It was designed by Hart Wood, the leader of a group of architects aiming to develop a style suitable for the climate and lifestyle of the islands.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as a fine example of the Mediterranean Revival style employed for several large estates of that era, most notably Walter F. Dillingham's La Pietra.

[2] The house site is on a steep slope in the Puʻunui area of Nuʻuanu Valley, next to the Oahu Country Club, with expansive views up the Valley and down to Honolulu harbor.

The roofing is covered with red tiles, the masonry walls are covered with white stucco both inside and out, and the terraced floors and terraced grounds give the impression of a hillside town above the Mediterranean.

[1] In 1947, the Canavarro Castle was purchased by the Korean Kook Min Hur (National Association), but subsequently fell into disuse.