Kona Village hale and beach

There are many exceptional hotels in Hawaii but there is one in particular that seems to have cult status with families, Kona Village on the Big Island of Hawai’i. One of the few inclusive-style accommodations in Hawaii, we’ve had the family-friendly hotel review on Ciao Bambino for a while now. Even though I personally interviewed the family that wrote the review, I didn’t really understand what made the hotel so special.

I do now.

I used Hawaii week as an opportunity to unlock the mystery of this renown hotel by interviewing the General Manager, Ulrich Krauer, as well as a family that has been vacationing at the hotel every year for the past 25 years (not a typo).

When I spoke to Ulrich, I learned that it’s not just the guests that have found a home-away-from-home at Kona Village. The top 50 employees have been working there for an average of 28 years. Clearly, they’ve forged a bond with the generations of families that are now coming back with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Photo Credit the Rubin Family

I asked Ulrich to help me understand why families are so crazy about this hotel where 66% of them return when it’s time for a Hawaii vacation. Here’s what I learned:

There are no TVs, phones in the rooms, or mobiles allowed by the pool (the thought of that makes my heart sing). The separation from daily electronic connections creates an environment where guests are forced to unwind.

Ulrich described the hotel as an authentic Hawaiian experience in an uncomplicated resort where people from around the world and every walk of life settle in to do one thing and one thing only—relax. He explained that the magic of the experience is that there is no flash or pretention here and people feel free to be themselves. I love this—there are so many luxury hotels where the “scene” in the restaurant or by the pool prevents anyone from genuinely letting go.

Meals and activities are included in the nightly rate at Kona Village.This makes it easy for families to dine together without worrying about splitting the bill. I see the appeal—it’s so refreshing not to have to have to even think about money or tips while on vacation.

Kona Village pool

Kids get the opportunity to experience the same departure from daily life as their parents. The kids club isn’t filled with computers, Playstations and movies but Hawaiian-style games, crafts, and water sports. My favorite part is kids can show up for activities when they choose to join—there is nothing that ruins relaxation faster than worrying about kids’ club sign-ups, cancellation penalities, and start times.

With 82 acres (and only 125 hales (bungalows)—families have room to spread out and soak in the beauty of the Big Island.

Rubin Family at Kona Village

I also chatted with the Rubin family who has been visiting Kona Village for 25 years. They vacationed with their children here for years and are now coming back with their grandchildren. Echoing Ulrich’s comments, the Rubin family raved about the utter freedom to unwind for guests of every age. Since the property is self-contained, kids can go off and do their own thing safely. The appeal of this resonates with me—nothing is more unnerving than a mega-resort where the threat of losing sight your child prevents you from reading a single page of a book while on vacation.

“A real retreat where they can kick off their shoes, enjoy wonderful food, interact with fabulous staff, and meet fascinating people from all over the world,” said Mrs. Rubin. Their parting comment sums it up for me, “Amie, picture Hawaiian Summer Camp with phenomenal food.”

I can’t think of another accommodation in Hawaii I’ve been to that feels that way. The mystery is solved for me. Sign me up—this is the Hawaiian experience I’ve been dreaming about.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Hawaii family hotels

Big Island of Hawai’i with kids – favorite activities

Kauai with kids – favorite activities

Maui with kids – favorite activities

Maui with kids – fun photos and special activities

Topics: Accommodations, Blogsherpa, Destinations, Hawaii, Hawaii the Big Island, USA