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Ray Lagger
One of the great things about Hualalai is our Community, our Ohana (family). What makes up this Ohana? We, the members, are definitely part of the Ohana, as is the numerous people who work for Hualalai. Hualalai is unique in that over the years it has attracted buyers who generally enjoy socializing in an informal manner. Though we all come from different parts of the country and the world, in general we enjoy spending time with our neighbors. The Ohana is welcoming and non judgmental. Many of our members have taken the time and inclination to give back to our community, whether it’s by serving on a committee, participating in the Ohana Foundation or just involving themselves in helping their neighbors.
One person has stood out in our community as a true asset, always giving of his time and his expertise. And what expertise he has! And that person is Ray Lager.
Ray went to medical school at University of California San Francisco and had a successful career as a neurosurgeon in San Francisco. But he always had a passion for design and architecture. In fact, while in med school, Ray would read architecture textbooks for relaxation.
Well before he retired in 2001 Ray put his self-educated expertise into designing his home at Mauna Kea Resort. It turned out to be so spectacular it was on the cover of Architectural Digest in January 1997.
Click to See the Architectural Digest Article
After selling his home he moved to Hualalai in 2003 and focused on remodeling a home he purchased here.
As a student of design and of the world, Ray loves to travel and he loves to travel to exotic places and explore the architecture as well as the gardens and the plants. As he redid his home on Ke Alaula Street here in Hualalai he decided he wanted to design the gardens himself. And when he did, he did it with a vengeance. Ray analyzed exactly what he wanted his oasis to be and then sought out the most fabulous plants to create a tropical garden worthy of entrance fees at a botanical garden. He designed the garden walls, water features and gates, all with such subtlety that you are not aware of how the design envelops and leads you into the experience of his world.
During this process Ray hooked up with Chambers Landscaping for installation of the project. This relationship has continued and Ray has started his second or third or fourth career doing professional landscaping in partnership with Craig Chambers. A passion and a love, Ray has completed 7 projects here in Hualalai as well as in Kukio. And he has 7 more in various stages of design. His latest project is redoing the entryways to the Ka ‘ulu Villas on Ka ‘Ulu Street and Ahinahina Street. This well bred, man of the world, retired neurosurgeon can often be found on the property in his hard hat, Chambers T-Shirt and gloves moving rocks, guiding palm trees and supervising installations.
Now you may be saying to yourself, “My, this guy is energetic!” Well, you are right but you haven’t heard all the other things Dr. Ray does for our community. Though Ray does not practice medicine per se, he is always ready to lend a medical hand to anyone on property. Ray is usually right there in case of an emergency and if a member of the community really needs some advice or guidance, Ray can often be found visiting the person at the hospital and often hooking the families up to specialists in Honolulu or on the Main Land. For many of us Ray has become an unpaid, volunteer, security net for medical issues.
But wait there’s more. Ray’s interest in Architecture has also led him to volunteer on the Hualalai Association Board where he is an active member of the Architecture Committee. Again, he donates his time with other volunteers reviewing drawings for new homes and remodels. In this endeavor he wants to make sure that Hualalai continues to be a place of beauty as well as a place where you can create your dream home. Always in tune to views and effects, Ray spends hours making sure no one is compromised and no one is dealt with unfairly.
I’m exhausted, how about you? Well, Ray isn’t. He still has energy to be this year’s President of the Ohana Foundation. Also every now and then you can spot him picking up a microphone and joining some of our musicians in serenading us with Hawaiian songs.
When not on the Big Island, he serves on the Board of San Simeon in California and helps out his family in San Francisco. He also is an avid scuba diver and loves diving in exotic locations.
Ray Lager epitomizes what Ohana really means. He gives back to his community, he uses his talents to help all of us and on top of that he is always kind, sweet and fun to talk to. Thank you. Ray, for being part of our Ohana.
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