Mar 30, 2010 reader linda mcmahon emailed us with a question about one of hawaiis most iconic resorts. I had forgotten that coco palms was on kauai as i had read this excellent article here over a year ago. I looked into it a little further and found out that the coco palms was the very first resort on kauai, built in 1953 and back in the day it was the hottest place around. Coco palms on kauai page 2 fodors travel talk forums. Coco palms is located on kauai s east side near the wailua river. Coco palms resort kauai memorabilia delan nelson photography.
A sign saying coco palms tour is at the entrance of our parking lot at the intersection of kuhio highway and kuamoo rd. Today the kauai planning commission affirmed the order of hearings officer richard nakamura to revoke permits held by coco palms ventures llcs to rebuild the property which was damaged in 1992 during hurricane iniki. For decades, the coco palms was a tropical island getaway for celebrities and people seeking a tropical location for their wedding. The developers, now in default, planned to use these preexisting steel and concrete structures as the base of the new resort. Book on our official website today for best rate guarantee.
After others failed over two decades, a new team is hoping to rebuild the coco palms resort. A tour of coco palms resort hawaii after hurricane iniki. According to the book the story of the coco palms hotel, by david p. Devastated by hurricane iniki in 1992, the revitalization of the 363room historic hotel is scheduled to begin in early 2015 and following a twoyear reconstruction period, it is. At the same time, we can find no reference to stillwater on the permits, nor any reference to coco palms on the stillwater website. There are plans to reopen it under a different name in 2017. We recommend booking an option with free cancellation in case your travel plans change. After bob jaspers tour we went and bought the book he recommended, the story of the coco palms. The land that coco palms was built on hosted some of kauai s most significant historical and cultural events.
Big john got involved in mix martial arts since 1948. Penhallow, the coco palms resort sits on an ancient site of hawaiian royalty and hospitality situated at the mouth of the wailua river on the eastern side of kauai. Are there any plans to reopen the coco palms as a hotel or any other facility available to the public. Coco palms project listed with colliers interntational. Circuit court chief judge randall valenciano ruled in favor of. In hawaii last week it was reported that coco palms developers have secured funding for demolition. Architect talks about kauais coco palms resort redevelopment.
Dec 29, 20 big john remembers the last time elvis came to coco palms. Although buscher was not from hawaii and had no background in hotel management, she made the resort into a success. A pedestrian overpass from the coco palms resort to the seashell restaurant was also approved. Positioned near the mouth of the wailua river, the area known as wailuanuiahoano. For bookings made on or after april 6, 2020, be sure to consider the risk of the coronavirus covid19 and associated government measures. I recently went on vacation to kauai and yes i realize how lucky i am.
Rita dorazios excellent writing took me back to hawaii and reminded me of all the little reasons i loved being there. Kauais very first resort is now an abandoned relic. I have always been a fan of elvis presleys movie blue hawaii and little did i know that the condo we would be staying at for two weeks was right beside the uninhabited coco palms hotel. Location guide to movies filmed on kauai hollywood came here over 80 years ago and since that time there have been many blockbuster movies filmed on kauai.
Oct 18, 2016 coco palms resort less than 1 year before hurricane iniki devastated the island. I highly recommend bobs coco palms tour to anyone visiting kauai. Everyday on the way up the hill to the house i was living in i would pass this abandoned, condemned hotel called the coco palms. During the announcement, it was mentioned that a hotel in hawaii would be included. Located in the idyllic saint lucia, coco palm resorts offers an energetic atmosphere in a picturesque setting. For those of you oldtime kauai folks, or anyone interested in the history of the island there is a brand new book out called the story of the coco palms hotel by david p. See more ideas about kauai, kauai hawaii and palm resort. The longstalled attempt to reopen kauai s iconic coco palms hotel hit yet another snag. Abby is a new york lawyer whos been sent to the island of kauai to manage a real estate deal for a nonnative buyer. A fantasy come true a new book tells how a kauai hotel became a star in its own right. Some of our kauai vacation rentals are located near the very spots you have seen for years on the silver screen.
