The redevelopment and opening of Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, required a focus on environmental sustainability and respect for the location's history and culture.
Located on Hawaii Island, or the Big Island, the property opened as the Kona Village Resort in the 1960s, but it closed in 2011. It reopened July 1 after a seven-year redevelopment project through the partnership of real estate investment firm Kennedy Wilson and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, according to a news release.
The resort sits on an ancient fishing village and spans 81 acres. It offers 150 traditional guest hale, or houses, as well as five restaurants and bars, and Rosewood's Asaya Spa.
As part of the reimagining of the property, Kennedy Wilson and Rosewood worked with a cultural leadership committee, comprising direct lineal descendants of the land and other Hawaii Island elders, to provide guidance.
Kennedy Wilson Chairman and CEO William McMorrow said in an email interview that his team understands the role that lineal descendants and other local stakeholders have in protecting these sites and honoring the original inhabitants. He cited his own history on the Big Island and his company's long-time focus on environmental sustainability and cultural authenticity at its other Kona Coast development, Kohanaiki.
The relationship with the cultural leadership committee allowed Kennedy Wilson and Rosewood to deliver a low-density, high-end resort that raises the bar for the guest experience in the Hawaiian Islands while also respecting the land, local culture and community.
"We are honored to be the next stewards of Kona Village and have approached our work here as though we are a guest in someone else’s home,” he said.
Inspiration From Local Culture
The resort's design draws influence from the history of the Big Island and, more specifically, the Kona Coast, which was first discovered by the Polynesians around the year 1000 AD, according to the news release. Hawaii-raised architect Greg Warner of Walker Warner Architects and San Francisco-based interior design firm NICOLEHOLLIS worked together on the resort's new look.
Kona Village’s thatched roofing is a callback to the past resort. To provide better protection from the elements while also maintaining plant life, the property now uses recycled materials instead of the traditional use of leaves native to the area.
The resort's grounds include colorful and indigenous plant life to match the coast's natural and diverse landscape.
Kona Village incorporates the Hawaiian concept of "ohana," meaning family, through its use of shared spaces, according to the release. The dining, wellness and recreational facilities are positioned against the Kahuwai Bay, creating hubs that draw guests together and highlight the coast's beauty.
The 150 guest hale, or houses, are traditional Hawaiian structures. Each includes one to four bedrooms and offers views of the ocean or lagoon. Many feature a private lanai, or open-walled porch, allowing guests to spend time in the open air.
The custom architectural details, furnishings, fixtures and décor are made from wood, stone and fibers, and all pieces were responsibly sourced.
Throughout the resort is a collection of art created by 60 multimedia artists, most of whom are native Hawaiians or current residents. The artists visited the property during its restoration as inspiration for their original works.
Respectful Renovation Work
Through the construction, Kennedy Wilson's goal was to be as light on the land as possible, according to the news release.
Other aspects of the project included installing underground infrastructure to keep a majority of the lava ground intact. The team also ensured enhanced protection for the many on-site archaeological preservation sites.
"In addition to the highest-density Hawaiian petroglyph field in the world, the land is also home to 22 anchialine pools, which house some of Hawaiʻi's rarest endemic species," the release states.
The Kona Village has a dedicated cultural center that pays tribute to the archeological sites and anchialine pools — which are enclosed bodies of water with an underground connection to the ocean — and shares information on how to preserve and support them along with Hawaii's other resources.
The cultural center also displays culturally important items to help explain the history. They are paired with immersive programming and activities, such as guided archaeological tours, wildlife walks, coral reef restoration projects, beach and pond clean-ups, to help guests learn more about the area's history and its future.
The resort also offers Kona Village's Rosewood Explorers Keiki Club, a local version of Rosewood's kids' club program.
Sustainability Strategy
Along with several of its buildings receiving LEED Gold certification, the property is pursuing zero-waste True certification and landscape sustainability SITES certification. Receiving those would make the property the first resort to have all three.
Kennedy Wilson worked with Re-Use Hawaii, a nonprofit organization that focuses on recycling and repurposing old building materials. The company used sustainably sourced timber and engineered wood along with low-emitting paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants.
The resort will rely on solar energy as its power source.
To treat protect local waters, the resort will use its own reverse osmosis system and wastewater treatment plants. These processes will produce enough water to cover the irrigation needs on property.