It’s been about a year since it was sold again. What’s up now at Coco Palms.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
488 thoughts on “Infamous Coco Palms Kauai | Why It Just Won’t End”
Comments are closed.
It’s been about a year since it was sold again. What’s up now at Coco Palms.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
As long as there are Elvis fans, they would come. As for the property itself, it was enchanting…my 5 year old son at the time said…i want to stay here! We came back two years later and it was a spectacular visit…torches, Elvis, palm trees, lagoon! Such was the fabulous memories that can be resurrected by watching not only our film, but Blue Hawaii. What a loss to everyone, locals and visitors.
Aloha,
I will relate my experience at the Coco Palms. Married in 1990 then Honeymooned at the Coco Palms. Wonderful charm about the place and the staff was so friendly. I am also an Elvis fan. Maybe that’s why we ended up there.
We would walk amongst the coconut groves and seldom saw another couple, as if it was our own world. We sat by the lagoon, watching the fish swim as the breeze blew through the palms composing a soothing rustling symphony that silenced the rest of the world. Magical.
One day we decided to check out the then Kauai Hilton down the road with it’s fancy hotel and beachfront access. We lay out on the sand and were engulfed in the sounds of shouts from a volleyball game, boom boxes playing, loud conversations, and service carts rattling along the concrete pathway. After about 15 minutes of this din my wife looked at me and we both said, “Let’s go back to the Coco Palms.”
We had a memorable time at the Coco Palms. Even snuck onto the raft decorated with flowers for a wedding we presumed. We took our photos on the raft and at the chapel before we were shooed off. What fun.
When we heard the Coco Palms was being rebuilt I told my wife we are going to spend our 30th anniversary there. Sadly, that is not reality.
But we hope some day they would restore some part of the Coco Palms. Fancier rooms could be created, but preserving that old charm would be special. Yes, the Clamshell Sinks were something. I laughed because it seemed a bit touristy, but we filled it with ice and chilled our champagne in it. Memories we hold forever.
We hope the best for its future. Hotel, cultural center, restaurant/bar, wedding venue (definitely), retreat center. I only reflect on what a special place the Coco Palms was. I’m not a business person so cannot offer safe advice here. But there are those out there that can offer real solutions. Everyone, make it work.
Mahalo
Hi Kevin.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Have you seen this web site ??
https://cocopalmshawaii.com/
I have watched the public hearings for 20 years on the tv, Unfortunately, this subject has been exhausted. The locals do not want the hotel. The county does not want the hotel. No private money can find a way through the red tape jungle. The situation has become hazardous and bad for the kids. Time to clean it up governor.
we stayed at the Coco Palms about 30 years ago….shortly before the hurricane went through & destroyed it…..it was so lovely….the zoo & walking through the palms…reading the plates by the trees…..i loved the clam shell sinks….& the lovely lady that worked in the little liquor/gift shop….she would tell us tales of living on Kauai…..i’ve even bought the book “The Story of the Coco Palms Hotel”…..i go through it often…bringing back memories….the lighting of the garden every night was something people would come from all over to see….i watch Blue Hawaii & it helps bring back some of my memories…
Just a bit of info ..My Aunty When she was in the 7th grade , enter a contest to name this Hotel ..she submitted the name Coco Palms…as told to me… Aloha
Hi Jeffery.
Thanks.
Aloha.
I think it should be donated to the County and rebuilt as a cultural museum for Hawaiian traditions, the real history of Kauai and of course the Elvis associations. Does not need to be a luxury hotel built on the highway in that area. A cultural museum with auditorium for lectures, movies and may locations for weddings with the lagoon returned. I am sure there are some wealthy folks on Kauai that could donate to such a cause and if well managed it could fund itself in time. Time for lateral thinking and another Luxury Hotel in a not so good roadside location is not a goer. But we must not lose the history.
I like that idea.
He would have the same hurdles to clear as anyone else who tried.
Thank you for your service.
Hi Richard.
Thanks.
Aloha.
