488 thoughts on “Infamous Coco Palms Kauai | Why It Just Won’t End”
jeanne m
I would come if rebuilt!
Anyone I speak to would also.
The hotel as it was was a draw for Elvis and countless visitors in the past, so why not in the future?
My 5 year old in 1984 turned to me and said as we dropped a guest off, i want to stay here! We did a few years later. Nothing can rob the magic from this place if restored. Get the pedestrian bridge and the property would be even better.
I have restored many older homes in my 40+ years and given the rich history of this hotel I hate to see it falling apart and I believe it should be restored with as many of the original features as soon as possible before they are lost and if that is done I believe millions of guest would rather stay there than any other fancy hotel just because of its history and as far as bringing it up to current zoning and codes ,you would not restore an antique car and put air bags in it, no you would restore it to original! although you could add some safety features that would not interfere with the original looks of the hotel. I hope something gets done soon to preserve this treasure !!! Thanks Dave
Rethink….better to get developers’ money via this property and use it for homeless low cost housing in another site. Memories, traditions, beautiful palms, location near Smiths, all suggest a more appropriate use of this land, even if a park, rather than low cost housing. And money works in any location if you want to be altruistic and divert monies to those in need. Must just stick to the goal and manage finances without loss of said purpose.
Beautiful property in the past; beautiful potention for the future. I appreciate the movie connection and the personal experiences and memories this place holds for many. However, I agree with a previous poster that with so much homelessness on the island(s), maybe it would be best for the state, county, and/or local governments to convert it into a multi-use affordable housing project. Apartments, community center, cultural center, recreational center, pools, park, so many possibilities for the locals. Maybe the multiple failed attempts and obscene amounts of developer money thrown at reviving this location as a tourist destination are signs that it really does belong to the native population.
I’ve been blessed to visit Kauai and the islands a few times and honestly,it breaks my heart to see the amount of homeless every time I go. There are enough tourist resorts and I think it’s time to use this land for affordable housing for the people that live and work on the islands.
we visited the site in 2016. lots of positive energy there. a beautiful place, and really neat to see where elvis was and think about the score of folks that flocked there afterwards. but it is all about the market. the highway outfront is terrible. the location sucks. folks that would have come because of the elvis connection have grown old and dont travel. i wouldnt invest in redevelopment. conserve the shell of the original building, restore the canal and palm gardens, make it a park.
Went there as a child, perhaps 12. Definitely had that ‘old Hawaii’ vibe. But even at the time, I was surprised and disappointed there was no beach access. That seems to me a critical flaw. Too bad. I think it’s over for the resort, but thanks for the memories.
Ever since I saw Elvis in “Blue Hawaii” as a child, I dreamed of visiting this tropical island some day. Well, that day would finally came many years later (in November of 2008) when I visited Oahu and Kauai. My friend and I enjoyed the movie tour, and of course, our guide took us to Coco Palms. Some tourists broke down in tears, recalling their honeymoon there or visiting years ago. Scenes from “Blue Hawaii” flashed into my mind as I walked the destroyed grounds of Coco Palms and stared at the lagoon, where the famous wedding scene took place at the end of film. I was so hopeful that this special place would be restored to its original splendor and was thrilled to see beautiful plans in photos. I was even envisioning spending time at the new Coco Palms resort for my milestone birthday in 2020. But every time I checked on the progress of renovations, I was saddened to read about one setback after another. But miracles happen, especially on this enchanting island. Since numerous blockbuster movies have been filmed on Kauai over the decades, perhaps affluent Hollywood actors, producers, directors could help with funding for a new Coco Palms. It’s worth a try!
Aloha! Your comment is like I wrote it myself. It was the movie “Blue Hawaii” that make me dream of going to Hawaii and my dream included a stay at Coco Palms. But before we could get there, it was destroyed by the hurricane. I still read any news I can find on the restoration of it, and continue to be discouraged when I read that they want to destroy it and build something else. We went to Kauai for our 50th wedding anniversary in 2018 and saw the ruins. It broke my heart to see it in that shape. I would love to see it restored/rebuilt. The wedding scene in “Blue Hawaii” was so beautiful and I will always remember it as in the movie. Mahalo!
I would come if rebuilt!
