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Poipu, on the Southern coast of Kauai, has the most consistently sunny beaches on the island. There are no guarantees, but the leeward (Southern) shores in Hawaii typically are warmer, drier and sunnier. For this reason, many of the island's resorts are clustered here.
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My favorite hotel on the island is the Grand Hyatt Kauai in Poipu. While it is, indeed, a big resort, it is also designed and decorated in very good taste (at least within the common areas I have seen—I have never needed to rent a room). What makes the hotel most attractive is the sensitive way in which such a large property is incorporated within the local topography. It is nestled into the hillside, designed in a tropical "territorial" style—a little bit of Spanish Mission, a little bit of Mediterranean, a little bit of Art Deco. The architecture is also a tip-of-the-hat to the early Twentieth Century architect, Charles W. Dickey who created a unique Hawaiian style architecture, often seen in pre-WWII civic buildings.
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Upon entering the grand, open lobby, one glances across a planted courtyard to a stage-like "proscenium arch," and the Pacific Ocean beyond that.
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After walking through the premises, we like to go to Shipwrecks Beach—a small beach popular with Hyatt guests and local surfers. Due to the recent stormy weather, the water was quite choppy, a little bit muddy, and a lot of rocks had been washed-up onto the beach. But the sun was nice and warm!
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248