Too old for paradise? Couple in their eighties who built four-story Hawaii treehouse and lived in 'personal Eden' for 40 years to sell $3.8million dream home for something with fewer stairs

Too old for paradise? Couple in their eighties who built four-story Hawaii treehouse and lived in 'personal Eden' for 40 years to sell $3.8million dream home for something with fewer stairs

For forty years, it was a tropical heaven on earth, built with love and determination - but now the stairs are too much.

This four-story Hawaiian tree house built from an empty plot by Steve and Irene Au is finally getting left behind after 40 years as their 'personal Eden'.

A protected plot of land, which cost just $125,000 in 1975, has been painstakingly developed to house as many as seven people, farms and gardens. And now, complete with the Au fantasy home, the plot is being marketed for $3.8million.

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Tropical getaway: Steve and Irene Au built this four-story treehouse on Oahu, Hawaii, in the 1970s

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Towering: The home, which was built on land worth around $125,000, is now on the market for $3.8million

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View: The home offers an unobstructed Pacific vista, with the Mokulua, or Twin Islands, directly visible

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Spacious: The home was built smaller than originally planned, but its four floors provide a lot of room

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Efficient: The house was built with open shelving to save on the cost back when the Aus couldn't afford expensive development

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Labor of love: The Aus built the house and have lived there for 40 years, raising several children there

The paradise, which has four floors of magnificent views over the Pacific, was built tall as a concession to economy and space. The Aus saved money by skipping on doors, as each room in the 'free-flowing' home is on its own level.

It occupies a prime spot on the hillsides of Oahu island, not far from Honolulu, and the Mokulua, or Twin Islands, are the centerpiece of the prospect, Yahoo! Homes reported.

The couple's lack of ready funds in the 1970s also brought about other features in the home - cabinets were skipped in favor of cheaper, open shelving and there is no oven, leading the couple to rely on cooking with a wok.

Food is also plentiful around the house thanks to a 'secret garden' Irene nurtured, after breaking up the inhospitable soil around the plot and composting the soil until it was lush and fertile.

Now mangoes, pomelos, avocados, papayas, cherries and starfruit can all be plucked from just outside.

However, the rigors are gardening, lugging compost and - especially - climbing all the steps inside their home is no longer a vision of paradise.

When asked why the couple want to leave, Steve said: 'We're just ready. I'm 81 years old, and I've been running up and down these stairs for 40 years.'

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Lush: The compact bedrooms are flooded with light and give a majestic perspective on the Pacific

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Lots of levels: The Aus made the most of their plot by building upwards - with the result that this bedroom is on a separate level

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Prospect: The enviable home has been dubbed a 'personal Eden' thanks to its paradisaical trappings

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Compact: The Aus decided to forgo and oven for cost purposes, and do most of their cooking on these burners using a wok

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Sit back: The room is decorated with authentic wooden furniture which matches the shelving units

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Calming: The home towers over surrounding settlements on Oahu island, which is also home to state capital Honolulu

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Walkway to heaven: The home, which the Aus hope to sell soon, includes outdoor portions exposed to the Hawaii air