We drive by this site every year during our visit to Kauai. Until a final result can be decided for the property, please remove all remains of the structure so the landscape can returned to its natural condition. This is beautiful piece of land and should continue as an eye sore.
move the highway and build a new bridge. then build a beach front park from the highway to the beach
About 35 years ago I was living in Kauai on Mala Street and I used to bring many Europeans groups from HNL for lunch at the Coco Palms, much to their delight.
My wife and I had our wedding there in the chapel. Magic indeed.
This was another era which will never come back, only leaving us with sweet memories.
That time is gone for sure and yet, so many futile attempts to revive it.
Why not making a beautiful public park for tourists and Locals to enjoy it, a bit like Kapiolani park in HNL.
Thank you Claude. I agree with you. I would not want to even drive that way again. Stayed at the wonderful Coco Palms many times. My memories will be with me forever. Good times with my dear husband. Thanks again.
Since Steve Zuckerberg has claimed Kauai as home, and he has billions of dollars, maybe he could lead an effort to redevelop Coco Palms. What a nice civic duty that message would send to the residents of Kauai!
Yeah; right. That will happen. Not in this lifetime. Do you KNOW Zuckerberg?
Go watch the 1978 movie “Death Moon” filmed at CoCo Palms. CLASSIC! Any time the Hawaiian government can step in and wrap their red tape around something, they will. Sad.
I’d like to see it come back as old Hawaiiana classic style of swanky tiki. Give us the tiki bar on the beach side at least. I’d hate to see it as a modern design, crammed full of retail garbage. Simple, natural, and basic old school Hawaii, I think that’s the problem though, these developers are reaching for too much change. Definitely NOT condos or housing in that area as another commenter suggests. Keep it simple Kauai. In the meantime, I’ll be at Happy Talk Lounge. Aloha!
Hi Tammy.
Thank you. Have a good weekend.
Aloha.
My family stayed at the Coco Palms in the early 80’s, right after one of the horrific hurricanes. It was kind of a dump then, I can only imagine what it looks like now.
We got married in the chapel in 1987 and it was not a dump then. It was beautiful!
Replying to MiMA , We stayed at the Coco Palms in 1981, and every year thereafter until 1987. IT WAS NOT A DUMP! It was a gorgeous structure, rooms lovely. It’s very sad, but the memories I have of Coco Palms will last me for ever.
Thank you.
Hi Linda.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Kauai roads are so awfully overcrowded, as is the whole island during normal times. Make it into a park please, or return it to the native Hawaiians but not for development. It is so terrible already give the island a break.
Kauai roads are not that bad. There are two pain points, one at Wailua-Kapaa and one down by Poipu. Regrettably it does not take much traffic on Kauai to cause jams. Locals are not as used to heavy traffic as residents of Oahu or the mainland and tourists tend to be looking at the ocean and the views and not where they are going. There is an old cane road that runs as a bypass behind Kapaa but it is not designed for tourists looking at the view, with lots of tight bends and bridges and the possibility to meet big trucks coming the other way. It would be nice to return Kapaa to a quiet backwater and build a modern bypass as happened on other parts of Kauai but then it would not be Kauai. “There are so few places like Kauai left on the earth we should not try to turn it into another California…”
As to Mima’s comments about being a dump; if you do not get Kauai then perhaps you should try somewhere else. The land speaks to some but not all and for some folks the big bed factories in Orlando or Southern California are more to their taste. Strokes/ folks
Hi Rich.
Thanks again for all your comments over the past 7 years.
Aloha.
This is the classic case of you snooze, you lose. Rather than doing whatever to get another hotel in immediately to rebuild on the Coco Palms name and persona, the opportunity is gone. Iniki is long over and very few casual visitors know or care about it or what was Coco Palms. Now we are in a different time with different expectations and the chance to grow with the times has long gone. Having worked with planning in my hometown of Bloomington, IN for many years, (I am a winter bird here, also for many years), I know that government planning offices are in general not knowledgeable and very short-sighted. While trying to require the “perfect” development they have lost 30 years of tax revenue and employment. Tear it down and put homes or condos in there. Don’t be picky, just do something! Anything is better than what will continue to be there forever if there’s not immediate movement. The price of the land is way too high for the government to buy it. Give some developer 30 years of tax abatement to get the job done. Otherwise, 30 more years of income will be lost. I remember the old Coco Palms and it was charming and different from a regular hotel. A new concept, whatever type of housing or hotel it is, must be jazzy and unique. It will have to be very special to get beyond the traffic and development mess that is Kapaa. It will require creative thinking to get beyond the ideas that are currently in place and what restrictions currently allow.
