Big Island County Sees New Hospitality Hire, Business Updates, and Energy Projects

Nicholas Kuhns has been named general manager of the 1,647-room Hilton Waikōloa Village, the oceanfront resort anchoring the Kohala Coast. Kuhns brings nearly 25 years of experience across luxury resorts, destination properties, and urban lifestyle hotels to one of Hawaii's most prominent hospitality positions.

Kuhns most recently served as general manager at Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows, a position he held since 2024, during which he led a multimillion-dollar renovation, strengthened commercial performance, and introduced new food and beverage concepts. Before that, he was resort manager at Montage Kapalua Bay and general manager of Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square, where he introduced guest-service technologies and led the hotel to a number one ranking on TripAdvisor among Seattle properties. He holds a bachelor's degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada.

In the new role, Kuhns will oversee all aspects of the resort's operations, including commercial strategy, guest experience, food and beverage, team member engagement, and the ongoing development of the property's amenities. "This resort is a truly special place, rich in culture, natural beauty and guest tradition," Kuhns said. "I look forward to building on its legacy, creating memorable experiences for our guests and fostering a workplace where our team members can thrive."

On the food scene, Kona Village resort in Kukio on Kahuwai Bay recently launched an exclusive line of baked goods in collaboration with Los Angeles health-conscious bakery Sweet Laurel. The items are available through April 15 at the resort's Kahuwai Market, and include Vegan Chocolate Chip Everything Cookies made with coconut flour, chocolate, and macadamia nuts, and Gluten-free paleo Blueberry Muffins subtly sweetened with pure maple syrup and topped with coconut and macadamia nut streusel.

On the energy front, Hawaiian Electric achieved a 37% consolidated renewable portfolio standard in 2025, marking progress toward the 2030 renewable portfolio standard milestone of 40%, even as the company's electricity demand grew at the highest rate in more than 20 years. That demand surge, driven partly by electrification across the island, makes the push toward the 40% threshold both more consequential and more challenging for Big Island ratepayers watching their monthly bills.