Hawaii's Historic Kona Village to Return as Rosewood Resort

A classic Hawaiian property is set to return with a Rosewood twist: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has signed a deal with global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson to manage Kona Village. Following a complete renovation of the property, the resort will open as Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, in 2022. 

Kona Village, which has been closed since 2011 after sustaining heavy damage from a tsunami, was first developed in the early 1906s by Johnno Jackson. The resort is less than 10 miles north of Kona International Airport on grounds spanning 81 acres of beautiful natural scenery. 

When it reopens Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, will have 150 standalone guest hales (freestanding, palm thatch roof structures) with locally inspired décor, views of the surrounding landscape, a private lanai, an outdoor shower and a secluded feel. Hawaii-raised architect Greg Warner of Walker Warner Architects will helm the revamp. 

Dining venues will include the original resort’s famous Shipwreck Bar and Talk Story Bar. The redesign will also add new leisure facilities, including Sense, A Rosewood Spa, a fitness center, and multiple pools and tennis courts. Guests will also be able to take advantage of an outdoor recreational program with ocean sports and educational activities. 

The redesigned resort will also aim for sustainability, as well as to work closely with the local community to respect, honor and perpetuate the rich cultural significance of Kona and the state of Hawaii, Rosewood said. The resort will have a cultural center that will grant both locals and visitors access to extensive Hawaiian lineage, providing a link between the resort and its surroundings.

Walker Warner Architects, together with VITA Planning & Landscape Architecture, will incorporate sustainable practices and indigenous materials throughout the design of the resort. The development team has also engaged Re-use Hawai‘i, a local non-profit, to deconstruct deteriorated buildings by hand and salvage up to 80 percent of the materials for reuse and recycling, minimizing the volume of landfill waste and the need to grow, harvest, produce and transport new material on island.

This story originally appeared on www.travelagentcentral.com.

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