Having dealt both with Hawaii county planning department and many other planning departments around the country before, I can assure you that the biggest impediment to the redevelopment of this property is the government. At the end of the day, the government needs to decide if it want a resort there or not. If not, they should simply stop granting or issuing permits and either require the current owners to clear the land–or do it themselves. They could certainly use public funds / tax dollars / eminent domain to purchase the property turn it into a state or county park–or some other type of use. But that’s not how these government agencies work. For some reason they will passive-aggressively dangle the possibility of allowing you to develop the property over your head–while at the same time allowing other interest (like squatters… or claims of ancient artifacts / ruins on the property) to endlessly slow or prevent the development from moving forward.
And it’s puzzling… because just think about the jobs, wages, and tax revenue that have been lost forever by creating these impediments to the re-development of that property. Hundreds employed–both in the construction phase and the operational phase. Millions and millions of dollars in wages, sales, and hotel tax lost. Someone could definitely do that math–and I assure you, the numbers would be shocking. But that’s how governments think–or DON’T think. They’re not called pencil pushers for nothing. Instead of opening doors and building bridges to make these projects happen–they build walls and put up road blocks–and then point their fingers at other agencies / branches of government to explain it away and shrug off responsibility.
And, frankly, it’s this kind of massive failure at the government level that keeps so many of the locals poor and on welfare across the islands. Instead of doing everything they can to help produce jobs and opportunities–like the rebuildng of a world famouns 100-room resort destroyed by a hurricane–they just continue taxing the rich and the tourists–and handing that money out instead.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the small buy always VERY vocal minority of “original” Hawaiians that come out of the woodwork to throw monkey wrenches and molotov cocktails into any proposed developments–anywhere on the islands. You know… the ones camped out up on Mauna Kea… the ones that file lawsuit after lawsuit to try and block virtually every new development on the islands–claiming the land is ancestral or has burial grounds or has religious signficance, etc, etc, etc. These are the death by a thousand cuts that eventually discourage these developments by making them too time consuming and too expensive. These types would literally rather have the decaying ruins of a former hotel than a nice new resort on that property… because they’re haters. They don’t like tourists or tourism. They don’t like international conglomerates owning and making millions off their “homelands”.
So… Hawaii… you only have your self to blame for the rot and decay at Coco Palms. You love their money but you hate the tourists. But you can’t have one without the other.
wow…..perfectly said!
Let’s all think back to the time before tourists came to Hawaii. I believe these “Oh, and let’s not forget about the small buy always VERY vocal minority of “original” Hawaiians that come out of the woodwork to throw monkey wrenches and molotov cocktails into any proposed developments–anywhere on the islands. You know… the ones camped out up on Mauna Kea… the ones that file lawsuit after lawsuit to try and block virtually every new development on the islands–claiming the land is ancestral or has burial grounds or has religious significance, etc, etc, etc. ” using their own communal system of working and living off of their own lands (and under fule of their own government) before the draw of tiki tacky hotels even arrived. No tourist dollars were needed then….
Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed this article and quickly went on to other articles and youtube videos about the history of this resort, but this person’s comment remains pretty insensitive to the Kanaka Maoli.
Sometimes the truth is uncomfortable
Momilani A, we’re not talking about the 1500’s here. It’s 2020. The genie is out of the bottle. He’s not going back in. And maybe you should study real / actual Hawaiian history. It was no picnic for anyone but the royals and priests. Everyone else was basically a slave. Google it. It’s a thing. I assure you that life is as good or better today for the average “native” Hawaiian as it ever was under that feudal system.
