Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort · Hawaii Island
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is the only Rosewood in Hawaii, set on 81 acres of black lava and palm along Kahuwai Bay on the Kona Coast of Hawaii Island. It stands on the footprint of an ancient Hawaiian fishing village and the beloved original resort that opened in 1965, closed after the 2011 tsunami, and reopened in July 2023 following a careful, decade-long rebuild. There are no televisions in the rooms, and you will not miss them.
A day here follows the light. Mornings begin with breakfast at Moana and a slow walk to the water, where the bay is calm enough to swim straight off the sand. Afternoons drift between two pools, the Asaya Spa, and the shade of your own lanai. As the sun drops, the Shipwreck Bar fills up, dinner runs long at communal tables with your toes in the sand, and you fall asleep to the surf a few steps from the door. It feels less like a hotel and more like a village you have been let into.
The Kahuwai Bay Rhythm
Arrival and ease. Kona International Airport is about a 15-minute drive away, and a complimentary house car handles the transfer, so the resort is on island time before you have unpacked.
A village of standalone hales. All 150 accommodations are freestanding hales spread across 81 acres, each at least 600 square feet with a private lanai and an outdoor shower, laid out on the same footprint as the village that stood here before.
How it balances. The freestanding hales give a family its own compound and a couple complete privacy, while the calm, swimmable bay means even young kids are in the water within minutes.
Dining and amenities. Two ocean-view restaurants anchor the food, Moana for Pacific-to-plate dinners and the casual Kahuwai Cookhouse, alongside two outdoor pools, the Asaya Spa, tennis courts, a fitness center, and a cultural center.
The Spirit of Kona Village
Setting. The resort sits on Kahuwai Bay amid black lava fields softened by palms, a short way up the coast from the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
Design. Hawaii-raised architect Greg Warner of Walker Warner Architects led the rebuild, with raised thatched hales and a cluster of crab-claw sails by sculptor Kaili Chun, called Pe'a, floating above the tables at Moana.
Capable hospitality. The original Talk Story Bar returns by name, and many guests rebook the exact hale they stayed in before, a sign of how closely the team holds the property's history.
Things to do. Snorkeling and ocean sports run off the beach, alongside tennis, bikes, and a cultural program rooted in the history and practices of the land it sits on.
Ideal For
Kona Village rewards travelers who would rather unplug than tick off attractions. The resort runs largely on more than 8,400 of its own solar panels, dining and lounging happen almost entirely outdoors, and the pace is set by the tide rather than a schedule. It delivers a barefoot, unhurried week on the water for people who want Hawaii without a high-rise in sight.
Book through me, and your stay arrives with more.
When you book through my Rosewood Elite partner relationship, you receive these benefits at no additional cost:
- Complimentary daily breakfast for two guests per bedroom
- A $100 food and beverage or spa credit to use during your stay
- Priority room upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Personalized welcome amenity and VIP status
- Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
Beyond the Booking
Planning a luxury escape should not feel like a second job. When you work with me, you get a dedicated travel partner and the benefit of my industry relationships, all at no additional cost to you. From the first inquiry to the moment you return home, I handle the logistics so you can focus on the experience.
Complimentary service with no hidden fees
Close attention to detail from start to finish
VIP upgrades and resort credits where available
Full concierge support, including dinner and spa reservations