Anyone I speak to would also.
The hotel as it was was a draw for Elvis and countless visitors in the past, so why not in the future?
My 5 year old in 1984 turned to me and said as we dropped a guest off, i want to stay here! We did a few years later. Nothing can rob the magic from this place if restored. Get the pedestrian bridge and the property would be even better.
Council meeting 8/11/2020
I have restored many older homes in my 40+ years and given the rich history of this hotel I hate to see it falling apart and I believe it should be restored with as many of the original features as soon as possible before they are lost and if that is done I believe millions of guest would rather stay there than any other fancy hotel just because of its history and as far as bringing it up to current zoning and codes ,you would not restore an antique car and put air bags in it, no you would restore it to original! although you could add some safety features that would not interfere with the original looks of the hotel. I hope something gets done soon to preserve this treasure !!! Thanks Dave
Hi Dave.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Rethink….better to get developers’ money via this property and use it for homeless low cost housing in another site. Memories, traditions, beautiful palms, location near Smiths, all suggest a more appropriate use of this land, even if a park, rather than low cost housing. And money works in any location if you want to be altruistic and divert monies to those in need. Must just stick to the goal and manage finances without loss of said purpose.
Beautiful property in the past; beautiful potention for the future. I appreciate the movie connection and the personal experiences and memories this place holds for many. However, I agree with a previous poster that with so much homelessness on the island(s), maybe it would be best for the state, county, and/or local governments to convert it into a multi-use affordable housing project. Apartments, community center, cultural center, recreational center, pools, park, so many possibilities for the locals. Maybe the multiple failed attempts and obscene amounts of developer money thrown at reviving this location as a tourist destination are signs that it really does belong to the native population.
I’ve been blessed to visit Kauai and the islands a few times and honestly,it breaks my heart to see the amount of homeless every time I go. There are enough tourist resorts and I think it’s time to use this land for affordable housing for the people that live and work on the islands.
we visited the site in 2016. lots of positive energy there. a beautiful place, and really neat to see where elvis was and think about the score of folks that flocked there afterwards. but it is all about the market. the highway outfront is terrible. the location sucks. folks that would have come because of the elvis connection have grown old and dont travel. i wouldnt invest in redevelopment. conserve the shell of the original building, restore the canal and palm gardens, make it a park.
It seems so sad to let one of Hawaii’s most famous resorts go to ruin
Went there as a child, perhaps 12. Definitely had that ‘old Hawaii’ vibe. But even at the time, I was surprised and disappointed there was no beach access. That seems to me a critical flaw. Too bad. I think it’s over for the resort, but thanks for the memories.
Hi Tom.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Ever since I saw Elvis in “Blue Hawaii” as a child, I dreamed of visiting this tropical island some day. Well, that day would finally came many years later (in November of 2008) when I visited Oahu and Kauai. My friend and I enjoyed the movie tour, and of course, our guide took us to Coco Palms. Some tourists broke down in tears, recalling their honeymoon there or visiting years ago. Scenes from “Blue Hawaii” flashed into my mind as I walked the destroyed grounds of Coco Palms and stared at the lagoon, where the famous wedding scene took place at the end of film. I was so hopeful that this special place would be restored to its original splendor and was thrilled to see beautiful plans in photos. I was even envisioning spending time at the new Coco Palms resort for my milestone birthday in 2020. But every time I checked on the progress of renovations, I was saddened to read about one setback after another. But miracles happen, especially on this enchanting island. Since numerous blockbuster movies have been filmed on Kauai over the decades, perhaps affluent Hollywood actors, producers, directors could help with funding for a new Coco Palms. It’s worth a try!
Aloha! Your comment is like I wrote it myself. It was the movie “Blue Hawaii” that make me dream of going to Hawaii and my dream included a stay at Coco Palms. But before we could get there, it was destroyed by the hurricane. I still read any news I can find on the restoration of it, and continue to be discouraged when I read that they want to destroy it and build something else. We went to Kauai for our 50th wedding anniversary in 2018 and saw the ruins. It broke my heart to see it in that shape. I would love to see it restored/rebuilt. The wedding scene in “Blue Hawaii” was so beautiful and I will always remember it as in the movie. Mahalo!