Projects throughout Hawaii are significantly improving its tourism infrastructure, giving planners a wealth of new options to consider when bringing groups to the islands.
Oahu
The revitalization of Waikiki, which has seen billions of dollars of investment in recent years, keeps evolving. The newest chapter is likely to be the $300 million redevelopment of the International Market Place in central Waikiki into a modernized shopping, retail and dining complex. Currently undergoing final approvals, the project is expected to break ground in June 2013 and open to the public in 2015.
Waikiki’s newest property, Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach, the first phase of which opened in December with the Pali Tower, recently reached completion with the debut of the Diamond Wing Tower. The 426-room hotel, which is the largest in the Hyatt Place brand, offers 4,000 square feet of meeting space and a rooftop pool deck.
Recent improvements to Waikiki hotels include a guest room refurbishment at the Hawaii Prince Hotel and Golf Club, while the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, which underwent a $110 million renovation two years ago, is about to unveil a new pool and pool deck area.
Outside of Waikiki, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa opened last fall on the west side of the island at Ko Olina. The resort offers 350 guest rooms, 480 timeshare villas, a spa and meeting space. The neighboring JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa recently refurbished its 387 guest rooms and redesigned its award-winning spa.
The addition of Aulani has opened up more meetings possibilities for Ko Olina, according to Chris Tatum, vice president, Hawaii for Marriott International.
“The two hotels are working together. If a group is too large for one hotel, they will direct the planner to the other hotel for overflow business,” he says. “Aulani is raising the profile of Ko Olina.”
Meanwhile, Turtle Bay Resort, in collaboration with Surfer magazine, recently opened Surfer, The Bar, a casual venue for live music from local bands, a “Talk Story” series and film screenings.
The Hawaii Convention Center launched “808 Island Selections,” with banquet menu items comprising ingredients sourced from Hawaii.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering seven-day cruises on the Pride of America, with departures from Honolulu and calls in Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. The Pride of America features 9,000 square feet of conference space.PageBreak
Kauai
Kauai’s major resorts are keeping guest rooms and public spaces fresh and inviting.
The Kauai Marriott completed a $50 million renovation that refurbished all 356 guest rooms and added a swimming pool and lobby lounge. The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa also has newly renovated guest rooms.
The Sheraton Kauai wrapped up a $16 million renovation that included two new dining venues, RumFire, featuring locally sourced cuisine with global influences, and Lava’s, an open-air restaurant and beach bar. Another new feature is Luana Kai, an outdoor function space overlooking Poipu Beach.
The 311-room Courtyard by Marriott Coconut Beach underwent a property-wide renovation following its conversion from the former Aston Kauai Beach at Makaiwa.
At the Princeville Resort on Kauai’s north shore, the acclaimed Prince Golf Course reopened March 1 after a 13-month renovation. The practice facility and 60,000-square-foot clubhouse were also upgraded.
Maui
Maui will welcome its first new resort property in several years with the November 2013 opening of the Andaz Wailea Resort and Residences. The 15-acre property, which is located on Mokapu Beach at the Wailea Resort complex, is a conversion of the former Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort. Andaz will offer 297 guest rooms, 19 residential villas, cascading outdoor pools, a spa and meeting space.
Maui’s newest hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott Maui in Kahului. The 131-room hotel has 1,700 square feet of meeting space.
After an investment of over $5.1 million, the complete rebuild of Ko, the signature restaurant at The Fairmont Kea Lani, is complete. Ko, which translates to “sugarcane” in Hawaiian, showcases the culinary history of the sugarcane plantation era, serving Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Korean and Japanese dishes created by Executive Chef Tylun Pang.PageBreak
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa recently finished a $21 million renovation that included enhancements to its guest rooms, oceanfront ballroom and lobby.
Sheraton Maui completed a $6.5 million upgrade to its 509 guest rooms, and Westin Maui revitalized its meetings amenities, including a new stage for the Aloha Pavilion.
Hawaii’s Big Island
One of Hawaii’s most historic hotels, Volcano House, which has been closed for more than two years, is scheduled to undergo a renovation and reopen under the management of Hawaii Volcanoes Lodge Co., an affiliate of Aqua Hotels & Resorts. The hotel, which opened in 1941 and is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, includes an art gallery and a restaurant with panoramic views of the craters. A reopening date has not been set.
The culinary team at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, under the direction of new Executive Chef Hubert des Marais, launched an Asian-Latin fusion menu at the Hale Kai Restaurant.
Meanwhile, Lava Lava Beach Club, which has private event areas, recently opened at Waikoloa Beach Resort’s Anaeho’omalu Bay.
