Tsunami Damage Closes Hawaii Resort Indefinitely
The Big Island鈥檚 Kona Village Resort announced Friday that it will close indefinitely and lay off more than 200 employees due to severe damage from the March 11 tsunami.
The tsunami, generated by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake off Japan, caused tens of millions in damage to public and private property in Hawaii. The Big Island caught the brunt of it.
The tsunami lifted roughly 20 of Kona Village resort’s thatched-roof bungalows off their foundations and carried them 30 to 40 yards inland, some only stopping after they hit a tree, according to the resort’s CEO Patrick Fitzgerald. Meanwhile, furniture and chairs from a beachside restaurant were carried more than 400 yards. Hotel officials say it’s too early to tell if they’ll attempt to renovate and reopen the 45-year-old resort.
Kona Village’s sister resort, the Four Seasons at Hualalai, also suffered significant damage. It remains closed until the end of April.
See a video of the damage and an interview with Fitzgerald at .
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