Celebrating the return of one of the world’s most authentic beach destinations, Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, on the shores of Kahuwai Bay, Hawaii.
12 years after sustaining catastrophic tsunami damage, this family resort is back. It’s reawakening travel experiences along a sacred coastline that’s captivated visitors for millennia.
Want to Explore First?
Kona Village Resort has been sustainably rebuilt while still being wrapped up in the local concept of ho’okipa: the hospitality of complete giving.
An Ancient Bay, Swelling with Stories
The very first Polynesian settlers to reach Hawai’i established a thriving community (ahupua’a) in Kahuwai Bay (Ka`ūpūlehu) and lived lightly off the ground.
By the mid 1900s the sacred land was a quiet fishing village. Kona Village Resort was built in the 1960s and brought low-impact exclusive tourism to the coastline. Then in 2011 a tsunami decimated the resort (the same tsunami that triggered nuclear disaster in Japan). The village was swept away too.
Now the subliminal magic of Ka`ūpūlehu’s salted sand, sacred soil and surreal waters has been reawakened. Rosewood took on the ruin and Kona Village Resort reopened on July 1st.
An Inviting Retreat for Guests of Every Generation
Kona Village is a family resort, where the history, culture and nature of the destination are central to every guest stay.
We’ve experienced Rosewood’s Sense of Place philosophy in hotels as distant as Vienna and Sao Paulo, Madrid and St Barths. It’s central to Kona Village Resort’s identity too.
An evening here could centre around a lu’au imu pit, a traditional open fire used for an ‘ohana feast and celebration. The next morning you do a sunrise paddle in a local canoe, then an ancient Hawaiian healing ritual in the Asaya Spa.
Water experiences are designed to engage different ages, from snorkelling for kids to diving deep in an underwater sea scooter. You can have sailing lessons with guides who draw on centuries of Polynesian wisdom.
Exploring the big island of Hawai’i can include walking through the Nahuku lava tube, a rodeo at Parker Ranch, Waimea Farmers Market and the ‘Akaka Falls. Perhaps before an open-air family movie night.
Sustainable Accommodation That Protects the Land
Kona Village Resort is 100% powered by solar. Waste water is treated onsite and reused in irrigation. The recycling program is built around the concept and importance of zero-waste.
Sustainability is at the heart of the architectural approach. The thatched hales (rooms) are raised above the ground and unique places to stay.
Every element feels organic and rooted in the natural environment, from the basalt rock furnishings to the use of coconut tree husks.
We like the ocean view hale, with its oversized lanai (outdoor terrace) and outdoor rain shower. And all of the suites (kauhale).
Most impressive for families are the four-bedroom signature suites, with plunge pool, hot tub, vast entertaining space, private butler service and a secluded oceanfront location.
Will You Discover Kona Village Resort?
We’re yet to personally inspect Kona Village Resort, but we personally know the high quality of Rosewood’s other new resorts.
We love how Rosewood always creates something unique and contemporary, full of surprises yet rooted in the traditions of a place.
Kona Village Resort looks like a place where time will stand still, where you’ll have the time to disconnect from everyday life and connect with your loved ones. It’s also where you can enjoy special Rosewood Elite benefits, like in-resort credits, early check in and complimentary upgrade upon availability.
Will you combine Hawaii with other destinations in the USA? Will you be the first from the Czech Republic to discover Kona Village Resort?
