Post #344667 by icebaer69 on Sun, Nov 18, 2007 1:52 PM

"...
Thursday, November 15, 2007

Travel Talk: "Blue Hawaii" memories
Reminiscing about Kauai's "Coco Palms" hotel
By GARY A. WARNER

Hi Gary. I was totally shocked to discover that the hotel
in which I had vacationed more than 25+ years ago, "The Coco Palms,"
will be torn down.

I just cannot fathom that which was once a gem could be destroyed.
I truly thank you so much for the article which brought back so many lovely memories of my stay there.
That hotel was a true paradise.

I remember first seeing it in a postcard and told the travel agent,
"This is where I want to stay."
Regardless of all the others the agent offered, I wanted to stay there and did.
I also wanted to thank you for the history behind the hotel.
I had no idea that Elvis had filmed the movie, 'Blue Hawaii' there.
If I would have known all these tidbits now I would have relished even more my stay.
I don't know if you are old enough or if you ever saw it in person
to experience it when it was so lovely.
I searched and found a picture from back then.
This is how I want to remember it, but I will save your article.
I don't know why, I guess to remind me that all things eventually will pass.
I will have to contact my friend who also stayed there.
I regret having to give her the bad news, because we always brought up
that hotel when speaking of Hawaii.
I again thank you for bringing back all the lovely memories
of Kauai and, "The Coco Palms."
I loved your article. Take care.
Sincerely – G.V., O.C.

Thanks for the nice note. Yes, I was able to see the Coco Palms once, in the early 1990s,
while it was still open, though it was in decline.
I thought about staying there but on that trip decided instead to check out another hotel up in Hanalei.
I thought "next time" I'll stay at the Coco Palms.
Then came Hurricane Iniki.
I've been waiting and now it increasingly looks like there may be no next time.

The fact that there have been three plans to revitalize the property shows that there is incredible drawing power to the place.
Hopefully another plan will come up before the Kauai local just throws in the towel and just bulldozes the place and puts up a strip mall or something else.
The Coco Palms as it is today is such an eyesore, so damaged by the hurricane and then so many years of neglect, now that it would be almost impossible to save anything recognizable.
Most everything would have to be recreated, though the grounds with the ponds, palms and meandering rivers are still there.
I plan on keeping on top of the story, so check back ...
Thanks for reading.
..."
(http://www.ocregister.com/travel/palms-stay-hotel-1923021-coco-know)