The Palmwood

Two architect-designed suites in a private North Shore Kauai residence, in Kilauea. The Palmwood is a small-scale architectural project — concrete, glass, white oak, and Pacific light — built as a residence with two guest suites. The owners run it themselves; the property is essentially the design-set's Kauai Airbnb-alternative, with the small caveat that it's not on Airbnb and the design is significantly more thoughtful.

It is the rare Hawaii lodging that's been designed by an architect with restraint and not "Hawaii-resort design language."

The setting

Kilauea is a small North Shore town on Kauai, fifteen minutes east of Hanalei and twenty-five from the Princeville cliffs. The Palmwood sits on a private parcel near the Kilauea Lighthouse, with the Pacific in the middle distance and the green wall of the North Shore mountains behind. The Kalihiwai Falls trail and the Kalalau-Hanakāpīʻai trailheads at the end of the Na Pali coast road are within easy reach.

The North Shore is the wet, lush, mountainous side of Kauai. Drives are slow because there's only one road.

The building

A new-build contemporary residence, designed in the spare modernist tradition that does well in tropical climates — concrete, large glass, white oak, lava-rock walls. The architecture leans Pacific-modernist (think Vladimir Ossipoff or Kuʻulei Kanahele) rather than "tropical-resort." Public spaces are a shared central pavilion and a lap pool; the suites are private and self-contained. Materials are concrete, glass, timber, and pine-wool textiles.

The rooms

Two architect-designed suites. Each has a king bed, a private living area, a private outdoor lanai, and access to the shared lap pool. Bathrooms are concrete and stone with rain showers and outdoor showers. From-rates open around $595 in season; both suites for a small group are available.

Food & drink

There's no restaurant. A small pantry is stocked; coffee in the morning. For dinner, Kilauea has the Kilauea Bakery and Pau Hana Pizza for casual; Hanalei's town has Bar Acuda, Tahiti Nui, and the Hanalei Dolphin for the longer drive. The owners keep a current short list.

On the property

A shared lap pool and a small lanai. Private suites, with private outdoor showers. There's no spa, no gym in the resort sense.

• Shared lap pool
• Private outdoor showers
• Walking distance to Kilauea Lighthouse
• Kayak, beach gear available
• Open year-round

Who it's for

• Architects, designers, and people who'll know who Vladimir Ossipoff was
• Couples doing North Shore Kauai who'd rather a residential rental than a resort
• Travelers who want privacy and would rather not interact with a front desk
• Anyone who wants Hawaii without "Hawaii-resort"

Who it's not for

• Travelers needing full hotel amenities — this is essentially an architectural rental
• Families with kids — the property is configured for two suites of two adults
• Pet owners (no pets allowed)

Nearby

Kilauea Lighthouse and the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge are fifteen minutes east. Hanalei Bay is twenty minutes west — the great North Shore beach. Tunnels Beach (where Bethany Hamilton was attacked) is thirty minutes west. The Na Pali Coast trails (Kalalau, Hanakāpīʻai) start at the end of Highway 560. Princeville's resorts and the Makai Golf Club are fifteen minutes west. For dinner: Bar Acuda in Hanalei.