The Look

Located on the grounds of the old Po’ipu Beach Hotel, the Ko’a Kea is a modern boutique hotel (it opened its doors in 2009) with an indoor/outdoor vibe. Palm trees, green grass and winding paths dominate the landscaping. Inside, the lobby and Red Salt restaurant feature elegant but simple island decor, with white sofas and chairs, fresh flowers and shimmering chandeliers. The real prime real estate, though, is the palm-shaded lounge chairs surrounding the pool.

Bed and Bath

The guestrooms and suites emanate simple luxury. Soft, featherbed-topped mattresses and crisp white duvets make sleeping easy. Each room has its own private balcony or terrace. For that first, eye-opening cup of coffee, there’s a Nespresso machine in every room. The bathrooms are slick, with deep, modern sinks, spacious showers and baths, and bath products from L’Occitane.

Beyond

Red Salt, a window-lined oceanview dining room, serves breakfast and dinner daily (lunch is poolside at the Pool Bar). Signature breakfast dishes include macadamia nut Belgian waffles and lemon-pineapple soufflé pancakes, while dinner leans toward seafood, with a modern approach to Hawaiian cuisine. Expect poke, kalua pork, pan-seared ono and splurge-worthy fare like lobster ravioli and wagyu New York steak. The Pool Bar and the lounge mix a variety of cocktails, including the classic Mai Tai, but the six different martinis and the martini flight deserve serious consideration. The spa has five rooms, including a couples suite; in-room services are also available. The beach activities hut rents snorkel gear, surfboards, boogie boards and beach chairs.

In the Area

Beaches including the tranquil Mahaulepu Beach and the lava tubes at Spouting Horn are easy stops. All sorts of water sports are within walking distance or a quick drive; Kauai Surf School offers surfing lessons for any age or level. And the Ko’a Kea is close to Outfitters Kauai’s meeting point for kayaking the 16-mile Na Pali Coast in the summer. Landlubbers might prefer golf at Poipu Bay Golf Course or shopping at Poipu Shopping Village. Foodwise, there are Keoki’s Paradise and Roy’s, the popular Hawaii-inspired chain. Or, much farther afield, there’s Mermaids Café, in Kapaa, which is worth a drive for the ahi nori wrap.