POIPU, Hawaii -- The reopening of the 413-room Sheraton Kauai
Resort, which underwent a $40 million reconstruction, tops the
major changes during the past six months at the resort area here on
Kauai's south shore.
The hotel, which reopened in December, had been closed since it
was damaged by September 1992's Hurricane Iniki.
Along with the reopening, other changes took place along several
miles of shoreline, further distancing the area from the storm's
legacy.
Park and landscaping improvements, many started several years
ago, were completed late last year.
The four-acre Poipu Beach Park, the area's largest and most
popular beach, was restored.
Work included the construction of five picnic pavilions, two
comfort stations with changing rooms and toilets, extensive
landscaping and sidewalks.
A small park, including a picnic pavilion and rest rooms, opened
at Poipu's small-boat harbor.
A $2.2 million project was completed along Poipu Road, which
parallels the coast and where some properties have entrances.
Work included road widening, landscaping, the creation of
jogging and bike paths, and new cross walks.
"The big news is the Sheraton reopening. Restaurants, retail
stores and activities have all felt the impact," said Margy Parker,
executive director of the 125-member Poipu Beach Resort
Association.
"What it does is provide an anchor to the western part of Poipu.
We have the Hyatt in the east."
The area has 30 properties, totaling 2,600 rooms, but most are
small, and are condominiums or bed and breakfasts.
Larger properties are the 600-room Hyatt Regency Kauai; the
Sheraton; the 330-unit Kiahuna Plantation, and the 216-suite
Embassy Vacation Resort-Poipu Point.
Renaissance Hotels' 426-room Waiohai and adjacent 139-room Poipu
Beach remain the only properties closed since Iniki.
According to Parker, there is still no word on their future.
The last condominium to reopen was in early 1996.
According to PKF-Hawaii, a management consultant and CPA firm,
Kauai's south shore had an average hotel and condominium occupancy
of 78.3% last year, down slightly from 1996's 78.9%.
However, for the first quarter of this year, occupancy was down
significantly -- 70.6%, compared to 78.1% for last year's
period.
The occupancy drop was predictable, said Parker, considering the
number of rooms coming on the market with the Sheraton
reopening.
Poipu has two 18-hole resort courses, the Kiahuna Golf Course
and the Poipu Bay Resort Course at Hyatt Regency.
The PGA Grand Slam will be held at Poipu Bay for the fifth
consecutive year on Nov. 17 and 18.
Tiger Woods attracted crowds that made last year's attendance
the highest ever. Ernie Els won the event, however.
The area has two dozen operators, with activities ranging from
catamaran cruises and horseback trail riding to scuba and other
ocean sports.
Captain Andy's Sailing Adventures, which offers snorkeling
cruises from the small boat harbor, will add a second catamaran
this summer.
Its existing vessel holds 49 passengers; the new one, 85.
Late last year, the National Tropical Botanical Garden opened a
visitor center and gift shop in a former plantation manager's home
opposite Sprouting Park
Visitors are shuttled from the center to the attraction, which
has 280 acres of gardens and a research facility, at nearby Lawai;
previously they were picked up at the park.
Poipu, together with Koloa, a small plantation town a few miles
inland, has a total of 27 restaurants, far more than before
Iniki.
The latest to open are at the Sheraton-Shells, the main
restaurant, and Naniwa (Japanese).
Others opening in the last two years include such Hawaii-based
notables as Roy's and A Pacific Cafe, and Piatti, a California
chain.
Poipu Beach Resort Association
Phone: (808) 742-7444
Fax: (808) 742-7887
E-mail:[email protected]
Web:www.poipu-beach.org