Comments on: Coco Palms Revisted

By: Bob J

Bob J — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:32:41 +0000

Rob,
I’m happy to say that almost all the clamshell sinks are still intact. Some that are gone are safeguarded off the property in storage. Each sink weighs well over 100 lbs, therefore, very difficult to steal.

By: Bronwyn Leilani Duteil

Bronwyn Leilani Duteil — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:55:05 +0000

I’m a Maui girl at heart :0) my Tutu’s home is on the Valley Isle. My Mother is from the island of O’ahu, brought to the mainland as a child. She raised me here but took me home frequently throughout my childhood. As a teenager I spent every Christmas in Hawai’i, and also visited during the summer some years. We stayed at the Coco Palms whenever on Kaua’i. My parents are both huge Elvis fans, and I think this might’ve been part of the reason. I remember visiting the bungalow where he used to stay. My Father and I would rise early in the morning, to head down to the beach and take sunrise photos. We would go to dinner at night and I have many pictures by the lagoon. I remember going to Larry Rivera’s show and getting his album autographed, our pictures taken. His daughter is also named Leilani…and she is a kumu hula, as well as a singer. The loss of the Coco Palms Hotel is enormous. A trip down memory lane, such nostalgia from the glamour of Hollywood, mixed with dreams of an island paradise. I am sad that it has never reopened. There will never be another place like it. Such a shame…but such wonderful memories.
A standard hula that I dance, “Beautiful Kaua’i” was written here during a visit by Randy Farden, of the famous Farden family singers. He was inspired by the view from his room in 1967.
Here is a nice article written by Derek Rivera, “Uncle” Larry’s son – http://www.k12.hi.us/~kapaahs/foundation/alumniprofilelr.html

By: Bob J

Bob J — Sun, 23 May 2010 09:45:58 +0000

In the next couple of weeks, Coco Palms will be open for tours Monday thru Fridays at noon and 2 pm. Visitors will be $10.00 per person, Kauai residents with Hawaiian ID will be free. Keep watching for the signs.

By: Paul L

Paul L — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:22:22 +0000

My Parents and I stayed at the Coco Palms back in 1972. 20 yrs
later on my Honeymoon, my Wife and I flew into Kauai on 9/10/92. We had one lovely nite (dinner, the torch-lighting ceremony, etc.), then Iniki came roaring thru on September 11, 1992! (Catch that date). My wife knew the Coco Palms only from
BLUE HAWAII, and she could’nt believe the beauty of the place. We were back on Kauai 5 yrs later, and were able to see the grounds again. I hope that the hotel can be restored (if Possible ) to it’s former splendor!

By: Robert W. from NYC

Robert W. from NYC — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:56:04 +0000

I visited the Coco Palms with my family in 2007 and the property caretaker was nice enough to give us a tour. Very nice guy, indeed! The grounds were really in bad shape, but at the time of our visit, there was great hope that the grounds were going to be soon redeveloped. The caretaker even showed me a copy of the plans. We were all so optimistic back then only to have our hopes shattered a few months later when the redevelopment plans fell through.

Anyway, for those of you who have a Flickr account you can see my pictures of the visit at this link!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/22399124@N08/

Enjoy!!

By: Colleen

Colleen — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:08:41 +0000

If it were to reopen as a State Park – would there be any restoration done? To allow it to decay further would be a shame. What a loss!

By: Sandi

Sandi — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:43:55 +0000

thanks for the photo link … it was a great idea that someone had to use them.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:18 +0000

Sandi–I think the oyster shell basins are long gone. Here’s the link to a picture of one: http://www.coco-palms.com/photos/submissions/full/postcard02.jpg

Colleen–The current owners are mainland based. They are Maryland’s Petrie Ross Ventures and South Carolina’s Weiser Cos. Their plans fell through in 2007 to open as a condo-hotel. State Senator Gary Hooser has suggested the 32 acre property be opened as a state park.

Tim–Thanks for writing your memories of Coco-Palms.

Rene–Starting this month, Kauai full-time residents are allowed on the property twice a month for a one hour tour. If you’d like to see the property during your visit, you’ll need to take the movie tour I wrote about. Enjoy your stay on Kauai.

Aloha from Rob
Beat of Hawaii

By: Rene

Rene — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:44:03 +0000

Question and comment about Coco Palms – great article – we are going to be in Kauai in about a month – how did you get to go inside – I too would love to take some photos and experience this great place. Hopefully it will re-open one day again. It is such a shame. Mahalo.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:46:51 +0000

My parents took my twin brother and I there in 1963. We were more interested in fishing for perch in the small ponds than anything else. I remember the giant clamshell sinks in the bathrooms, fabulous coconut pies for dessert, and the torch lighting ceremonies. My wife and I drove by last October, and it was sad.