In Hawaii, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali has completed its multiyear, $160 million renovation with the rebranding of the Ocean Tower into Kūkahi Tower. Slated to debut in mid-April, Hana Hou by Westin—located within Kūkahi Tower—will be the first resort venue of its kind in the state with a 10,000-square-foot social center for guests and the community. The space will have arcade games, Topgolf Swing Suites and a bar & lounge.
“Our original tower, which once stood alone, has been renamed Kūkahi, which literally means ‘to stand alone’ or ‘stand upright’ in Hawaiian,” Joshua Hargrove, general manager of the Westin Maui, said in a statement. “But like many Hawaiian concepts, it has a deeper meaning: the element and energy force that creates growth from the land. In line with this theme, our hope is that guests in Kūkahi would experience an empowering sense of well-being and personal growth during their time here.”
Guestrooms in the Kūkahi Tower have clean architectural lines, wood finishes and subtle contrasts woven throughout the textile selections. Each room has curated details like bespoke artwork, unique printed textiles and woven area rugs designed specifically for the tower. Other features include original, wall-mounted wood sculptures, an entertainment center with built-in storage and an incorporated desk with outlets and USB charging ports. Bathrooms were designed with tones of wood mingled with marble accompanied by espresso metal accents and an illuminated vanity mirror.
The design of Kūkahi Tower was inspired by a poem found in the Bishop library that describes the location of the resort in the early 1800s. The poem describes the “paʻūpili mist”—the light rain that falls in the early hours of the morning in the area.
Anchored within Kūkahi will be Hana Hou by Westin. Named after the Hawaiian expression which typically translates “encore” or “to do again, repeat, or renew,” Hana Hou will have a variety of entertainment including Topgolf Swing Suites, duckpin bowling, virtual reality, modern and classic arcade games, a Keiki (children’s) Club; and a bar and lounge. The venue will be open to all guests and the general public in mid-April.
Alongside the redesign of Kūkahi Tower, the resort also recently opened Ulu Kitchen by chef Peter Merriman.
The resort began its redevelopment following its acquisition by a joint venture including Trinity Investments and other institutional investors in 2017. Trinity’s in-house asset management and development teams led the renovation and repositioning plan for the resort.