The Latest in Luxury Resort & Real Estate News

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Kukui'ula Opens Plantation House Spa on Kauai

(Koloa, Kaua'i, Hawaii) -- Kukui'ula, the iconic new luxury community on the south shore of Kaua'i, has just unveiled the crown jewel of its new $100 million clubhouse.  The Plantation House Spa at Kukui'ula is a 20,000-square-foot tropical oasis designed to rival the finest private spas in the world.  The opening of the Plantation House Spa represents the last major piece of Kukui'ula's club amenities, which also includes the main clubhouse, known as The Plantation House, a separate Golf Clubhouse, extensive swimming facilities, 18-hole Tom Weiskopf championship golf course, scenic community farm and a 22-acre freshwater fishing lake.

"The Plantation House Spa is the centerpiece of our commitment to vibrant, healthy lifestyles," said Brent Herrington, president, Kukui'ula Development Company.  "The Plantation House Spa will be an integral part of daily life at Kukui'ula, providing our members with highly personalized wellness experiences and helping them achieve and sustain their own personal best level of fitness."

The opportunity for a therapeutic treatment is only one of the many pleasures the Plantation House Spa has to offer.  Members will enjoy working out in a state-of-the-art fitness center, attending yoga or Pilates classes in the Movement Studio, swimming laps, taking a sauna or steam, enjoying the tranquility of the robe lounge, sunning at poolside or relaxing in a shaded daybed.  The Plantation House Spa is imbued with a tranquil, garden-inspired ambience.  Richly textured indoor/outdoor treatment rooms are the settings for members to experience a range of therapies drawn from timeless Hawaiian healing traditions.  Treatments offered in the spa incorporate local botanical products, such as coconut, hibiscus, pineapple, papaya, lemongrass and coffee seed oil, to heighten the senses while providing therapeutic benefits.  Each of the treatment rooms opens into its own private garden area, providing a unique open-air experience and allowing natural breezes to flow through.

The spa features a dramatic lap pool with a cascading waterfall, men's and women's locker rooms, outdoor showers, steam and sauna facilities, private relaxation areas, a movement studio, an extensive selection of fitness equipment and private outdoor exercise lawn.  The spa boutique offers organic skin and body products such as the Epicuren line of anti-aging products and the latest in workout and yoga attire and accessories.

Tutu's Cottage is a cozy spa retreat where members may enjoy a cup of tea and "talk story" with a healing practitioner or favorite "auntie" who is able to share information and insights on wellness, herbs and treatments.

Every aspect of the spa is designed to promote comfort, rejuvenation and a sense of well-being, with every spa service highly customized by a team of therapists who have undergone a minimum of 500 hours of rigorous training.

The Plantation House Spa offers a wide range of personalized spa services, including various types of massage, body treatments, customized facial treatments and other services.  Finishing touches such as nail services and hair styling are offered by special appointment.

A ritual foot bath is a prelude to all treatments. The therapist selects the nature of the ritual, Hawaiian, Asian Flair or Spiritual, according to guests' needs and preferences.  Members may select 60-, 90-, 120- or 180-minute treatments in any modality.  The therapist customizes the experience based on what the member would like to achieve, from enhancing sleep, personal vitality or energy to enjoying softer skin or a more radiant appearance. Programs of treatment are also offered to facilitate detoxification, slimming or personal balance.

After spa services, members may enjoy delicious spa cuisine created from the freshest local ingredients, many grown on Kukui'ula's own upcountry community farm or in the adjoining spa garden and chosen for their healing properties as well as taste and texture.  Each spa experience concludes with members relaxing in a soothing space of their choice.

Named for the kukui or candlenut torches that once guided fishermen back home to Kaua'i, the 1,000-acre Kukui'ula community includes a collection of custom ocean view homesites and Hawaiian plantation-style cottages.  Kukui'ula is located between Po'ipu, the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and historic Old Koloa Town.

Kukui'ula is being developed by Kukui'ula Development Company, LLC, an affiliate of DMB Associates, Inc., a Scottsdale, Arizona-based diversified real estate development and investment firm, and an affiliate of A&B Properties, Inc., a subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., one of Hawai'i's largest private landowners.

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Dye Designs Breaks Ground on New El Salvador Golf Course

(Zaragosa, El Salvador) -- Dye Designs recently broke ground on a new project just outside of San Salvador, El Salvador near the small town of Zaragosa. This American style golf and country club, just seven miles from the ocean will attract tourists from the U.S. and Central America.

"This project will have it all," says Perry Dye, co-architect, along with his father Pete Dye. "The best feature is the cool ocean breeze, which doesn't exist in town. The weather is gorgeous year round, and the ocean and some of the best surfing in Central America is down a hill just a few miles from the project. This is our third course in Central America in the past few years and should be just as good as Fuego Maya (Guatemala) and the Black Pearl (Honduras)!"

There have been several trips made to El Salvador. The team has been working on hand- clearing coffee trees. The wood from the trees will be recycled by the locals and used for heating, cooking and furniture.  Construction is expected to take two years and we look forward to opening in the fall of 2013.

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