Penhallow, the coco palms resort sits on an ancient site of hawaiian royalty and. Mar 27, 2019 coco palms kauai resort project returns to dead standstill. Educated at punahou school in honolulu and stanford university, penhallow is a former director of the kauai museum, a former director of economic development for the county of kauai and served. Best services from avada hotel avada activities lorem ipsum dolor sit ets amet nulla velsi sapien viverra cras volutpat nibh sed urna curabitur non libero uns integer. H and coco palms hui llc today announced a hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with coco palms hui llc for the coco palms resort on kauai, hawaii. Stayed in the presidential suite for our honeymoon. However, paradise, hawaiian style in particular, showcases the resort at its peak for posteritys sake. Will kauais legendary, longshuttered coco palms resort ever. Coco palms tours 4241 kuhio hwy kapaa, hi tours operators. Bob used to run a kauai movie tour of several sites on the island, including the coco palms. Lihue in lieu of a trial, a summary judgment hearing ended the coco palms property dispute in a kauai courtroom on thursday. Penhallow, author and playwright, was raised on the island of kauai. Dont forget to watch in uhd 4k comment, thumbs up, share, and subscribe.
The coco palms was born in 1953, when grace buscher was handpicked by lyle guslander to become the resorts first manager. Legend of the coco palms resort is a romance and a mystery and a vacation all in one. Mar 28, 2019 the lender that took over management of the coco palms redevelopment on kauai has put the project on the market without an asking price, but a recent appraisal put the value of the shuttered hotel. The lender that took over management of the coco palms redevelopment on kauai has put the project on the market without an asking price, but a. But now its just the coco palms, and together with his wife he is also acting as caretaker.
Kauai hawaiinewsnow plans to redevelop the former coco palms resort have fallen through due to financial issues. Mayor not happy about coco palms the garden island. Coco palms resort is now in the process of being torn down and rebuilt. Hurricane iniki destroyed the coco palms and it was subsequently never rebuilt. How a kauai resort and the vision of one woman created a dream many hope will be recaptured.
On september 11, 1992 hurricane iniki ripped through kauai, leaving the resort nothing more than a hollowed shell. Coco palms project grinds to a halt jeffsetter travel. The rise and fall of the legendary coco palms hotel hawaii magazine. Coco palms kauai hawaii alas, the coc palms is no more. The group stated they were descendants of kauai s king. Coco palms resort was a resort hotel in wailua, kaua. Big john pakahea hano kauo big john kauococo palmskauai. The coco palms resort was approved by the kauai planning commission for up to 200 condominiums, 104 hotel units, retail shops and restaurants on the 18. Learn more about our tours here and book online to reserve your times. The rotting and filthy complex drivers see as they pass by coco palms today is far from what the resort was in its heyday, when it was the darling of hollywood celebrities and kauai s best. The redevelopment of the coco palms resort on kauai is, in a way, not about architecture, but more about respecting and bringing back the culture and history of the iconic resort, the architect. Coco palms resort hotel, kauai, hi hotel tiki central. May 11, 2016 hyatt recently announced its new brand, the unbound collection.
Devastated by hurricane iniki in 1992, the revitalization of the 363room historic hotel is scheduled to begin in early 2015 and following a twoyear reconstruction period. A tour of coco palms resort hawaii after hurricane iniki and the fire in 4k uh. Within a decade, they had created a legendary resort which set the standard for authentic hawaiian hospitality and became a model for other polynesian resorts. The group stated they were descendants of kauais king. Our guide to movies filmed on kauai includes where to find filming locations near our kauai vacation rentals. Lyle guslander leased the hotel and reopened it as coco palms, handing off the running of the business to 43yearold grace buscher. This hotel will actually be the redeveloped coco palms hotel on kauai. If you dont book a flexible rate, you may not be entitled to a refund. Private capital will foot the bill for demolition of the resort, which was destroyed during hurricane iniki. Hyatt expands in kauai with the historic coco palms resort.
Elvis at coco palms resort, kauai, hawaii 2015 with sanja meegin spotlight on elvis in hawaii. Here is a fascinating article about coco palms entitled abandoned kauai jewel the coco palms and a book has been written about it, the story of coco palms hotel, by david penhallow, who was a good friend of grace guslander, the creative force and engine behind the hotels original growth and success. Coco palms project listed with colliers interntational hawaii. Our family took bobs tour of coco palms and it was absolutely amazing. There were giant clamsheels and gold fixtures in the bathroom and beautiful koa wood shutters. Both films boast scenes shot at the famous coco palms resort. The website will allow you to book a tour seven days a week.
