About Kiawah Island Getaways
Our Story
Kiawah Island Getaways is a family-run business run by Shawn and Jeanette Lawson since 2001.
Chapter 1: Our Discovery of Kiawah Island
1978: Shawn's Parents Discover Kiawah
Shawn's mother discovered Kiawah from a Travel and Leisure article. When they stumbled upon Kiawah they enjoyed it so much they kept returning for annual vacations. They would rent a 2-bedroom Greenslake villa $500/week.
1985: Our First Vacation on Kiawah
Shawn & I were living in Jefferson City, Missouri as recent graduates from the University of Missouri. We had just gotten married and decided to vacation to Kiawah in our VW Bug convertible.
Kiawah took our breath away. The beach was so brilliant it practically danced before my eyes. It was on this vacation that we decided to set our sights on moving to this fascinating place permanently.
Chapter 2: We Decided to Move to Kiawah Island
1988: We Officially Moved to Kiawah
It was not until 1988 that our dreams came true and our U-Haul rattled across the Kiawah Island bridge (at that time it was nothing more than a wood-planked bridge).
We rented a 1-bedroom villa. Shawn was so thrilled to be living on the island that he purchased the personalized license plate “KIAWAH”. We still have it today.
1992: Built our Home and Started a Family
We began building our home on the island at 134 Conifer Lane. During the design phase, I gave birth to our first son Benjamin. He arrived 2 months early in an ambulance outside of the Kiawah Island Fire Station.
In 1994, Theodore, our 2nd son was born. Theodore had a more traditional birth on the 9th floor of the St. Francis Xavier Hospital, overlooking the Charleston rooftops on Calhoun Street.
1999: We Moved to Charleston
Shawn and I discovered that raising kids on Kiawah was not so easy so, in 1999, we sold our home on Kiawah and moved to James Island (Charleston).
Chapter 3: The Birth of Kiawah Island Getaways
2001: We Purchased Our First Rental
After two years of seriously missing Kiawah, we purchased our first villa, a 1-bedroom, beachside Seascape (3563) and Kiawah Island Getaways was born.
2002 - 2006: KIG Expands
Once we got our feet wet with the villa rental business, it was a like a fever for us, and every year for six years straight, we purchased a villa.
We personally renovated each villa that we bought. We really enjoyed furnishing, decorating and maintaining the villas – not to mention the newfound fun of meeting and talking to all sorts of people about Kiawah.
2006: We Start Managing Other Properties
Because we really enjoyed what we did, other Kiawah Property Owners asked us to manage their properties, so in 2006, we expanded our business to include Kiawah properties owned by others.
2007 - Present: The Rest Was History!
Our whole family loves Kiawah and running Kiawah Island Getaways is a true family-run business. We personally prepare each villa prior to your arrival – because we want your stay to be perfect. We want you to fall in love with Kiawah too…and we know you will!!
