Dive Brief:
- Curio Collection by Hilton will open the 210‑room Hale Hōkūala on the Kauai island in fall 2026, marking the lifestyle brand’s first hotel in Hawaii, according to a Tuesday news release.
- The 210‑key new-build property will debut within the Hōkūala Resort community, per the release. The hotel is owned by Silverwest Hotels and will be managed by Hilton.
- In the same release, Hilton announced veteran hospitality executive Jon Itoga as the hotel’s general manager. Itoga is tasked with leading strategy and all planning ahead of the resort's official opening.
Dive Insight:
The Hale Hōkūala was designed by Hart Howerton in collaboration with architect AHL, and is set on a bluff overlooking the ocean. The hotel is located close to Lihue Airport and within walking distance of Kalapaki Beach. It’s also close to scenic attractions including Waimea Canyon and Wailua Falls, per the release.
Brooke Thomas, brand leader of Curio Collection by Hilton, said in the release that the hotel will offer a one-of-a-kind experience, elevated service and thoughtful design. She added that the property was “a testament to the brand’s continued growth into the world’s most sought-after destinations.”
Hotel amenities will include a restaurant overlooking the lagoon and the Ocean Course at Hōkūala, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, as well as an outdoor pool and fitness center. In addition, there will be about 2,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 10,000 square feet of outdoor event space. Hale Hōkūala Kauai will also participate in the Hilton Honors guest-loyalty program.
As the hotel’s newly appointed general manager, Itoga will lead the preopening team and oversee operations, the company said.
Itoga has more than 15 years of experience across luxury and resort hotels in Hawaii, most recently as hotel manager at Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, per the release. He has also held senior executive roles with Aqua-Aston Hospitality, Turtle Bay Resort and SH Hotels & Resorts.
“For more than six decades, Hawaiʻi has played a meaningful role in Hilton’s growth across the Pacific, and Hale Hōkūala Kauaʻi, Curio Collection by Hilton will represent a powerful addition to our portfolio,” Harold Rapoza, area vice president of operations for Hilton, said in the release. “This property embodies the spirit, culture and heritage of Kauaʻi, and Jon’s deep understanding of Hawaiʻi hospitality makes him uniquely suited to bring that vision to life.”
Hilton currently has a portfolio of more than 25 hotels throughout Hawaii, as well as a development pipeline of nearly 10 hotels in various stages of design and construction, per the release. The company’s Curio Collection footprint is nearing 200 hotels globally.
Hawaii tourism is slowly recovering following the Maui wildfires that devastated the state in 2023 as well as COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, while international tourism numbers are still down.
