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Frommer's Hawaii Guide 2006
Page 559
FINDS**
"Kauai Country Inn. Book this place! It's hard to believe that nestled in the rolling hills behind Kapaa, this old-fashioned country inn exists. Hosts Mike and Martina Hough, refugees from life in the fast lane (they used to run an international advertising agency in Los Angeles), have taken their considerable creative talents and produced a slice of paradise on two acres. Each of the four suites is uniquely decorated in Hawaiian Art Deco with a touch of humor, complete with hardwood floors, a kitchen or kitchenette, your own computer with high speed Internet connection, and lots of little amenities. Everything is top-drawer, from the furniture to the sub-zero refrigerator. They recently added a two bedroom country cottage for families with young children. The grounds are immaculate, and you can pick as much organic fruit as you want from the abundance of mango, guava, likely, starfruit, oranges and lemons. Beatles fans take note: Mike has been collecting memorabilia for decades and has the only private Beatles Museum in the state (including a Mini Cooper S car owned by Beatles manager Brian Epstein, original paintings by John Lennon, and a host of books, records, movies, tapes, T-shirts, and other interesting and unusual rare items. Annie, the house golden retriever, personally greets each guest like her long-lost friend."
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Lonely Planet Kauai Guide 2006
Page 118
THE AUTHOR'S CHOICE
"Kauai Country Inn. Pastoral setting. Spacious suites. Convenient kitchenettes. Private Beatles Museum. Huh? No joke! This classy inn can't be beat in aesthetics, amenities or mod eccentricity. The four suites all have either kitchen or kitchenette, TV/DVD (and over 1500 DVD's available for rent), in-suite Macintosh computers with high-speed internet access and w-fi throughout the property. The palatial 1200 sq. ft. Green Rose Suite ($145) is spectacular with an open bean vaulted 18 ft. ceiling, knotty pine walls, full modern kitchen, funky genuine jukebox stools and expansive 300 sq. ft. deck. Guests are invited to view an astounding array of Beatles memorabilia including a 1967 Mini Copper S car owned by Beatles manager Brian Epstein. The British & German hosts are friendly, articulate, and technologically savvy. No children under 12 in the suites but all ages welcome in the cottage."
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Honolulu Star Bulletin 10/8/2006
Travel Section G6
Hawaii's Backyard by Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi
"At the peak of their high-powered advertising careers in Los Angeles, Mike Hough and his wife, Martina, owned seven houses, four cars and a business earning well into seven figures.They helped launch Hollywood blockbusters such as "Braveheart"; popular TV series, including "The Simpsons," "Northern Exposure," "Hercules," "Xena" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation"; and merchandising campaigns for Leica, Fender Guitars and other corporate giants.
It seemed they had achieved the American dream.
"But it got out of hand," says Hough. "We were working 14 hours a day, seven days a week, even during holidays. It took all of our energy just to keep the wheels turning. We were getting more and more work, and we were running faster and faster. We were making a lot of money, but we had no life."
So nine years ago the Houghs veered out of the fast lane. They sold their business, houses and cars in Los Angeles, and moved to a 2-acre retreat in lush, peaceful Wailua on Kauai's east side. "We completely reversed our lifestyle," says Hough. "We went from making a lot of money and having no life to making no money by comparison but having a wonderful life."
Today, a big part of the Houghs' life is owning and operating Kauai Country Inn, which consists of a cottage and four suites -- Green Rose, Plumeria, Yellow Ginger and Orchid -- all exuding cheery tropical themes. Amenities include a full kitchen or kitchenette, equipped with all the necessary utensils, dishes and appliances, right down to the rice cooker; a TV, DVD and VCR; ceiling fans; hardwood floors; a deck or patio with a gas barbecue; and a computer with high-speed and Wi-Fi Internet access..." Read the complete newspaper article |
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