I hear you, but there’s something to recognize. I am reminded of the Bible talking about how the children will suffer under the sins of their fathers. I see a parallel with the Hawaiians and the Blacks in the Mainland. The Blacks didn’t ask to be put in chains and become slaves in the U.S. for the financial benefit of plantation owners. Neither did the Hawaiians ask to have U.S. businessmen enlist the U.S. military to “acquire” the Hawaiian Islands for the financial benefit of plantation owners. Almost 160 years after the Civil War and emancipation, we still are suffering “for the sins of our fathers” on the Mainland. And it’s the same for the Hawaiians. It’s all too easy (especially for Caucasians – and I am “the Old White Guy”) to say “that was long ago get over it.” It’s not so easy if your ancestors are Hawaiian or African. And, no, we can’t turn back the clock or change history, but we can try to be a little more understanding. Otherwise, we are The Ugly Americans. Aloha
Absolutely Spot On!!!
Yep. And no more funds of any kind from the U.S. Federal Government. You want to be your own sovereign nation, go ahead. And while you are at it give back all the modern technology and conveniences you have benefited from while part of the United States.
There is nothing peaceful about Hawaiian history. Kings were sailing from island to island to conquer each other. I don’t think of human sacrifices to appease angry gods as a peaceful way of life. But then again I am just a evil haole. Oh and by the way, if no tourists are going to Hawaii anymore how will you have extra money to go to Las Vegas? Las Vegas and flying are modern day conveniences. Better start rowing that outrigger.
We stayed at the Coco Palms first on our honeymoon February, 1968. We loved it. It was sooo old time Hawaii. We brought our children back in 1985 and were specially treated to a dinner with the manager as returning guests. We visited Kauai once again with our now teens in the 90’s and were lucky to be allowed to walk the grounds to see the destruction. It was sad. We had hoped it would be brought back and were waiting to stay there once more. We’re now Hawaii residents and it would have been nice to hop over for a week’s stay there. We’re very disheartened that Mother Nature had her way with the Coco Palms and vary sad we’ll not see anything there to take its place.
I toured the grounds twice with the old movie tour, probably 2003 and 2005, and while the grounds still looked respected by the public. The talk then and I followed since about redeveloping the place using the shells of the old buildings as the base, similar to what was done at the Koa Kea in the Poipu area. It never made much sense to me.
First, it’s on the wrong side of the highway, a busy highway at that. The Koa Kea, although it doesn’t front on a sand beach is still oceanfront quite removed from the road which is much less traveled than the one by Coco.
Second, I think the rooms at the Koa Kea are on the small side for today’s standards. I heard someone from the Hyatt talk about the evolving concepts needed for the new Hawaii visitor. The Coco rooms frameworks as seen from the highway certainly are the old school small rooms and only the old bungalows seemed worthy.
Koa Kea has the upside of being located in a pretty nice resort area with nicer tourist eateries and shops in abundance, well for Kauai. I don’t feel the same for the area surrounding the Coco.
The idea that the resort could survive with Larry Rivera rekindling memories of Elvis just seems weak, and weaker with the vi rus going on. I’ve enjoyed Mr. Rivera and I enjoyed the Elvis films. I just think the concept there is a losing one. When we did the tour almost 20 years ago, so much of the place looked like it just didn’t some paint, new furniture, and a gardener, and it was easy to see the Elvis shots and such. I saw Darren Lee do an Elvis show on Maui that just did not draw audiences and folded saying to me that magic is fading.
Two possible uses: If a bridge or tunnel to the beach were built, the grounds could be a nice condo resort preserving some parts of the lagoon. Far fetched, perhaps Mr. Zuckerberg would purchase and make it into a nice park for the citizens of Kauai as a way of making nice. Thanks for the opportunity to comment again.
Hi Thomas.
Thanks, as always. We concur with your contrast between Coco Palms and Koa Kea.
Aloha.
I agree, Zuckerberg put your $$$ to preserve the grounds of Coco, no resort, just a very respectful, nice park, garden area.
Oh, Karen, Karen, Karen…. Again, typical Hawaiian / local view-point: “Let the rich mainlander solve / pay for our problems for us. As I stated above, if the people of Hawaii / Kauai want to make that property into a public park or nature preserve–they have that power. All they have to do is be willing to write the checks. And why shouldn’t they? All of their money comes from the tourists ANYWAY… right? I mean, what real industry is there on Kauai aside from tourism? (Answer: None). The tourist already pay for your schools, and your free health care and your roads and your airports and your police and fire departments…. It’s all paid for by tax dollars collected from the tourists in one form or another.
