Hawaii's Storied Kona Village Resort is Back (and Better Than Ever)
After it was destroyed by a tsunami a decade ago, the legendary oasis has reopened — and is more ecologically conscious than ever before.
Kona Village Resort has been known for its connection to Hawaiian culture ever since it first opened in 1965. Tucked away on Kahuwai Bay along the Kohala Coast, it quickly became one of the island’s most notable hotels due to its remote location and pristine scenery — but what truly set it apart was how it was fully embraced and conveyed the unique spirit of Hawaii and its people. When a tsunami hit the Big Island in 2012, however, the hotel’s signature hales (thatched huts) were left in ruins. Now, With the help of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Greg Warner of Walker Warner Architects and design firm NICOLEHOLLIS, the beloved resort opened its doors once again earlier this week.
The revival of Kona Village comes nearly a decade after its destruction – and seven years after the development process began – but the storied hotel remains adamantly connected to its roots. Kennedy Wilson, a real estate firm that prioritizes sustainability, joined the collaborative effort, and ensured the extensive project was as least intrusive as possible to the local land. Warner also enlisted Re-Use Hawaii to assure any unused materials from the demolition were repurposed back to the Big Island.
“It was incredibly important to all partners that the mana – or special energy – of the site was honored and protected,’ says Joanne Behrens, Rosewood’s VP of design and project services for the Americas. The relaxed Pacific Ocean feel of the idyllic hotel is stemmed “barefoot luxury” by Walker Warner: a casual aesthetic approach that embraces simplicity. Kona Village amalgamates the design work of 60 Hawaiian artists and designers as well, connecting it to the island’s history and heritage.
While honoring both the illustrious histories of the hideaway hotel as well as the land itself, Kona Village sees subtle hints of sustainable modernization as well. The resort is fully powered by solar energy, and implements a guest hale layout, which range from one to four bedrooms, all entirely comprised of recycled materials. Embodying an indoor-outdoor oasis, hales are filled with large windows, and some with private balconies, reminding guests of their historic surroundings with striking views of the Hualālai volcano and Kahuwai Bay.
As another nod to the spirit of the land, the color scheme of each hale is based on the hale’s specific location on the property. Design choices in the bedrooms and bathrooms also pay homage to the hotel’s history. Each bathroom’s custom concrete sinks and soaking tubs strike similarities to the land’s lava flow, and each bedroom’s textiles align with traditional Hawaiian themes.
Five restaurants sit at the resort’s center alongside the Asaya Spa, giving guests a central place to convene and reimagining the communal feel that drew guests in since the resort’s initial opening. Check out more photos in the gallery above.
Elsewhere in design, VERSO Gallery’s ‘Bridge’ moved into a house in the Hamptons.
