After a tsunami devastated Kona Village, one of the oldest and most beloved resorts on the Big Island of Hawaii, dating back to 1965, many feared that the once-iconic property would not reopen again. The 2011 disaster had compromised many of the resort’s signature hale, or thatched roof huts, and ruined much of its stunning landscape.
A Hawaiian resort that reasserts local traditions
Over a decade later, Kennedy Wilson, a real estate firm known for its sustainably driven approach, has partnered with luxury hospitality group Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to reimagine the historic Hawaiian hideaway. Opened this month, the new Kona Village both restores the resort to its former glory, and deepens its rich cultural legacy by reasserting Hawaiian traditions at every turn.
‘It was incredibly important to all partners that the mana – or special energy – of the site was honoured and protected,’ says Joanne Behrens, Rosewood’s vice president of design and project services for the Americas. ‘Our approach focused on being as light on the land as possible, and on collaborating with a cultural leadership committee who were integral in ensuring the land and its stories were preserved throughout.’
Walker Warner Architects’ Greg Warner worked with fellow principal Mike McCabe to recreate the original property’s relaxed Pacific Island style, adding thoughtful changes to uphold the latest environmental standards, and salvaging materials from the old resort with Re-Use Hawaii to be repurposed by the local community. The interiors, by Nicole Hollis, pay homage to the region and include an original art collection created by working with more than 60 Hawaiian artists and artisans.
Now completely powered by solar energy and committed to a zero-waste programme, the resort comprises 150 guest hale, a signature spa, five restaurants and bars, and an array of event spaces, surrounded by views of the mountains, Hualālai volcano and Kahuwai Bay, where humpback whales return every year. The result is a celebration of the ethos that sacred land must be duly protected alongside its people and its history.
A version of this article appears in the August 2023 issue of Wallpaper* – a guide to creative America – available in print from 6 July, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today
-
Samsung and Sony have unleashed new phone flagships, with Nothing snapping at their heelsDo flagship smartphones still have a place in a world of masterful mid-range devices and a general move towards less screen dependence, rather than more? We explore two new entries into the genre
-
Find bubbly, chewy, perfectly crusted pizza at Cosetta, LA’s new Westside Italian gemLocated in a slightly industrial area by the Santa Monica airport, Cosetta, from pizza maestro Zack Pollack, champions the local Italian dining scene with tradition and innovation
-
Oscar Niemeyer: a guide to the Brazilian modernist, from big hits to lesser-known gemsArchitecture master Oscar Niemeyer defined 20th-century architecture and is synonymous with Brazilian modernism; our ultimate guide explores his work, from lesser-known schemes to his big hits; and we revisit a check-in with the man himself
-
Find bubbly, chewy, perfectly crusted pizza at Cosetta, LA’s new Westside Italian gem
Located in a slightly industrial area by the Santa Monica airport, Cosetta, from pizza maestro Zack Pollack, champions the local Italian dining scene with tradition and innovation
-
Ghanaian cuisine has a story to tell at Washington, DC restaurant ElminaThe new restaurant is chef Eric Adjepong’s colourful ode to the recipes he grew up loving
-
Fancy a matcha-beer cocktail? Visit this dashing new LA restaurantCafé 2001 channels the spirit of an American diner with the flow of a European bistro and the artistry of Japanese cuisine
-
Visit this Michelin-star New York restaurant that doubles as an art galleryArtist Mr.StarCity is exhibiting his emotionally charged yet optimistic ‘Bloomers’ portrait series at Frevo, a Greenwich Village hidden haunt
-
With glowing honeycomb-shaped booths, this futuristic Japanese restaurant is ramen heavenAfter a successful U.S. expansion, Kyuramen touches down in Los Angeles.
-
Tour the best contemporary tea houses around the worldCelebrate the world’s most unique tea houses, from Melbourne to Stockholm, with a new book by Wallpaper’s Léa Teuscher
-
Seven things not to miss on your sunny escape to Palm SpringsIt’s a prime time for Angelenos, and others, to head out to Palm Springs; here’s where to have fun on your getaway
-
At Linden Los Angeles, classic New York comfort food gets its dueThe restaurant, inspired by a stretch of boulevard bridging Brooklyn and Queens, honors legacy, community and pleasure
