By Trish Moore, Star-Bulletin
Nelson Takemoto cleans the pool at the Sheraton Kauai Resort
in preparation for its Dec. 1 reopening.

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Sheraton Kauai Resort
reopens after five years

The beachfront hotel
was damaged by Iniki in 1992

By Trish Moore
Kauai correspondent

POIPU, Kauai -- Maggie Padilla began working as a waitress at the Sheraton Kauai Resort when it first opened in 1968.

Her co-workers were like her family. She made friends and exchanged postcards and letters with many of the hotel's guests who returned year after year.

After five long years, Padilla says she's "thrilled" to be back at work today.

The beachfront hotel on Kauai's south shore reopens today, closed since it was damaged by Hurricane Iniki on Sept. 11, 1992.

It took $40 million to refurbish and restore the 413-room resort. The storm damage was severe, and it was several years before the resort's owners, Japan-based Obayashi Corp., could reach agreement with its insurance company, said Tanya Bova, hotel spokeswoman.

The original two-story wooden building, just steps away from the surf, was redone in concrete this time, Bova said. It had been severely damaged and had to be refurbished in 1982 after Hurricane Iwa.

By Trish Moore, Star-Bulletin
Crispina Ibos prepares a room at the Sheraton
Kauai resort, which re-opens Dec. 1.

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"The owners were careful to preserve and refurbish the best features of the property while designing the new facilities to further enhance and improve the resort," said General Manager Charldon Thomas.

Most of the hotel's 300 current employees worked there before the hotel closed down, said Bova. "It's like coming home for many of us."

Padilla took part-time jobs in the five-year interim and kept up correspondence with some former visitors.

"A lot of the guests have been asking about the hotel," she said. "We get to know a lot of the people, and they come back to see us."

Padilla and some of her co-workers would invite guests they got to know over the years to potluck picnics.

Padilla, "60-something," has been learning the new computer system at the hotel's Shells restaurant, formerly the Outrigger Room.

About 250 guests are expected to check in today, Bova said.

The hotel will hold a formal grand opening in March when the owners can come, she said.