Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has completed its acquisition of the Kauai Beach Resort & Spa, first announced back in June. The resort covers 25 acres of beachfront property and has 350 guestrooms. In a statement, the company said the acquisition marks a “pivotal step” in Outrigger’s expansion strategy and strengthens its presence on the four largest Hawaiian Islands.
Outrigger has managed the resort since the 1990s and plans to upgrade the property in the future.
The transition was marked by a traditional Hawaiian Blessing led by Kumu Blaine Kamalani Kia, who started his career with Outrigger 25 years earlier at the resort. The ceremony included a “mele kāhea” chant, which asked permission for Outrigger to return to this special place; it was reciprocated by a “mele komo” chant of acceptance and invitation. A moment of silence was also observed for the sister island of Maui, where wildfires recently devastated the town of Lahaina.
Jeff Wagoner, president and CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group, acknowledged that it is an emotional time for the state, “Outrigger feels the heartache of the Maui fires deeply. ... Many of our employees lost their homes and loved ones. But in times of sorrow, there is a certain healing in embracing new beginnings and being intentional to lift people up. Today’s tying of the maile lei was about bringing people together, not only here, but across Hawaii and across the world—it is an important symbol for us to be able to link ourselves together and move on into the future.”