I’ve been staying in Coco Palms Hotel 3 times,and it’s the best place I’ve ever been.There is a spesial spirit there.I love Elvis and the movie Blue Hawaii.I also heard Larry Riverra there.I wish it could be rebuild again.I come from Denmark,but I love Hawaii.
Thank you for updates on the Coco Palms. First time I staued there was in 1981, and stayed many times after that. It was so special to me and my husband. So sad. So many wonderful memories. I love when there are reruns of Blue Hawaii. Thank you so much.
Hi Linda.
Thank you for your comments.
Aloha.
Coco Palms could have re-built many times, but county government fought every attempt to do it. Now, it should be a park. A beach and a restaurant, maybe a beach toy rental shop.
It is a fond memory for many people and will remain so.
The grounds have historical significance which could and should be shared and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
Maybe the county government could finally take a positive step.
Aloha, Coco Palms!
Hi Skip.
Thanks.
Aloha.
My late husband and I spent part of our honeymoon there in 1983. It Was so beautiful and charming. Was sad when it was destroyed by a hurricane even sadder now knowing it will never be again.
It just seems sad that this property which was such a nice place to stay has deteriorated so much. There are several movie stars who own property on Kauai. Too bad one of them with millions of dollars won’t buy the property and start the work to rebuild and make it great again. It could be more old Hawaiian and not a big modern hotel like the Marriott in Lihue or the Sheraton in Poipu.
Hi Chris.
Just wanted to say thanks for all your comments over the past 10 years!
Aloha.
We drove back to try to view the former CoCo Palms when we were on Kauai about three years ago. At that time, we just couldn’t see how it could work, largely based on the area and surroundings today. Love the Blue Hawaii movie, love nostalgia, but I can’t imagine this happening.
Love your website and read all of the emails you send out, thank you!
Hi Diane.
Thank you! Yes, we concur with you. This just isn’t the same situation as it was nearly 30 years ago when the hotel closed.
Aloha.
I been coming to kauai for over 40 years .been throug the hurricane saw the upclose damage to the coco palms it should have been knocked down prior to the hurricane . The place was a dive 40 years ago . Elvis has left the building ! Tear the dam thing down already .its an eyesore and a hazmat area . It would be better as a park n another hospital for all to use .kauai doesn’t need anymore traffic headaches . The county needs to make the decision to get off the pot n make progress on its future .
We married in the chapel in Feb of 1985 & later visited the zoo in the rear of the property & chatted with Uncle Charlie. A few years ago we stopped in the parking lot & there was Uncle Charlie with his severance check. I understand he made handtied throw nets. He had done caretaking there for some years. I almost cried every time we passed over the years. Went to Kauai for 40 years. It’s a very special place. Took my son there a few years ago & now they go every 6 months and also find it as the spiritual place I love.
I got married there in 1983! Beautiful and romantic! I cherish the wonderful experience at the Coco Palms Resort.
My husband and I took a tour of the Coco Palms Hotel about 10 years ago. There was a tour guide that took us around the grounds and showed us where the bungalow was that Elvis used in the movie Blue Hawaii, also the church, the lagoon and the restaurant that was in the movie. Even though it was in ruins from the hurricaine, we enjoyed it and hoped to return there someday to stay; but I guess now we can cross that off our bucket list.
I honeymooned at CoCo Palms in 1987 and adored every moment there. We stayed at one of the little cabana’s next to the lagoon with the seashell sinks and the screened in porch. We only went to the beach once or twice out of the 7 days we were there but crossing the road was not a big deal. There is so much to do in Kauai that it kept us busy. Coco Palms coconut grove was also the opening of the show Fantasy Island. I treasure the videos I took of Coco Palms and the memories I have of hearing the animals in the mornings from the little zoo are forever in my memory. If they just made it exactly the way it was it would be perfect!!
Ever since seeing the movie “Blue Hawaii” I’ve wanted to visit here. When it was ruined by the hurricane I cried. I’ve hoped every day that somehow someone would be able to restore it to what it used to be. It’s sad to see such a beautiful place in ruins. I hope someone can get it rebuilt.
