BY TREY GARMAN – May Day is Lei Day in Hawai’i, and May 1, 2024 was a very special day indeed at the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa (OKR) as company leaders, staff, and special guests gathered around Kumu Keala Ching for a traditional Hawaiian blessing at the newly renovated Piko Coffee & Wine Bar to mark the momentous rebirth of the iconic resort.
The 22-acre property situated atop cliffs overlooking Keauhou Bay is being revitalized in a way that honors its storied history as the birthplace of Kamehameha III while embracing the dynamic essence of its namesake, Keauhou, meaning “New Era.”
“We’ve tried to retain the soul and authenticity of the property, which has been here for 50 years and holds a lot of cherished memories for families in the kama‘āina market and visitors from around the world, while at the same time investing in the place – the infrastructure, the product, the public spaces, and the art,” explained Sean Dee, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels. “We feel like we’ve done that with a great blend of legacy and heritage, but also contemporary story telling for Hawai‘i.”
The timing of the rebirth ceremony was ideal as the resort prepares to host the third Hawai’i Sustainability Summit, presented by OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group today and tomorrow, May 2-3. Then next week, May 6-8, the OUTRIGGER Global Leadership Conference will descend upon OKR, bringing 21 business partners and nearly 100 executives from 31 OUTRIGGER properties and 24 Sales and Marketing around the world to the Kona coast.