Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

A soulful resort on the Big Island that feels at once relaxed and refined, Rosewood Kona Village pays homage to its Hawaiian heritage.

• The well-appointed private cottages, known as hales, with spacious back porches
• The sheltered cove, which creates a protected area for swimming and water sports
• The relaxed ambience with high touch service
• The daily activity menu, including tours of the petroglyph field, workout classes, traditional Hawaiian canoe and more

Kona Village has a deep history on the Big Island. Founded in 1939 and a favorite of Steve Jobs, it began as a barefoot resort that families returned to year after year—until a tsunami tragically wiped it out in 2011. Now, Rosewood has reimagined the iconic property, achieving a low-key vibe but with all the trappings of a luxury resort.

Located on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii, the resort is centered in a beautiful cove that makes a wonderful spot for swimming and water sports. Pathways wind throughout the resort, connecting the common spaces with the individual cottages known as hales, which feel private and intimate and are designed after traditional Hawaiian homes. Guests travel to and from their hale via a two-minute bike ride from the heart of the property, which consists of two pools, two restaurants, a snack hut, two bars and the swimmable beach. Both the beach and pools have plenty of shade and lounge chairs spaced far apart enough to allow for privacy, all serviced by beach attendants. When guests are ready for a refreshment, they can head to the former-sailboat-turned-bar which has been sunken into the beach. Here, the on-property bartender offers both good conversation and any cocktail guests desire—reflecting the warm and authentic service throughout the resort.

The cuisine here highlights ultra-fresh seafood, while using ingredients from their gardens, with an excellent sushi selection and poke bowls. There is a casual restaurant for fish tacos and sandwiches.

Couples looking for an intimate getaway and families with older children or younger children that are well-mannered

• There are no TVs in the rooms
• While the property does have accessible rooms, those with limited mobility should be wary, as the walkways are not paved and many buildings require climbing stairs.

Indagare Impact hotels have been carefully vetted according to our Impact Hotel Criteria.

Rosewood Kona Village is the first Hawaiian hotel to receive a Leed v4 Gold Certification, which was accomplished through their dedicated efforts to create high efficiency and green buildings. Kona Village is a water-neutral site and operates almost entirely on solar panels. When rebuilding the property, the architects were thoughtful in their design, creating a Cultural Center which educates both guests and local school communities on Hawaiian history and culture through activities like storytelling of the petroglyph field and fishing classes on property.