Kauaʻi just got its first Curio Collection by Hilton resort, and it opened with one of the more interesting dining pitches on the island. Hale Hōkūala Kauaʻi, which means “House of the Rising Star,” is a 210-room lifestyle resort overlooking Nāwiliwili Bay and Kalapakī Beach that opened September 30. The standout is Figueira, the island’s only Portuguese-Hawaiian restaurant, sitting over the 18th hole of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Ocean Course with a menu built around malasadas, bacalhau no forno, and Portuguese Fisherman’s Stew.
The rest checks the boxes you’d want from a resort arrival: a cultural immersion program called E Ala Ka Pilina developed alongside local practitioners and educators, preferred tee times on the Ocean Course, five miles of trails, complimentary bikes, pickleball and tennis, and a farm showcasing native crops. It earns and redeems Hilton Honors points, and the opening Kauaʻi Island Escape package takes 25 percent off the best available rate on stays of three nights or more. A solid addition to the Garden Isle if Hawaii is on your radar.
