Renovated in 2009, on the site of the Poipu Beach Hotel, devastated by Hurricane Iniki two decades earlier, Ko’a Kea Hotel and Resort is an upscale 121-room boutique hotel on the sunny south shore of Kauaʻi. In Hawaiʻian, Ko’a means “coral”, and Kea means “white.” In Hawaiʻian mythology, the ancient Hawaiʻian world began with the birth of the goddess Po, whose first grandchild was the coral. the goddess Hina. Hina, short for Wahine meaning “woman”, is a powerful source of new life and spirituality. White coral designs are visible throughout the property. Despite its intimate scale and sensibility, the Anita Brooks-designed contemporary hotel, offers hi end amenities (dual shower heads in marble-accented bathrooms), fitness center and private lanais–most with views of the pounding surf fronting the hotel.

Feature Image Photo Credit: Ko’a Kea Hotel and Resort Website