Big john remembers the last time elvis came to coco palms. Coco palm resort coco palm resort three star resorts. The historic, iconic and once hurricanedevastated coco palms resort on kauai will reopen under hyatt hotels management, according to an announcement this morning. Thats because the coco palms project grinds to a halt with no clear resolution in sight. Read more about movies filmed on kauai in several books including. Coco palms resort was a resort hotel in wailua, kauai, hawaii. Guinea grass grows wild, coconuts lay scattered across the ground and some buildings have graffiti sprayed on the remaining interior walls. When you drive by, youll see a great deal of the original concrete and steel, as in image below. Jun 24, 2016 the popular smiths kauai fern grotto tours up wailua river next door to the coco palms had recently gotten an upgrade, going from a fourpassenger rowboat with an outboard motor to an eightpassenger motorboat named lady jane. In 1953, the two notable hotels on the island were the kauai inn in lihue near nawiliwili bay, and a 24room. May 01, 20 for anyone born after september 11, 1992, the only memories of coco palms is that of a deteriorating piece of history. The coco palms resort was the very first resort on kauai, built in 1953, and in its.
The popular smiths kauai fern grotto tours up wailua river next door to the coco palms had recently gotten an upgrade, going from a fourpassenger rowboat with an outboard motor to an eightpassenger motorboat named lady jane. Jun 14, 2017 desoto brown and martin despang contemplate about the elvis presley blue hawaii movie and the featured kauai coco palm resort having portrayed a particular perception of paradise and wonder and. Kauai coco palms january 31, 2014 0 comments by kauai. Is it possible to walk in the coconut palm grove behind the former resort. The area around the mouth of the wailua river is well known to hawaiians as a place of many legends and events of historical, cultural, and religious significance. Penhallowscott pens intriguing tale of mystery at coco palms the. The rise and fall of the legendary coco palms hotel hawaii. Hurricane iniki, coco palms resort, and feral chickens. Set in 1960 on the island of kauai, this is a tale of grisly murders that take place at the. The rise and fall of the legendary coco palms hotel. We need to look back so we can remember these people and treasure those things that make hawaii. Jan 19, 2014 bob mentioned to us that the new owners were having issues getting permits expected but were also looking for additional funding typically the nail in the coffin to continue their project.
The future of kauais coco palms resort remains uncertain, 18 years after it was devastated by hurricane iniki. The rotting and filthy complex drivers see as they pass by coco palms today is far from what the resort was in its heyday, when it was the darling of hollywood celebrities and kauais best. Legend of the coco palms resort by rita dorazio goodreads. Hyatt unbound coco palms construction jeffsetter travel. On checking today, we find a range of permits with the county of kauai that are still open. A look into the legacy and hopeful return of kauais famed midcentury hotela favorite of hollywood stars, on and offscreen. We booked for a friday morning, and received automated. The grace buscher guslander years 19531985 david p. Elvis at coco palms resort, kauai, hawaii 2015 with sanja. For the past decade sanja has done her best to get to every concert, book signing, ceremony, convention, appearance and memorial that she could manage and report back to ein for those who. My husband and i went for a delayed honeymoon at the end of august. On the lush tropical hawaiian island of kauai sits the iconic dilapidated coco palms resort, once a paradise getaway for the rich and famous.
It also served as the setting for elvis presleys movie, blue. May 21, 2014 may 21, 2014 hyatt hotels corporation nyse. Jan 03, 2018 after others failed over two decades, a new team is hoping to rebuild the coco palms resort. The original coco palms resort on the island of kauai stands no more. See more ideas about palm resort, palms hotel and kauai. A tribute to the old coco palms resort, and hopefully updates on the new coco palms, beginning construction in january 2017. And recently, the hyatt unbound coco palms construction project has begun, sort of. Mar 27, 2019 the longstalled attempt to reopen kauais iconic coco palms hotel hit yet another snag. Feb 12, 2020 2 hour tours of the historic coco palms hotel on kauai. Coco palms resort on the island of kauai aloha is our legend. Coco palms resort less than 1 year before hurricane iniki devastated the island. And heres a very similar angle in a beautiful shot from the penhallow book, after the a. We all traveled and stayed at the coco palms many times and the book is so very interesting, and he just loved it.
974 22 680 43 917 402 867 700 412 973 622 1239 1355 465 218 936 657 410 1506 1279 121 281 1004 1239 1384 274 479 810 293 879 765 1276 834 641 1025 263 550