Wandering through the wide-open green spaces at Waimea Plantation Cottages, guests can take a step back to a slower, simpler pace of life in the Islands. The renovated cottages -- there are 59 of them -- share the resort's 43 oceanside acres with palm trees and tropical foliage.
"Waimea Plantation Cottages is really Kauai's historic hotel, and these are authentic, vintage plantation homes; they were built from 1880s to 1930s," said Lois Shore, director of marketing for Waimea Plantation Cottages.
Established in 1884 on the west side of Kauai, first as a dairy and then as a sugarcane plantation providing workers a place to stay, Waimea Plantation Cottages was reborn as a resort in 1984.
Nature is a big draw at the resort, which is about to launch a self-guided tour of the many trees on the property, including banyan, macadamia, uliuli, plumeria, hala and monkeypod.
"We have so many guests ask about the trees and the plants that we decided to give people a guide to what is growing on the grounds," Shore said.
The cottages themselves range in size from one to five bedrooms and offer various views. I recommend the oceanfront or oceanview cottages, as it adds to the experience.
A pool sits oceanfront at Waimea Plantation Cottages. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Waimea Plantation Cottages
Each of the cottages comes with a fully equipped kitchen, living area and a private lanai. What I find most interesting about the cottages is that every one has a nameplate by the door that lists the name of the person who lived at the house and worked on the plantation. It really places the history of the place front and center.
Typical activities most guests engage in at the resort are jogging, walking (which may include rock collecting/gathering) and exercising along the 2-mile-long black-sand beach. Also, in the evening, guests are treated to spectacular sunsets with the island of Niihau in the background.
"It's an amazing place, and we are really preserving part of Kauai's and part of Hawaii's history," Shore said.
The property will also host weddings. When a guest books a wedding, the property supplies a list of Kauai wedding planners who have prior experience working these special events.
There are barbecues available for grilling food, or guests can go to the on-site restaurant, Chicken in a Barrel. In addition to serving up delicious cuisine, the restaurant supports a camp for kids who might not be able to go to camp otherwise; and its training program not only gives young people job skills but builds their confidence in the bargain.
When I'm dining there, I like to order a chicken plate lunch and then find peace lounging at the oceanfront pool, where I'll spend the afternoon in the sun, gazing out at the horizon and relaxing in the water in the very tranquil setting.