A former Microsoft executive’s meticulously renovated Hawaii retreat has sold for $6.65 million, closing in September after spending 133 days on the market. Set directly along the Pacific in Kihei, the property occupies one of fewer than 100 direct oceanfront homesites in South Maui, according to the listing brokerage.
Known as Hale Uluniu, the residence at 1250 Uluniu Road, Unit B, combines a raised oceanfront setting with a gated entrance, extensive renovations and a separate guest studio. The property was represented by Evan Harlow of Coldwell Banker Island Properties for sellers Denise Rundle and Jeffrey Leach. Public sales records and local market reporting confirm the September 16 closing at $6.65 million, below its $7.25 million asking price.
A Rare Oceanfront Home in South Maui
Scarcity was central to the property’s appeal.
The home sits on a raised parcel just steps from the beach, with access through the Uluniu Beach Reserve. The current property record describes the residence as occupying one of fewer than 100 direct beachfront homesites across South Maui, making the combination of ocean access, elevation and privacy particularly unusual in the local luxury market.
“South Maui’s beachfront market is defined above all else by scarcity,” Harlow said in marketing materials for the property. “Direct oceanfront homesites on this stretch of coastline are extraordinarily finite, and those that combine a gated setting, a raised lot, and a complete, high-caliber renovation are rarer still.”
The setting also became increasingly relevant as Maui buyers placed greater emphasis on the relationship between oceanfront homes and the shoreline. Rather than sitting immediately against the water, 1250 Uluniu Road benefits from a visible buffer between the residence and the Pacific.
That distinction was highlighted by buyer representative Eric West of Team West Maui at Real Broker LLC, who said the oceanfront location, renovated condition and separation from the shoreline were among the property’s major attractions.
A 3,751-Square-Foot Maui Retreat
Built in 2007, the main residence contains approximately 3,751 square feet and is configured with three bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. The floor plan also includes a dedicated office, two living rooms, a kitchen with a dining nook, a laundry room and a powder room.
The architecture is designed around Hawaii’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Upstairs rooms open onto private balconies, while the main living areas on the first floor connect directly with the exterior through large sliding glass doors.
Beyond the house, a lanai and private swimming pool face the Pacific, turning the outdoor areas into an extension of the living space.
A separate two-car garage adds another layer of flexibility. Above it, a studio-style Ohana provides an additional bedroom and private accommodation, giving the property a fourth sleeping space outside the principal three-bedroom floor plan.
The result is a home that can function equally well as a private family retreat or as a gathering place for visiting friends and relatives.
A Complete Interior Transformation
Rundle and Leach purchased 1250 Uluniu Road in February 2020 for $3.65 million. After the acquisition, the couple undertook a substantial renovation that the brokerage described as a complete transformation of the property.
The updated interiors take a restrained approach to luxury, favoring clean lines, pale walls, natural wood and carefully selected finishes rather than overt ornamentation.
The current property description highlights details including limestone flooring, solid Brazilian teak, high-efficiency fiberglass windows, a backlit quartzite kitchen surface and Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. A solid cherry front door adds another custom architectural detail to the renovated residence.
“The curated and design-driven transformation of this home has been total and uncompromising,” Harlow said. “Every element has been reconsidered and executed to the highest standard, creating a residence that is both impeccably finished and deeply livable.”
That emphasis on livability appears throughout the house. Rather than treating the ocean view as something reserved for a single formal room, the renovation and floor plan allow the Pacific to remain part of the daily experience, from the upstairs balconies to the pool and lanai.
From Microsoft Executive to Maui Homeowner
Rundle brought an accomplished technology career to the property.
Before retiring in 2023, she served as a general manager and partner within Microsoft’s consumer and advertiser organization. Her career with Microsoft extended back decades, including leadership roles within the company’s online support operations.
For Rundle, however, the appeal of the Kihei property was ultimately less about its professional provenance than the everyday experience of living beside the ocean.
