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
-
The Steve Jobs Archive announces the first recipients of its creative fellowshipEstablished to support the work of emerging creatives across the US, the Steve Jobs Archive Fellowship is putting ambition into practice with its first nine SJA Fellows
-
Christopher Pagani of Pagani Automobili explains how to make a modern hypercar
Pagani Automobili creates a handful of hypercars each year for a very select group of collectors, and now has a Miami showroom in addition to its Modena HQ
-
Emerging stars and established makers unite in show for London Design Festival
Curated by Jan Hendzel, ‘11:11’ at Staffordshire St Gallery in Peckham, south London, features a diverse breadth of design, from ceramics and textiles to woodworking and jewellery
-
Peek inside Martin Brudnizki’s Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York
The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York, designed by Martin Brudnizki, is revealed ahead of an October 2023 grand opening
-
Holiday cabins across the USA to plan your next escape
From Shelter Island to Phoenix, a slew of new hotels around the country take the form of charming holiday cabins and cottages
-
The Paramour Estate is a true Hollywood star
Paramour is a 1920s Silver Lake mansion making an elegant escape from one’s fans in Los Angeles
-
‘Where To Now’: Zara and Wallpaper* launch offbeat travel guides
Zara and Wallpaper’s ‘Where To Now’ travel guides launch with five off-the-beaten-track adventures, from California to Naoshima, for armchair and actual explorers, available to buy now
-
Culver City is a vibrant California destination with art and design must-sees aplenty
Culver City is fast becoming one of California’s most vibrant and creative neighbourhoods, with a swanky Downtown, an Arts District and design-forward restaurants
-
Vladislav Doronin on Aman New York, and the brand’s future
Aman New York opens in Manhattan, offering hospitality and branded apartments designed by architecture studio Denniston. Owner Vladislav Doronin talks about his ‘hardest and most expensive project’ yet, Aman’s new urban roll-out, and how he’s diversifying the world’s most coveted hotel brand
-
Frank Gehry and Tara Bernerd’s Conrad Los Angeles hotel opens it doors
The Conrad Los Angeles hotel is now open, occupying a sculptural building by Frank Gehry with interiors by Tara Bernerd
-
Beach escapes: our top places to stay in Montauk
The best places to stay in Montauk, from holiday rentals to classic and contemporary beach hotels. Make yourself at home at these beach retreats
