Kona Village Resort update
Jun 1st, 2011, 09:03 AM
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Kona Village Resort update
While on the Big Island in May, I checked upon my favorite resort Kona Village. As most know Kona Village was heavily damaged by the tsunami and closed I had lunch with the General Manager and many employees. I discovered that life is bleak for the former employees. The Hualalai Ohana Foundation, has started a relief fund for the employee of the Hualalai Resort and Kona Village resort who have been displaced by the tsunami. Over 230 employees lost their jobs at Kona Village and because of the economy only a fraction have found employment. The relief fund has collected close to $200,000.00 for the employees to assist them in their search for new employment. You may donate at:
http://www.hualalaiohanafoundation.o...lief-fund.html . The
donations are tax deductible.
Regarding the resort itself, this is what I found. The resort will be reopened. When is a big guess. The major delay is the insurance settlement. Nothing will be done until the insurance issues are resolved. My prediction is a minimum of 9 months before those issues are resolved. If attorneys get involved, who knows.
Over 20 hales were damaged or destroyed. Because of the damage the store and most of the twenty hales have been torn down. Both restaurants were damage, though it does not appear they were torn down. The entire utility system will have to be replaced before reopening.
I was told that there were multiple waves that hit the resort and the highest was about 14 feet. The KVR beachfront down by the Four Season was heavily eroded. Furniture and junk was located more than a .33 mile from the ocean. The State has closed the beach until it can be cleaned. I was told that a butcher knife was found in an upright position at the Four Season beach area.
BTW there was much damage to the Four Season. Lots of new trees were planted there and new landscaping was evident. The ponds by Kukio Subdivision were choked with sand and were being cleaned while we were there. The damage was very visible to anyone who had been in these areas before.
I know that Kona Village will reopen. The question is only when. My prediction is in early 2014 but maybe they can open for Christmas 2013. I can only hope. If you are a Kona Village fan, please donate to our Hawaiian Ohana.
Bill
http://www.hualalaiohanafoundation.o...lief-fund.html . The
donations are tax deductible.
Regarding the resort itself, this is what I found. The resort will be reopened. When is a big guess. The major delay is the insurance settlement. Nothing will be done until the insurance issues are resolved. My prediction is a minimum of 9 months before those issues are resolved. If attorneys get involved, who knows.
Over 20 hales were damaged or destroyed. Because of the damage the store and most of the twenty hales have been torn down. Both restaurants were damage, though it does not appear they were torn down. The entire utility system will have to be replaced before reopening.
I was told that there were multiple waves that hit the resort and the highest was about 14 feet. The KVR beachfront down by the Four Season was heavily eroded. Furniture and junk was located more than a .33 mile from the ocean. The State has closed the beach until it can be cleaned. I was told that a butcher knife was found in an upright position at the Four Season beach area.
BTW there was much damage to the Four Season. Lots of new trees were planted there and new landscaping was evident. The ponds by Kukio Subdivision were choked with sand and were being cleaned while we were there. The damage was very visible to anyone who had been in these areas before.
I know that Kona Village will reopen. The question is only when. My prediction is in early 2014 but maybe they can open for Christmas 2013. I can only hope. If you are a Kona Village fan, please donate to our Hawaiian Ohana.
Bill
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