Four Days in Kukuiʻula on Kauaʻi's South Shore

Choose from a plantation-style cottage, modern bungalow or villa with up to four bedrooms — some with a separate guest house. All homes are completely private and enveloped in pristine tropical landscaping. Many have fireplaces and jacuzzi bathtubs. All of them have outdoor rock wall showers for every bathroom and full kitchens with gas range. Walk down to the club in the morning for complimentary breakfast and a view of Spouting Horn blowhole, and to plan your activities for the day.

The Lodge also will arrange a rental car for you that will be waiting for you at the airport when you land. When you are ready to go home, simply drive back to the airport and someone will be there to take the keys and wish you a safe flight home, no need to go to a rental car agency.

BOOK YOUR STAY

After you've settled into your new home, take a walk down to the club to enjoy lunch by the pool, followed by a swim in the enormous saltwater pools — one for adults only and one for the whole family.

For the most spectacular sunset view on the South Shore, you have to come to The Beach House. An institution since the '80s, The Beach House offers farm-to-table Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine and craft cocktails with an ocean view overlooking Lāwaʻi Beach. Order a mai tai, some fresh local fish and save room for dessert — you'll want to linger over this one.

Grab a coffee and breakfast to enjoy outside at Java Kai. Then take a stroll through the boutique shops and art galleries. Grab a couple bottles of wine from the wine shop to take back to your house. When you are ready for a cool treat, stop into Kauaʻi Juice Co. for a fresh pressed juice or smoothie bowl.

Just a short walk from The Lodge you'll find the Kukuiʻula Surf Hale across the street from the beach at Kukui’ula Boat Harbor. Here, you can borrow stand-up paddle boards, surfboards, snorkel gear and more. The beach at the harbor is usually very calm for swimming stand-up paddle boarding and snorkeling. To catch some waves, try PK's down the street.

Huakaʻi Outfitters is a team of local watermen (and women) who partner with The Lodge. They offer lessons and excursions of all kinds from sailing the Nā Pali Coast to biking Waimea Canyon.

This is the clubhouseʻs farm-to-table restaurant. Enjoy ingredients grown on property at Kukuiʻula Farm alongside fresh local seafood prepared by Executive Chef Ben Takahashi.

If you havenʻt noticed by now, the farm stand across from the front entrance to the club is stocked with complimentary fresh produce and flowers from Kukuiʻula Farm daily. Just another perk of you stay. Visit early each day for the best selection and pick up some ingredients to prepare in your home.

Then, take a 1-hour tour of the 10-acre farm to see where all of Kukuiʻula's fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers are grown.

For lunch, go into Kōloa Town to Break + Feast. This brunch spot is open until 1:30 p.m. and serves big portions of local style dishes like loco moco; big fluffy pancakes topped with lilikoʻi, bananas or pineapple and hot sandwiches and burgers like the kalbi burger topped with garlic sesame soy, kimchi slaw and cheddar. Come hungry for big portions.

Spend an hour or two wandering through the shops, have a cocktail at Merrimans and grab any other ingredients you may need for dinner at Living Foods Market & Café.

Head back to the house and enjoy a quiet dinner at home with all of the farm fresh ingredients you've picked up today. Home come with outdoor grills and full gas ranges.

This open-air, world-class spa has everything you'll need. There is a co-ed lap pool where you can order lunch. There are also separate sides for men and women that include a sauna, steam room, cold and hot plunge pools, lounge stocked with healthy snacks and drinks, locker room and showers with everything you need for skin care and hair. There are even shaving kits, toothbrushes and mouthwash. Book a spa treatment and you can stay all day.

The most prominent feature is Kukuiʻula's 18-hole golf course designed by PGA Tour champion Tom Weiskopf. Don't golf? There is also a tennis/pickleball court, archery, yoga, Barre, Pilates, strength training, a fully-stocked fitness center and cultural activities such as lei-making and Hawaiian language classes. There truly is something for everyone. You can pick up an activities schedule at Hiʻilani Spa and choose something that speaks to you.

Whatever you do, soak up every last minute of this property before you go. It truly is a special place and offers so much more than a place to stay. Don't be surprised if you are tempted to buy a home here at the end of your trip. Many people do.