But after the waves died down, on the morning of March 11th, 2011 the hotel was again being added to the history books.
"It was really sad when they allowed us to walk through, it was nothing but sand and glass," describes Alana Yamamoto, hotel Sales manager.
The tsunami swept sand, rocks and even dead fish into the front lobby and breezeway. Surges severely damaged the historic Ahuena Heiau and beach, leaving behind a mess both inside and out.
And what a difference a year makes, not only did the hotel change its name, they spent $45million fixing up the walk way, adding new sand at their beach, landscaping, new carpets you name it.
"There is carpet, the stansions, everything that was on ground level we did," Yamamoto points out.
The hotel also added a new computer center and office space.
"It opened up 6 new meeting spaces for us," she says.
As powerful as the waves were – so has been the spirit shown by hotel staff- to count their blessings, that not all was lost.
"Nothing but blessings, nothing but blessings. We talk about the ‘mana’, the spirits of the hotel itself, as you can see that canoe there, the water went just as high as the tile, it didn’t touch the canoe," says Yamamoto.
Artifacts and portraits of Hawaiian royalty were also spared. But, Candi Hill’s Beaches Resort Wear shop on the oceanside of the hotel was not.
"It was something you never think you’re going to go through in your lifetime," says Hill.
Security cameras captured the relentless waves that day.
"It’s hard to imagine when we walked into this shop and saw that everything was destroyed, everything was gone, it was difficult at that time to imagine it could all be cleaned up, rebuilt, restructured and put back together like a big jigsaw puzzle," she says.
Total damage was $75,000. Her insurance covered about half. It took her six months get back on her feet before the shop re-opened.
"Everyone was wonderful, like the construction workers, and it all came together and it turned out to be certainly one of the most positive experiences of my life," says Hill.
Proof that the Aloha Spirit is alive and well in Kailua-Kona.
"Everyone survived, everything became positive from that negative and I think that is the most important thing we learned from it," says Hill.
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See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
