Back
POIPU, Kauai - I won't soon forget my first impression of Kukui'ula.
Walking into the open air lobby of the Lodge at Kukui'ula, a tropical paradise overloaded my senses. A lush lawn of swaying palms, a firepit and a lounging pool caught my eye immediately. Eventually, my gaze shifted to the beautiful blue backdrop of the ocean along Kauai's south shore. It's the 'oh wow' moment (see the lead photo) that makes Kukui'ula one of the most coveted golf and real estate developments in the Hawaiian islands. Maybe Fantasy Island isn't just a TV show after all?
This 1,010-acre private community nestled between the National Tropical Botanical Garden and historic Old Koloa Town can be yours for a weekend or a lifetime. Guests can stay on property in a series of villas, cottages and bungalows. Or they can commit to a permanent lifestyle of Kauai luxury by buying a lot and building a home or an existing one.
Kukui'ula's location is ideal, perched on the sunnier side of Kauai. It's closer to the Lihue airport than the North Shore and mere minutes from a handful of the island's most popular spots:
1. The Spouting Horn Kauai, a blow hole along the coast
2. The marina where Capt Andy's sails to the famed Na Pali Coast
3. The Shops at Kukui'ula, an upscale, walkable outdoor mall of retail and restaurant therapy
4. The Kiahuna Beach at Poipu, a magnet for snorkeling
5. The best access point for exploring the Waimea Canyon
I experienced four of the five (not the canyon) during a too-short, two-night stay at Kukui'ula in February.
The club life of Kukui'ula
It all starts at the lodge, where residents and club members can gather every morning for a complimentary breakfast of oatmeal, coffee and pastries or by night with drinks and dinner at the 'Umeke Kitchen + Bar. Pool tables, ping pong and video games entertain a younger crowd.
If the Lodge at Kukui'ula is the heartbeat of community, the rest of the amenities speak to the soul. There's something everyone can connect with, whether it's relaxing at the saltwater pool complex or inside the Hi'ilani spa and fitness center or getting active on the stunningly scenic Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course and the new pickleball courts.
We dined by the pools at the Makai Grill + Bar for both lunch and dinner, each with its own menu. The poke bowl was a favorite of both my wife and me, and we normally don't agree on what to eat. The property is entirely free of cash or credit cards, meaning you can just eat and leave at your leisure without signing anything. Everything is billed to your account accordingly. That's how intimate the setting is.
The last supper was a special themed celebration, the Ala Kine Taco Bar, where members and guests gathered at sunset to dine on an assortment of tacos prepared by the chefs.
All the fruits, herbs and vegetables come fresh from The Farm at Kukui'ula, a 10-acre upcountry oasis that hosts floral arranging workshops, gardening lessons, private cooking classes and a seasonal farm-to-fork dinner under the stars. There's also a lake for water sports like kayaking. A convenient Da Farm Stand near the lodge allows community members and guests to take as much free produce and flowers as they need. It's a great sustainable resource.
Where we stayed was a "cottage" in name only. If I had a wish list for my California home, the residence's large kitchen island, big soaking tub and outdoor shower would all probably be in my top three.
Sailing with Capt Andy's
If you're staying at Kukui’ula, I don't recommend leaving very often. Touring the Na Pali Coast with Capt Andy's would be the best exception. Unfortunately, just a couple hours before our sail, Capt Andy's broke the bad news by text that rough seas had forced a change of plans, a sunset dinner cruise along the southern coast of Kauai. We walked onto the boat cursing our bad luck, but those negative thoughts were quickly washed away by the gentle breeze and waves on this small slice of the Pacific. We spent the next couple of hours chasing whale tails. At one point, a few dolphins buzzed by our catamaran. A nice meal of steak, potatoes and key lime pie curbed our appetites just in time for a sunset that was, well, out of this world. If I have one piece of advice for visiting Hawaii, it's this: Never leave without getting on the water.
As you can imagine, this lifestyle isn't attainable for everyone. Guests of the lodge must stay at least three nights, costing anywhere from $899-$3,600 per night depending on the season.
To be a member, one must own property in the development. Lot prices start at $1.475 million up to $5.5 million. Currently 11 homesites available for purchase that are ready for possession, plus an additional 24 will be released early next year.
Kukui’ula is also working on 17 new spec-build homes, all that will be for sale by the end of the year. There is also a limited selection of resale, move-in ready homes, costing anywhere from $4.95 million up to $19.5 million.
Teeing up The Club at Kukui'ula
Golfers teeing up The Club at Kukui'ula check in at the pro shop adjacent to the lodge. Green fees are $315 for lodge guests.
The 7,013-yard course, opened in 2006, is quintessential Weiskopf. It's very playable and enjoyable. It feels very much like a resort course with wide fairways and sensible but bold bunkering. The rolling topography makes it play longer than the tees you choose.
For example, the three-hole stretch from holes 3-5 all play uphill, a nice par 3-5-4 combination that ends with the no. 1 handicap. The 452-yard climb at no. 5 is rewarded with a panoramic view from an elevated tee box on the downhill 493-yard sixth.
Two comfort stations keep the cooler stocked with any sort of drinks or snacks you crave. An ice cream sandwich really spoke to me, but I couldn't justify it at 10 in the morning.
The front nine is a mere appetizer for the fireworks on the back. Starting with no. 11 - a 314-yard drivable par 4 - the design never takes the foot off the gas. Its holes range from the sacred (a cultural site on the par-3 12th) to the stunning (magnificent ocean views on the par-5 13th and drivable 14th) and the stout, a four-hole finish that derailed a solid round for me.
As my playing partner and I drove down the 14th fairway toward the ocean, a whale breached off in the distance. It seems no matter where you go inside Kukui'ula, on the course or off, there's always something really special about to happen.
Comments (0)