiful and thoughtful. It reflects many of the ideas McConaughey has talked about in interviews and in his bestselling memoir, Greenlights. He often speaks of balance, living with intention and finding joy in simplicity. His Hawaiʻi Island home echoes those beliefs in its every detail.
From the symmetrical layout seen in aerial views to the blend of bold architecture and organic materials, the house seems to capture a moment of stillness which is a rare luxury in and of itself.
For McConaughey and his family, this home is a getaway and a retreat that’s designed for the rhythm of island life. It’s a home where luxury meets the land, and every sunset feels like a scene from one of his own films.
“All right, all right, all right” may be McConaughey’s signature line, but on Hawaiʻi Island, it feels more like a quiet whisper from the sea. A reminder to breathe, relax and enjoy the view.