POIPU AGAIN NAMED BEST BEACH FOR 2004
 The Travel Channel's annual rating of beaches was published in early April,
again naming Poipu Beach as the Best Beach in America, and one of the best
beaches in the world. Other top American Beaches included Honaunau Bay in
Hawaii; Laguna Beach and Newport Beach in California; South Beach and Siesta
Key in Florida; Trunk Bay in St. John; Ofu Beach in American Samoa and Shi
Shi Beach in Washington. The only two American beaches named on the World's
Best list were Poipu Beach, Kauai and South Beach, Florida. Others on the
World’s Best list were in France, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Tahiti and
the Bahamas. More information on the Travel Channel’s annual ratings can
be found on:
http://travel.discovery.com/convergence/beachweek/interactives/americas.html
MAY 11TH PUBLIC HEARING FOR POIPU BEACH HOTEL & POIPU BEACH VILLAS
The Kauai County Planning Commission's May 11th meeting will include a
public hearing for the Poipu Beach Hotel re-construction plans. The owners
of the hotel are applying to build a 121-room hotel with restaurant, pool
and spa. The design will be very similar to the former structure, however
the hotel rooms and suites will not have kitchens.
Also scheduled for May 11th is the public hearing for permits to build Poipu
Beach Villas, a 323-unit condominium development on the corner of Poipu Road
and Kapili Road. The land is already zoned for this density.
MARRIOTT'S BEACH CLUB TIMESHARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club is ahead of schedule for completion of their
remaining 102 units. 30 units have opened three months early and an
additional 20 units recently came on line five months early. The next 20
units will open July 2nd and the final 30 units, scheduled to open in
February 05, will most likely be completed by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, the Kiawe Grill, the resort's restaurant, opens June 1st offering
breakfast and dinner. General Manager, Edgar Gum, has indicated that time
share sales and occupancy are both very strong, a big factor in moving up
the time schedule.
BIG JUMP IN VISITOR STATICTICS IN FEBRUARY
February showed large increases in visitor arrivals from all major market
sectors on Kauai, particularly in the international arena. With an increase
in arrivals of +10%, Kauai's visitors surged +6.5% for the domestic market
and a whopping 28.6% for international arrivals. By comparison, Oahu showed
an increase overall of +9%, mostly from the domestic market; Maui dropped
-10.4%, mostly in the domestic market and The Big Island declined -1.7% with
a slight increase in domestic arrivals.
For Kauai, visitors from U.S. West rose 9.4%, with the Kauai-only segment up
+15.2% to 62% share of the market. Those from U.S. East increased +3.9%,
with the Kauai-only segment up +18.2% to 32% of that market. Canadian
arrivals showed a huge increase (+43% with 6612 passengers) and the
Kauai-only visitor from Canada was almost a third of that market as well,
showing an increase of +176.6%. Japanese visitors surged ahead too, by
+35.2% to 7,544. Those from Japan staying only on Kauai numbered 158, a
+36% increase over Feb. '03.
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