You ask. We answer.HAWAII Magazine reader Charles Eldon wrote:
“Can you tell me when (or if) the former Poipu Beach Hotel will open? It was, before Iniki, my favorite place to stay.”
In 1992, three Poipu hotels—the Sheraton, the Poipu Beach Hotel and the Stouffer Waiohai—suffered the most from Hurricane Iniki.
It took nearly five years for the Sheraton Kauai Resort to reopen. In 2004, the site of the old Stouffer Waiohai site was transformed into Marriott's new Waiohai Beach Club.
Now the Poipu Beach Hotel, which was one of the oldest hotels on the Garden isle, finally looks like it's coming back--more than 16 years after Iniki.
But it’s not exactly the old Poipu Beach Hotel.
It will be the Ko’a Kea, a totally reconstructed 121-room contemporary hotel, built on the original footprint of the Poipu Beach Hotel and therefore offering unmatched proximity to the ocean.

The luxury property will offer rooms with internet and espresso makers, a lounge, a spa and restaurant named Red Salt.
It opens August 29, and is already taking reservations. (877) 806-2288.



After watching Anthony Bourdain eat at
You chose a Polish sausage or veggie hot dog (veggie?). Then you select one of the four garlic lemon secret sauces. Finally, you choose from seven tropical relishes, and, if you want, you can add the traditional condiments such as ketchup and mustard.
My Puka Dog was delicious, with original garlic lemon secret sauce topped with papaya relish and lilikoi mustard—fruit-flavors I’d never tasted before on a hot dog. Surprisingly, it wasnĘ»t as fruity as I was afraid it was going to be. The grilled polish sausage was juicy and almost as long as the bun. It made me wish I could make lunches like this at home. 
Alaska Airlines is stepping into the void left by the departure of ATA and Aloha Airlines.
ATA Airlines announced late Wednesday, Hawaii time, that it was shutting down nationwide passenger service.
People always say, “If you go to Kauai, you have to try Hamura’s Saimin.” When I went to the Garden Isle, I had to see what everyone was talking about.
I ordered the “Special Regular”: noodles, fish cake, won ton, Chinese cabbage, a hard boil egg and pieces of pork in Hamura’s special secret broth. 
Aloha Airlines announced this morning it was shutting down passenger service—both interisland and transpacific.
Today, we’re celebrating Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Piikoi’s birthday in the Islands.
“I’m coming up to see a relative.”
The Na Pali Coast of Kauai is the focus of a photo essay and feature in the April issue of National Geographic.
