Four Seasons Hualalai | reopening April 30

The recent 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan created a huge tidal wave that caused damage at Four Seasons Hualalai. All guests were safely evacuated in advance of the tsunami, and the resort suffered damage to the grounds and to some of the lower floor rooms. The reopening has been pushed back twice, now to April 30, 2011. In the words of one Four Seasons manager, “It's not the damage that is that bad; it's that we need to be that good.”

This is the text of the resort’s latest press release

Closure allows proper restoration of resort

following tusnami damage.

Four Seasons Resort Hualālai at Historic Ka‘ūpūlehu, the first and only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star resort on Hawai‘i Island, will reopen on April 30, 2011. The reopening follows a six-week closure caused by the earthquake-generated tsunami resulting from the recent earthquake in Japan.

The Resort sustained damage from the storm surge, bringing water, sand and debris onto the grounds, mainly affecting pool areas, landscaping, a restaurant and 12 guest rooms and suites.

Resort staff has been instrumental in the early clean-up efforts, and will remain so throughout the restoration. The Resort intends to keep all staff employed in various capacities wherever possible.

“We had planned on opening the Resort earlier, however upon further inspection and damage assessment, we determined it best to sustain the closure until April 30, in order to limit impact on the guest experience,” says Robert Whitfield, general manager of Four Seasons Resort Hualālai. “While there is no significant structural damage, we are well aware of what our guests desire and our need to provide that experience at the highest level possible. This additional time will allow us to polish the property in the fashion it is known for. We’d like to thank our guests for their understanding and outpouring of support, as we bring our resort back to perfect form.”

All guests with reservations prior to April 30 are being contacted by the reservations team to make alternate arrangements, which include re-booking at a later date, or staying at the Resort’s sister properties on Lāna‘i and Maui, and other Four Seasons properties around the world.

Four Seasons Hualalai (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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