Categorized | Business

Kona Village Resort receives Kuleana Award

MEDIA RELEASE

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce has recognized Kona Village with its 2009 Kuleana Award. The award is presented annually to a West Hawaii business that gives back to the community, demonstrates integrity, citizenship, and stewardship while being committed to quality, their employees, customers and the environment.

In announcing the award at the recent Kuleana Green Business Conference, organizer Michael Kramer sited the resort’s eco-consciousness that has been a commitment for more than 40 years.

Kona Village General Manager Ulrich Krauer, in accepting the award, shared that the resort and all its ohana have deep respect for the land and the Kaupulehu area.

“By respecting the land, Kona Village staff shares that respect with one another and with guests,” he said. “That respect extends to being sustainable for the long term, buying as much as possible locally, even if it costs more. It benefits our guests and our island home.”

Efforts by Kona Village to care for the ancient Hawaiian fish ponds and 3.2 acre petroglyph field on site have also been recognized by the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau in their annual “Keep it Hawaii” awards program.

In the kitchens of Kona Village, the executive chef’s first choice for product is from on-island farmers. Locally grown fruits and greens, hearts of palm, goat cheese, fresh island fish and Kona Coffee, even wild boar, are all locally sourced.

Perhaps the ultimate in recycling achieved at Kona Village comes from the fronds of more than 2,000 coconut trees that dot the resort.

The roofing material on the restaurants, fitness center and each of the 125 individual thatched-roof hale is grown from these coconut trees. Fronds are dried in the lava fields and used as thatching material. The roofing lasts approximately five years before having to be replaced with newly dried fronds.

From these same coconut trees come the resort’s Do Not Disturb signs. For guests not wanting to be disturbed, a coconut placed just outside the hale door ensures privacy. In the hale there are no televisions, radios or telephones which can result in both visual and sound pollution and needless electricity consumption.

Krauer emphasizes that ultimately, it comes back to the land, the mana (spirit) of that land, and recognizing the responsibility today and beyond so others who follow will also be fortunate enough to experience Kona Village and its surrounds.

— Find out more:

Kona Village Resort: 1-800-367-5290, www.KonaVillage.com

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