WAIPOULI — Jennie Waiwaiole Vega, the general manager of the Kaua‘i Shores Hotel, home of Lava Lava restaurant, wanted to know where the rain came from on Tuesday.
“I studied the weather maps, last night,” Waiwaiole Vega said. “It was all clear. There wasn’t anything that said ‘rain.’”
With just minutes remaining before the hotel’s employees would be showing up for lunch, Waiwaiole Vega made the decision to relocate the festivities to the hotel’s lobby as a hedge against the morning showers.
“We’re going to bless the four buildings of the hotel that was renovated,” Waiwaiole Vega said. “And, since we have most the employees here, we’re naming the Outstanding Employee before lunch.”
Kaua‘i Shores, a 200-room boutique hotel located in Waipouli, started renovating its four main buildings in June 2023 with Shioi Construction as the general contractor for the project.
Building costs were not available, but three of the four buildings were completed before the holidays, Waiwaiole Vega said.
“We took a little rest before starting the final building,” the general manager said.
“Now, everything is done. The renovations are done. We are known for our bright colors and retro look. We’ve kept that.”
Peter Workman of the Kaua‘i Shores Grounds and Maintenance was presented the koa paddle after being recognized the hotel’s Outstanding Employee.
Geoff Gram, the vice president of operations for Hogan Hospitality, said Kaua‘i Shores has been voted the No. 1 Hotel in the Royal Coconut Coast for the fourth consecutive year.
This achievement is not just due to Workman, but all of the 50 employees working together to present the Kaua‘i Shores property in its best light.
According to the Trip Advisor Kaua‘i website, the Kaua‘i Shores shares the “Travelers Choice” designation with other resorts, including the Waimea Plantation Cottages, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort, the Koa Kea Resort On Po‘ipu Beach, The Kaua‘i Inn, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, and The Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort.
