 Around The Island
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Kauai Economy on Upswing
For those of you that have been putting off a trip to Kauai, now may be the time! A recent report issued by the County Council last week shows that Kauai's tourism, construction and service sectors were among the healthiest in the state. Not only that, the  report states that "Kauai is becoming more of a celebrity destination for more sophisticated travelers.
The annual study upon which the report is based is done by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization under a contract with Kauai County. The study shows that construction jobs were up almost 14 percent in early 2004, while the service sector expanded over 5 percent. And Kauai's unemployment rate of just under four percent is by far the best of the neighbor islands.
Poipu Beach Hotel Renovation On Track
The owners of the Poipu Beach Hotel want to restore the South Kauai hotel to pre-Hurricane Iniki condition. The resort hotel, located adjacent and to the west of the Waiohai hotel on the beachfront at Poipu, was severely damaged by the storm in September 1992. The hotel is the last along the Poipu coastline yet to be repaired and reopened following the hurricane of 14 years ago.
No one seems to have a definitive answer as to why the Poipu Beach Hotel has remained shuttered while the Hyatt Regency, Sheraton Kauai Resort and most recently the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club (formerly the Waiohai) have all been remodeled and reopened. Could it have been the threat of condemnation by a leading State Senator in the press? Whatever the reason, local residents will be delighted to at long last see the restoration.
Plans call for the owners to repair five existing multi-story buildings and a courtyard. An existing pool, pool-bar and spa-pool will be reconfigured as well. A restaurant, bar, lobby and retail store were part of the old hotel and plans call for these amenities to be used in the new hotel. The porte cochere and a driveway will be reconfigured to provide a sense of arrival, both day and night.
The new hotel will have 121 rooms with no kitchenettes, a reduction from the 138 rooms with kitchenettes previously offered. None of the new hotel rooms will be used as timeshare units or residential condominium units. The general look of the new hotel will be the same as the old hotel.
Olena Rubin of Kapaa crowned Miss Hawaii
Our very Olena Rubin beat out 12 other contestants to garner the Miss Hawaii crown at the annual pageant at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. The 23 year old Kapaa woman is a sophomore at Hawaii Pacific University and was a 1998 graduate of Kapaa High School. Rubin won both the swimsuit competition and the talent contest at the Miss Hawaii pageant. She will represent Hawaii at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. on September 18th.
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