If you thought Hawai‘i’s resort scene had reached peak capacity, think again. New hotel towers are being planned on both Oʻahu and the Big Island, and the long-dormant Atlantis Ko Olina mega-resort is stirring back to life. Just in time for the state’s push toward luxury tourism—and conveniently, that freshly minted green fee hotel tax.
On a related note, I drove through Kaka’ako the other day and didn’t know where I was, totally surreal if you haven’t been there in a while. Miss the wood beams at Ward Warehouse.
Hilton Waikoloa Village: A Fourth Tower in the Works
According to a November 2023 investor presentation from Park Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Waikoloa Village may soon sprout a fourth tower. The plan calls for a 213-room expansion, expected to deliver returns of 15% to 20%. While not officially announced on the resort’s website, the presentation shows Park’s clear intent to grow its Hawai‘i portfolio in step with demand recovery, especially from international markets.
Hilton Hawaiian Village: The AMB Tower Proposal
Meanwhile, over on Oʻahu, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is moving forward with plans for a 36-story, 515-room tower along Ala Moana Boulevard. Backed by Park Hotels & Resorts and dubbed the AMB Tower, this addition was highlighted in their 2023 investor presentation as part of a broader strategy to grow their Hawai‘i holdings with strong projected returns.
If approved, this would be the ninth tower on the property—yes, ninth—and while it’s being pitched as a revitalization of the ‘ewa gateway into Waikīkī, not everyone’s cheering. As reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the project has sparked mixed reactions from the community, with residents voicing concerns about traffic congestion, infrastructure strain, and the continued transformation of the neighborhood’s skyline
Ko Olina’s Atlantis Resort: Mega-Resort Resurfaces
If those weren’t enough towers for you, let’s not forget the enormous Atlantis Ko Olina project. In my piece, “Is Hawai‘i Ready for Another Mega Resort?”, I explored the massive 26-acre development slated to bring over 500 hotel rooms and 500 condo units to the West Oʻahu coast.
This $2 billion project by Kam Sang Co. promises to deliver luxury on a scale we haven’t seen since Disney’s Aulani. But it’s also raising eyebrows among locals already concerned about beach access, infrastructure strain, and how many “ultra-luxury” properties one coast can reasonably support.
Commentary: Green Fees and Golden Opportunities
Let’s be real—if there was ever a time to introduce a tourism tax aimed at sustainability, this is it. With thousands of high-end rooms in the pipeline, Hawai‘i’s newly minted hotel tax, talked about in this piece on luxury tourism and hotel taxes couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
Whether or not these developments align with the long-term vision of sustainable tourism is up for debate. But one thing’s clear: Hawai‘i’s pivot toward catering to fewer, wealthier visitors is no longer a future plan—it’s already being built, floor by floor.
Let’s face it. Hawaii doesn’t want more visitors. From their ridiculous Covid policies to outrageous hikes in tourism taxes and soaring crime, your vacation dollars are better spent elsewhere.