There is a reason Hawai‘i lives so vividly in the shared, summer vacation memory. It is the postcard parents once taped to the fridge before departure, the place SPF and swimsuits, lobby orchids, afternoons by the pool that turned into tiki-hour, siblings arguing over the blow dryer before dinner, and mom insisting on a million group photos at sunset. 

That’s exactly where Hawai‘i slides into the VR Summer Holiday Club Collection. Part childhood nostalgia and part beachy bygone glamour. The palm-fringed Pacific paradise is the Polynesian-pop fantasy that set the tone for summer travel as we know it. Retro mai tais as a baseline, Waikiki cocktail culture as the standard, and that easy “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem” attitude that has survived for decades. Barkcloth fabrics, tiki torches, rattan lounges, bold banana leaf prints, muʻumuʻus that double as poolside caftans, it all started here. Add in open-air diners, Don Ho drifting through the background, and the kind of slightly kitschy, very lovable souvenirs you absolutely bring home, and you realize: Hawai‘i didn’t just perfect the summer holiday club. It invented it.

 Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is a true Hawaiian hideaway and It carries the glamour of the classic summer holiday with friends. Designer Greg Warner and his team even researched old photographs and the original Hawaiian village that once stood here. The result is a collection of thatched-roof hale, with rattan accents and barkcloth art woven throughout, creating a quiet, considered nod to the past. Consider this your official “out of office” notice. 

Reported By Dylan Essertier
Photography, Courtesy of Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

Set along the Kona Coast of the Big Island, Rosewood Kona Village is the kind of place that feels instantly iconic: lava fields, swimmable lagoons, thatched-roof bungalows, and an energy that makes you forget what day it is (aka our favorite energy). Kona Village, reimagined by Rosewood and reopened in 2023, offers something rare: luxury that still feels deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture. No high-rises. No stuffy formality. Just space, beauty, and that this is what life is all about feeling. The only thing that could make this Hawaiian escape even better? Experiencing it with your closest friends in one of Kona Village’s Signature Suites. Read on to plan the ultimate group getaway to this dreamy Big Island haven. 

A Little Backstory 

When Kona Village first opened in 1965, it quickly earned a reputation as one of Hawai‘i’s most special retreats. Set among black lava rock, calm lagoons, and a swimmable shoreline, the resort offered a relaxed, immersive escape that felt both tropical and deeply intentional. Its quietly luxurious, tech-free atmosphere attracted creatives and visionaries, including Steve Jobs, who embraced the idea of fully unplugging long before it became fashionable. After a tsunami forced its closure in 2011, the land remained untouched for more than a decade. In 2023, Kona Village reopened under the care of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in collaboration with San Francisco–based design studio NICOLEHOLLIS. The renewed resort now features 150 solar-powered, freestanding hale designed with woven palm elements, carved wood details, dark stone surfaces, and subtle nautical references that honor the historic fishing village of Kaʻūpūlehu.

How to Spend Your Days (Mai Tais, Boat Rides, and Friends in Hawai‘i) 

Begin your mornings with a swim in Kahuwai Bay, followed by breakfast at Moana, the resort’s central restaurant. Here, Pacific Rim–inspired dishes highlight ingredients sourced from across the island and even from the resort’s own gardens. From there, the day unfolds based on your group’s mood. Some may head out for ocean adventures like snorkeling or paddling, while others opt to linger by one of the resort’s four stunning outdoor pools, piña colada in hand. 

One of the true standouts at Kona Village is the Asaya Spa, set directly within the lava fields. While most spas are oceanside, this setting feels entirely unique. On the walk there, it is not uncommon to spot an artist painting the surrounding lava landscape, with works available in the resort’s boutique (how do we get this job?). Treatments include Dr. Barbara Sturm facials alongside Hawaiian healing rituals that incorporate Taurumi energy points and pōhaku lava stone.

For those craving movement, the light-filled fitness center features Technogym equipment and restorative saunas, while pickleball and tennis courts offer an easy way for friends to stay active together. When the mood strikes to explore beyond the resort, guided adventures with Hawai‘i Forest and Trail provide a deeper look at the island’s diverse landscapes and ecosystems.

As evening approaches, everyone naturally gathers for a drink at Talk Story Bar, especially magical during whale season. The iconic Shipwreck Bar offers a more playful, poolside alternative, set inside a restored schooner pulled from Kahuwai Bay years ago. One of the most memorable experiences at Kona Village is the communal dinner, where guests come together at long tables to share a seasonal, family-style meal rooted in local ingredients and Hawaiian tradition. It is the kind of night that feels both intimate and celebratory, where conversations flow easily and strangers quickly feel like friends. 

Where to Rest Your Head

For a friends’ trip, the rooms to book are Kona Village’s Signature Suites, known as Kauhale, which translates to “group of houses” and perfectly captures the experience. Designed as multiple freestanding structures arranged around shared living spaces or sweeping ocean views, these suites make it easy to be together without ever feeling on top of one another. Expect private pools or hot tubs, seamless indoor-outdoor living, oversized lanais made for morning coffee and sunset toasts, separate sleeping spaces that actually allow for privacy, and highly personalized butler service that makes everything feel effortless. It is the kind of setup that works just as well for late-night wine chats as it does for slow mornings, solo naps, and spontaneous afternoon swims. Translation: no fighting over bathrooms, no awkward room assignments, and no one stuck on the pullout couch. In other words? Plenty of aloha vibes. 

Lei the groundwork for your next getaway

If there is a blueprint for the ultimate summer group getaway, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is it: adventures at sea by day, excellent food and cocktails by night, group suites with private pools, and enough beauty to keep everyone in a good mood. It taps into the best version of vacation culture that our Holiday collection celebrates; when the itinerary was simple, the days felt longer, and being together was the whole event. Gather your crew, claim your kauhale, and start planning the kind of trip everyone talks about long after the tan fades.

Reported By Dylan Essertier

Venue Name: Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
Location: Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi, USA
Airport: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA)

Join us on Holiday at VR Summer Club

• 🌺 Hawai‘i Group Getaways: Search our favorite resorts, boutique hotels, private villas, and celebration-ready stays across the islands for your next escape. [Right this way →]
• 🌞 The Holiday Collection: Step into our sunniest collection of the season, filled with resort towns, celebratory stays, and summer plans with excellent taste. [Right this way →]
• 🌴 Search more venues for your next getaway: From poolside hotels to design-forward resorts and private estates, discover places made for gathering beautifully. [Right this way →]
• 🍹 More Summer on the Magazine: Read seasonal editorials, hosting guides, destination stories, and warm-weather roundups for every kind of summer agenda. [Right this way →]
• 🛎️ Room Service by Venue Report: Planning a pool-forward trip for a crew? We’ll match you with group-friendly stays that get the vibe right—plus we’ll block rooms, find deals, and help you host like a pro. Free of charge.https://www.venuereport.com/room-blocks/ [Right this way →]