Hawaiian Tourism Authority/Tor JohnsonEmerging from the shadow of neighbouring Maui, Kauai is coming into its own with new developments on line and host of new attractions and adventures to sell your clients.
Hotels
In September Princeville Resort began renovations of its 252-room luxury cliff top property on the north shore of Kauai. The renovations will elevate the brand of the Starwood property, which is currently a four-star resort, to a St. Regis, the hotel company’s most exclusive brand. Completion is scheduled for spring 2009.
When the new beachfront Koa Kea Hotel & Resort opens in 2009, the 121-guestroom hotel will feature guestrooms and suites with fresh, crisp colours and sleek furniture to highlight the exterior views. The new hotel will also include a lounge, the stunning new restaurant Red Salt, and The Spa at Koa Kea. The property is right on Poipu Beach, utilizing the original footprint of the former Poipu Beach Hotel.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts recently unveiled the brand new Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. Located on Kauai’s north shore, the 7.5-hectare oceanfront property is perched 60 metres above Anini Beach and features 173 two-bedroom villas, four pools, three whirlpools, a two-storey clubhouse, a restaurant and general store.
Outrigger Enterprises Group will manage Koloa Landing at Poipu Beach, a new 9.5-hectare, luxury resort condominium project currently under construction on the southern tip of Kauai. The first phase of the US $285 million project is slated for completion in 2009. Koloa Landing will include 323 upscale resort condominiums with luxury resort amenities and services.
Attractions
Blue Dolphin Charters, operator of two large sailing catamarans for dive, snorkel and sightseeing tours, has added 7.5-metre rigid hull raft for raft-snorkel excursions of Kauai’s Napali Coast. Catering to small groupings of four to 12 passengers, the new raft excursion provides sea cave exploration, close encounters with coastal bays and shoreline areas, and a close-up view of Kauai’s abundant marine life.
Hawaiian Tourism Authority/Tor JohnsonKilohana Plantation in Lihue has recently introduced a new luau, which is open to the public on Tuesdays. The Kilohana Railway Tour also has a new three-hour and 40-minute combination railway tour and hike that allows participants to get off the train, feed the goats and pigs, hike through the fruit orchards and gardens, and enjoy a picnic lunch.Other Stuff
TripAdvisor released its inaugural list of Travelers’ Choice Top 100 Worldwide favourite destinations. Poipu is listed as #4 in the Top 25 destinations for the United States. Winners were determined by TripAdvisor travellers’ favourite places and overall popularity.
Malie, makers of luxury bath and beauty products on Kauai, announced the launch of its new Organic Aromas of Paradise, which can be used as a perfume or room spray. Malie uses natural and organic ingredients in its products whenever possible, only sourcing materials made in Hawaii and the U.S. It also uses 100 per cent post consumer recycled materials for its product packaging.
The ANARA Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa has completed its garden spa expansion amid a lush garden, waterfalls and serene pools. At more than 4,100 square metres it is the largest spa on Kauai, and second largest in Hawaii. The multi-million dollar expansion added five open-air bungalows featuring lava rock showers and a steam grotto.