A glace at the past.

Shelter Island is a man-made landscape, dating back to World War II. Over the course of roughly 20 years, the US Navy and San Diego Harbor Commission conducted gradual work to raise the sandbar above high tide levels and connect the new strip of land to Point Loma. finally in 1960, the island was recognized as “a testimonial to human ingenuity” and “a man-made wonderland of sub-tropical splendor.”

During the island’s development in the 1950s, a city overlay zone required all buildings on Shelter Island to boast a “Polynesian” theme. With the rise in popularity of Hawaiian vacations for the elite, the tropical aesthetic was intended to attract visitors to have a similar experience without the hassle of getting to the middle of the Pacific before the commercial air travel boom.

The Kona Kai Club was introduced in the early 1950s, and grew to boast a guest list with names such as Kennedy, Nixon, Godfrey, Van Dyke and many more. The club was designed to be ultra-exclusive, with members-only beaches, amenities and preferential treatment over public guests. During this time, Kona Kai was colloquially known as “the club of clubs,” offering glamour and exclusivity for A-list clientele. It wasn’t just a social club, but a lifestyle.

In 1953, the Kon-Tiki Bar and Lounge, inspired by Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki raft, opened within the main dining room. A few years later, in 1959, the Kona Inn and Voyager Restaurant were introduced as well, offering guests expanded dining options and brand-new lodging. Later that year, the property was purchased by Jack Wrather, producer of the show Lassie and then-owner of the Disneyland Hotel.

In 1963, the resort was sold again and the new owners conducted several upgrades and enhancements to the guest experience. It was at this time that the Tahitian Lounge, Beachcomber snack bar, a new lobby, gift shops, more lodging and sports courts were introduced to guests as well as a remodeling of the dining room. These improvements saw membership grow from 300 members to more than 2000.

Over the years, Kona Kai has continued to offer guests elite access to its world-famous marina, award-winning dining, private beach access, guest-exclusive programming, seaside guest rooms and much more. Today, the resort is a world-class destination featuring 170 rooms, 500 marina slips, an in-house spa, sprawling meeting and event spaces and stunning bay and Point Loma views.