Aloha, Big Island!

If there were ever a time to visit The Hawaiian Islands, it is now. While Maui is quickly recovering from the 2023 wildfires, the state is more grateful than ever — and equally as welcoming — to greet visitors with its resilient aloha spirit. And if there’s one island that best showcases Hawaii’s magnetic personality, it’s the island of Hawaiʻi, aka the Big Island.

The largest in Hawaiʻi, the Big Island is famously known for two active volcanoes and varying climates — you can experience snow, sand, rainforest, and more, all in a day’s drive. Akin to its neighboring islands, there’s no shortage of magnificent waterfalls (don’t miss Waipiʻo Valley’s Hiilawe Falls). Yet what makes the island of Hawaiʻi mesmerizing is its close-knit community, and the tangible mana, or spiritual energy, evidenced in the strong connection between land, sea, and people. As such, mana is at the heart of the island’s most sophisticated resort — Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort — and the newest addition to The Club's Residence Portfolio.

STAY

KONA VILLAGE, A ROSEWOOD RESORT

Gracing 81 acres along Kahuwai Bay, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is a restorative island retreat on one of the most coveted coastlines in all of Hawaiʻi. Ten years in the making, the resort bridges past and present with old and new. Classic, thatched-roof hales — a traditional form of Hawaiian bungalow — sprinkle the joyful land, where hardened lava has made way for vibrant flora and fauna. When driving the road from the main highway to the resort entrance, you’ll wind through stunning lava fields — a dramatic entry that sets the stage for what’s to come. And when entering the open-air lobby, it’s quickly apparent no detail has been overlooked, most evident in the legacy of local art and architecture. Your first stop to take it all in? Toast to island bliss with an El Diablo tequila cocktail at the Shipwreck Bar & Sushi — a tiny, toes-in-the-sand sunken sailboat framing endless Pacific blues and serving a unique menu of specialty cocktails. The resort’s private villas are set back from the main public spaces — restaurants, modern pools, a watersports center, and an organic market and juice bar all hug the swimmable coastline. This means plenty of privacy, yet decadent amenities are just a short walk or bike ride away.

PLAY

Moana (the ocean) is the pulse of Hawaii, and any stay at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort calls for both lazy seaside afternoons and active ocean adventures. Scuba divers flock to the coast for its famous manta ray night dive — a shallow, safe dive among gorgeous rays in the warm sea. Adventurers of all ages can make the most of the wai (water) without ever leaving the property — snorkeling, paddleboarding, sailing lessons, and kayaking are all easily accessed from the resort’s water sports headquarters. And while a sunrise paddle has become common among Big Island resorts, there’s a reason: While experiencing it recently firsthand, I watched a candy-orange sunrise from an outrigger canoe while our Captain chanted in the traditional ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi language. Other than his commanding voice, the only sound was the kiss of the Pacific on the hull of our boat. Emphasizing the phrase “E ala e” (awaken/arise), he explained how Polynesians traditionally greet each day with gratitude, respect, and renewal — the ultimate jumpstart to exploring Kahuwai Bay. An afternoon (or several) spent at Asaya Spa is also on deck. Opt for the Lokahi Ceremony, which pays homage to traditional Hawaiian culture via a gentle enzymatic body scrub and a lomi-lomi full-body massage.

EXPERIENCE  

A visit to Waimea Village will take you inland, where the island’s ranching heritage is found at the Parker Ranch Rodeo. Kiddos will enjoy the horseback tours, and the working ranch not only provides Hawaiʻi with its famous beef but is home to historic homes and gardens. After visiting the ranch, refuel at the flagship Merriman’s Big Island restaurant (its famous mai tai with Honey-Lilikoi Foam is nearly mandatory) and then shop at the hip Uila Records for vinyl records and rare books. And while many Big Island visitors may have the same idea, a helicopter tour around the island is a fun — and fast — way to view varying climates and stunning island terrain. If in Waimea on a Saturday, don’t miss the weekly farmer’s market, where you can shop local produce to the sounds of local musicians. And when you return to Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, make family time for Cinema Under the Stars, which projects family-friendly films onto a sail. 

SAVOR  

As if further entice is needed, the dining alone is reason enough to visit the Big Island, which has been amidst a culinary renaissance. At the Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, Moana restaurant honors the former historic fishing village with sustainably sourced dishes from land and sea, while Kahuwai Cookhouse channels the Big Island’s cowboy culture with Kiawe wood-fired cooking and such traditional Hawaiian techniques as pickling and salting. And after working up an appetite exploring the island, Napua Restaurant at the Mauna Lani Beach Club is a hidden gem with top sunset views along the Kohala Coast.

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