Quiet serenity envelops Waimea Plantation Cottages on Kauai. Photo ©Linda Lange

Originally constructed in the 1920s, 59 wooden cottages have been restored and modernized. Luckily, they have not lost their charm. Wooden ceiling fans and louvers circulate moist ocean air through cozy rooms. Mahogany, rattan and wicker furnishings reflect days of the past. Small kitchens, bedrooms and dining and living area provide everything needed for a pleasurable stay.

Each cottage is a former plantation worker's home, fully restored and updated with modern conveniences. Photo ©Linda Lange

The unhurried pace is hypnotizing. Guests sit on porches and breathe in the sweet scent of plumeria trees. Later they may take a dip in the swimming pool or stroll the salt-and-pepper beach or picnic under a banyan tree. From hammocks they catch spectacular sunsets over Niihau, Hawaii's most western island. A brew pub, the property's restaurant, has a terrace for casual dining.

Wreathed in waving emerald sugarcane fields, the town of Waimea has many vestiges of the plantation era, such as an old sugar mill. Old wooden storefronts and houses line the quiet streets. The land that was once the home of ancient kings retains the majesty of Old Hawaii. From this gateway town, guests make day trips to Waimea Canyon and the high-country state parks. They surf at Wahiawa Bay and play golf at championship courses nearby.

For tourism information, contact the Kauai Visitors Bureau, 1-800-262-1400. (Address: 4334 Rice Street, Suite 101 Lihue, HI 96766)