“It felt magical getting to live in paradise and to watch whales from the lanai, to be steps from the beach, and to see turtles on my walks each day,” Rundle said. “I truly loved getting to share this piece of paradise with my family and friends.”
That sentiment captures an important distinction between 1250 Uluniu Road and conventional resort real estate. The home was positioned not simply as an investment or vacation property, but as a private residence designed around repeated, everyday access to Maui’s coastline.
From $3.65 Million to $6.65 Million
The September 2026 sale marks a substantial change in value from the couple’s original acquisition.
Rundle and Leach paid $3.65 million for the property in February 2020. The home later returned to the market in May 2026 at $7.25 million. It ultimately sold for $6.65 million on September 16, representing an approximately 8.3% reduction from the original asking price and an increase of about 82% over the 2020 purchase price before accounting for renovation and ownership costs.
The property also has a longer recorded sales history. Public records show a $2 million sale in September 2004, before the present residence was completed.
Its 2026 marketing campaign therefore represented not simply a resale of a luxury home, but the culmination of a major ownership and renovation cycle.
The final $6.65 million transaction equates to approximately $1,772 per square foot based on the 3,751-square-foot residence. Local market reporting recorded 133 days on market before the sale.
Why the Shoreline Setback Matters
For today’s Maui luxury buyers, proximity to the ocean comes with a more complicated set of considerations than simply measuring the distance to the sand.
West pointed to changing state and county policies governing shoreline protection and erosion as an increasingly important factor in oceanfront purchasing decisions.
“Under current state and county policy, owners are no longer allowed to armor or otherwise protect their private property from shoreline erosion,” West said. “A home that sits right at the water’s edge now carries real long-term risk, while a property with a natural setback is becoming the most desirable kind of oceanfront on the island.”
The issue became particularly visible in September 2026, when Hurricane Lowell generated coastal impacts across Hawaii and caused damage along portions of Maui’s shoreline. National Weather Service reporting documented the storm’s closest approach to the Hawaiian Islands on September 7, while Maui County and local reporting documented coastal flooding, waves and damage in parts of the island.
According to the sales account, 1250 Uluniu Road was unaffected by the storm. That claim is best understood in the context of the property’s raised position and setback from the shoreline rather than as evidence that oceanfront properties on Maui are insulated from future coastal hazards.
Life Along Kihei’s Pacific Shore
Kihei has long attracted buyers seeking a more residential side of Maui while remaining close to the island’s resort amenities.
For a property such as 1250 Uluniu Road, the appeal begins with the immediate beach access. The home is positioned behind a gated entry and reached the shoreline through the Uluniu Beach Reserve, creating a private residential relationship with the coast rather than the atmosphere of a conventional hotel compound.
The broader Kihei area provides access to beaches, restaurants, shopping and everyday services, while the South Maui location places residents within reach of the resort communities farther south.
Yet the defining feature remains the ocean itself.
From the lanai, pool and upper-level balconies, the property’s Pacific outlook becomes a constant backdrop. For buyers seeking Maui real estate at the intersection of privacy, architectural quality and direct coastal access, that combination is increasingly difficult to reproduce.
A $6.65 Million Sale Defined by Scarcity
The sale of 1250 Uluniu Road illustrates why South Maui oceanfront property continues to command attention at the upper end of the market.
The residence offers 3,751 square feet of recently renovated interiors, three en-suite bedrooms in the main house, a separate guest studio, a pool and direct access to the Pacific. More importantly, it combines those features with a raised homesite and a natural buffer from the shoreline.
After more than six years of ownership, Denise Rundle and Jeffrey Leach have now transferred the Maui retreat to a new owner for $6.65 million.
For californialuxuryhouses, the transaction stands out not only for its price but for the increasingly important qualities behind it: limited oceanfront inventory, thoughtful renovation and a physical relationship with the shoreline that gives the property both its lifestyle appeal and its market significance.