A home could scarcely have a more classically Hawaiian setting than to be perched on a hillside at The Pointe of Hawaii Loa Ridge. After all, the site overlooks the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific, with views opening onto Diamond Head and Koko Head in the distance.

Yet standing on this very spot is a graceful, 5,000-square foot home that is deeply rooted in a culture over 6,000 miles away. While the structure matches its Hawaiian setting perfectly, it also embodies the aesthetics of another island culture – Bali.

Honolulu architect Tamya Liaw designed this residence for a Taiwan-based couple. “My clients went to Bali for their honeymoon and fell in love with the Balinese style of architecture,” Liaw explains. “They wanted their dream vacation home on Oahu to simulate that style and the experience they had there.”

To better understand the concepts and details of Balinese architecture, Liaw traveled to Bali for some intensive research and to immerse herself in the culture. What she discovered was that, as far as lifestyle was concerned, Bali and Hawaii were a perfect match. “The living style of Hawaii is similar to Bail because of the climate and weather,” Liaw says. “In both places, there is an indoor-outdoor relationship. Balinese architecture integrates the tranquil landscape into structures and provides promotes tranquility, peace and relaxation.”

Armed with that knowledge, and after much consultation with the clients about their desires (and incumbent Western lifestyle needs), Liaw set about designing the highly customized, two-story, three-bedroom-suite home on its unique, diamond-shaped site. The inspiration was the traditional Balinese Bale, or pavilion, that opens onto lanais and is surrounded by lavish gardens.

The exterior profile is low-slung, with hip roofs -- capped by “Santa Fe” clay roof tiles from South America -- topping off-white stucco walls. An outstanding architectural detail is a series of thirty-four carved wood columns used to support the generous overhang of the roofline, as well as frame the views from the various verandas and lanais.

“The columns were a daring part of the construction,” Liaw says. “They were structural pieces, so we couldn't wait for them to be made in Bali and then shipped over here like we did with some other things.” Instead, they were crafted on-site by master carpenters, who jigged and routered them out of 6x6-inch solid teak posts. Each column was set into stone footings, inlaid with ceramic tiles with a Balinese motif.

Within the house, Liaw's meticulous approach is evident in every detail, starting with the elaborately carved front door (one of many features she designed and sketched herself) that swings open to reveal a highly polished marble tile entry.

From there, the house reveals itself grandly, its architecture, materials and color palette speaking both Hawaiian and Balinese. The main living areas are spacious, with high ceilings finished with herringbone-patterned woven bamboo trimmed with custom-grooved wood trim. Sets of teak-framed, sliding glass doors open so completely that the walls of the rooms seem to simply disappear and the separation between indoors and out becomes most subliminal. “You can smell the flowers, and the air outside,” Liaw says.

Furnishings within the entire home came mostly from the owners' personal collection, much of which is antique pieces from Southeast Asia, China and Thailand. Exotic woods are accented and softened by throw rugs and pillows in rich hues of orange, red and blue. The owners' collection of artwork adds integrity, while fanciful pieces, such as a pair of Taiwanese paper fish lanterns that float below the ceiling in the living room, add flair.

A singular departure is in the kitchen, which was designed in multi-functional sections with a bit of minimalism and a lot of storage, including a pair of pullout pantries. There, a central island and green, distressed wood cabinetry, stands out. “It's convenient and functional, not glamorous,” Liaw says. Glamour, though tastefully understated, is in evidence in the adjoining dining room, where elaborately carved teak panels (again designed and sketched by Liaw) are the perfect backdrop to the fine wood table set and two-tiered silk Fortuny chandelier.

A covered bridge over a tranquil lily pond links the ground-floor master suite and the adjoining studio-office. The combination provides quiet, comfortable sanctuary. Both rooms are perfectly appointed with a collection of finely detailed wood furnishings and accessories, hard wood floors and woven bamboo ceilings. Windows swivel open for natural ventilation and to allow for a seamless connection to the gardens. The master bath, with its pristine marble tile work and sublime outdoor shower, was inspired by the Four Seasons Hotel in Bali.

The teak staircase was fabricated on-site and adorned with the owners' collection of decorative objects, including cow bells from Bali, and another Buddha in a landing niche. This “showcase staircase” leads to a pair of guest bedroom suites. Each is simple, yet sophisticated, with hard wood floors, carved wood ceiling fans, sliding doors that open onto private lanais and bathrooms outfitted with light-colored marble tiling and vanity tops.

Finally, a customized “viewing room” mixes modern amenities (–such as a state-of-the-art audio-visual system) with Balinese style in the form of a silk-covered “lazy bed” backed by intricately carved teak wall panels. “It's the prettiest room in the house,” Liaw concedes.

While the house was completed over a year-and-a-half ago, and is often filled with family and friends, it's clear that, for the couple who desired it so, the honeymoon has just begun.