Should fix it then
Honeymooned in 1987. Great sinks shaped like seashells. Saw the rebuilding in 2017 and thought we will come back for another stay. So sad to see this. If nothing else give it back to the natives. After all it really is theirs.
We spent our honeymoon here in June 1968, it was beautiful then and quite the place for broke newly weds to stay. This was the highlight resort for us, and could only stay for 3 nights. The balance of our hotels were less $. Went back in 1014, rented a motorcycle, and went inside the fenced area. Looked exactly like 46 years ago…except drapes hanging out Broken windows,signage still in place, large conch shell still hanging in main dining room etc. Many memories. took bunch of pictures and compared to our honeymoon pics, just more grown up foliage.
I pray they reopen. I love the movie blue Hawaii and wanted to have our wedding vows renewed their. And it would be awesome to be where Elvis was when I was a little girl. I loved Elvis and all his movie. I awesome wanted to live in Hawaii.
We honeymooned here in 1971. We have been waiting all these years to return to this beautiful, memorable resort. Sadly, this may never happen. At least in my life time, it appears.
As a Decendant of my great grandmother Queen Kapule, as long as a white man try to change Coco Palms, and expects white people to control CoCo Palms, my Ancestors will not let a white person have her. Coco Palms belongs to us and it will go way under sea level, more then it is now…cause her Descendants (including me) have chanted a curse on that place. Therefore only we have the control of that place
Aloha!
I honor your Descendants, feelings, beliefs and understand.
If so then, take your control and bring back the history!
We all love it, watched it in it’s glory and want that back……
We want to support it, not take it from anyone.
If you are a true descendant of Queen Kapule have you documented your ancestry?
Why even does that in and of itself give you the right to claim this property? Descendants have had over twenty years to come up with a plan and the finances to do something with this property and yet it sits there, a disgrace. Grace and Gus who, yes were white, loved that land and honored it’s heritage, something you’ve seemed to have forgotten.
I’ve seen firsthand how poorly that property has been cared for, the graffiti, garbage, lack of respect for any remaining artwork, let alone the land, coconut grove and lagoon. Maybe think about volunteering to care for the land and it’s history instead of cursing it.
Bringing back the Coco Palms would employ hundreds of people, not only in the reconstruction, but at the property itself.
Yes, people are interested in the “Movie history,” but I can assure you the Hawaiian history and traditions of that area are just as interesting and inspiring, if not more so. Allow people to love this part of Kauai history again.
I just came back from Kaua’i, my first trip. I stayed at a lovely boutique cottage hotel down the street. This is an iconic property. They don’t need a golf course or direct access to the beach. Use a shuttle or enjoy the property. Build a storm wall, and rebuild in the spirit of the island, ecotourism…and set aside a portion of profits to initiatives to help build that hospital, senior center etc. Do it in the spirit of Mrs. G, and the Hawaiian hospitality. That is what saddens me about the large resorts..pretty but no indigenous. I drove everywhere, and it was fine…but those who don’’t want to drive, provide shuttle service. Have storytellers, things to share the history and preserve the culture ,like true artisans on site….do it as a cooperative event..it will make money and be a showplace center of culture…
Fantastic idea~!!
My wife and I spent my R&R there when I was in Viet Nam . Sadly to remember our 5 day R&R was cut by one day. She had a fall bladder attack on the 4th day. The local hospital was very great, but we hated to leave. Duty called, however we often had a return visit on our “bucket list” for the future. Unfortunately she died before that could be realized. A visit is still on my list.
I too spent my R&R with my wife of one year at The Coco Palms in October 1968. If it ever reopens, we’ll return in a heartbeat!
I pass by this property either to go to Kapa’a where my home is, or up to the heights where I have friends. I’ve always wondered. IF the Coco Palms is ever restored to its former glory, what happens to all those coco trees? I mean, someone has to climb up and remove the fruit. Otherwise, there is a huge liability issue with falling coconuts. Since they are on private property there is no law that says the fruit *must* be removed. On public property, the fruit *has* to be removed because if it’s not, the fruit can fall and seriously injure someone on the ground.