Coco Palms Resort Hotel, Kauai, HI (Hotel)

On 2013-03-22 17:15, aquarj wrote:
Got a few more pics to post for the fabulous Coco Palms, this time on a semi-personal note. Seeing WestADad and DC post about the shell basin sinks reminded me I had a little more I was gonna add to this thread...

On 2013-02-10 11:33, Dustycajun wrote:

I have this postcard showing a BIG clam shell sink.

That one is in the King's Cottages, as the text of the postcard said. But as DC also said, I had the impression they might've had the shell sinks in ALL the rooms (maybe without the gold tiles though).

So here's an image from the Penhallow book :down:

I mentioned earlier that my visit was with family, partly celebrating my parents' 50th anniversary in 2012. And 40 years earlier they stayed at the Coco Palms for their 10th anniversary in 1972. So here's my Mom in 1972, cleaning up some Kauai dirt in one of those sinks. :down:

A little re-enactment in 2012 :down:

Another slide photo my Dad took in their 1972 visit, on the lagoon :down:

And just for fun, one more pic from that same 1972 trip to Kauai, but not at the Coco Palms. This is my Dad going down the famous slippery slide from South Pacific. You used to be able to hike to it and swim and slide. It's still there, but thanks to the losers and the lawyers, those days are long behind us. :down:

-Randy

I remember that slide!!! Great stuff RJ!
Just acquired some parts of the Co Co Palms from a private collector on Kauai for Tiki Iniki.
Pics soon....

just wanted to pipe in and say i absolutely adore the "before and after" pictures of your mom randy!

this is a fantastic (albeit, a little sad) thread. what a magical place!

The latest local news about Coco Palms: http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/community-wants-coco-palms-protected-responsibly-in-perpetuity/article_76702b14-9515-11e2-8a8c-0019bb2963f4.html

Thanks to everyone for sharing. I was on one of the old movie tour buses back in 2003, and we stopped at the Coco Palms. Easily the highlight of the tour. Most of my pictures look the same as what everyone else has already posted. I should dig around and see if I can find photos of anything that hasn't been covered already!

A great photo I lifted off facebook, saying it was taken before Coco Palms was built.

2 more postcards.

Its all glued down to the scrapbook....

Found this today
Dated 04/1976
Small Coco palms pic inside

A new owner will have the chance to rebuild. The Planning Commission revoked the permits currently held by Coco Palms LLC.
http://www.kauai.com/blog/aloha-oe-coco-palms

Don't think I've seen this postcard before

Found this today

Going to Kauai this month and called to get the scoops on the tour and I spoke with Bob who is the guide. He told me today was the first day of construction on the rebuild of the new Coco Palms. I will take pictures and get more info while I'm there.

Mongoloid,

Fantastic news! Can't wait for the photos. Tiki Iniki and Tahiti Nui too.

DC

Here's an article from today's (8/09/13) Garden Island news site - it looks like things are actually moving along, as they've pulled demo permits and had the place blessed (see second photo). The article says all wooden buildings will be rebuilt just the way they were.

http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/coco-palms-to-be-reborn/article_05515b0e-00bf-11e3-a437-001a4bcf887a.html

[ Edited by: Hibiscus 2013-08-09 08:14 ]

There's a Facebook page that has information about what's going on at Coco Palms

https://www.facebook.com/supportcocopalms?hc_location=stream

Incredibly exciting news!

I'm at the airport in Kauai ending my vacation, but we did the Coco Palms tour and Bob has a wealth of interesting information and stories on the hotel. The new investors from Oahu were on site and walking the grounds as we were doing our tour. The plan is to rebuild the hotel in the next 2 years while preserving 70 percent of the existing structure. There were a few sections taped off where we weren't allowed access. The only construction I could see was a wood frame around the hotel which I'm sure is going to be used as a dust screen. I'm not sure how long the tours can continue when the construction gets fully up and running. The stained glass window at the chapel was recently stolen so they are going to be tightening up the security. Bob gave me a coconut from the grounds which I got through the agricultural inspection. Good things definately on the horizon!

On 2013-08-16 11:58, MaukaHale wrote:
There's a Facebook page that has information about what's going on at Coco Palms

https://www.facebook.com/supportcocopalms?hc_location=stream

The management company is tentatively to be either Starwood or Hyatt.

However, nothing will happen soon. "These funds, now pending release from the state in January 2014, would be used to hire a consulting firm charged with finding experts to appraise the property, compile a hazardous materials report and assess the structural integrity of the existing buildings. It is a process that, Luck said, could take up to a year to 18 months to complete."

Island time?

http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/coco-palms-plan-taking-shape/article_02d33240-4cfe-11e3-b870-0019bb2963f4.html

Anyone interested in helping Coco Palms get restored, please click this link and sign the petition TODAY!
The Kauai County Council is meeting this Wednesday to, among other topics, possibly repeal the Iniki Ordinance.
The Iniki Ordinance was put in place after the devastating 1992 hurricane that destroyed many hotels, and allowed them to rebuild to the way they were, without having to update to any current building regulations.
This is what the owners of Coco Palms are counting on using to restore the place. They want it to be like it was.
If the ordinance gets repealed, it can't happen.

Go here: https://www.change.org/petitions/save-coco-palms-2

Here's an update I received last night:

Today the Kauai County Council committee met to vote on bill 2502, which would have revoked the Iniki Ordinance. Before voting and after discussion, they added a 24 month amendment to the bill, giving the developers two years to work on the new Coco Palms. Four of the five committee members voted in favor of the bill. The fifth member was unable to attend the meeting. The bill will now go before the full council of seven members next Wednesday December 18. Should today's majority vote hold, the bill will pass and work on the new Coco Palms will begin the following day. We will let you know the results next Wednesday after the final vote.
We thank all of you so much for your support and taking the time to sign our petition.
Mahalo.
-Bob Jasper and The Support Coco Palms Committee

Great News! Keep us posted on the results of the next hearing.

DC

On 2013-03-07 21:51, Dustycajun wrote:
Christmas at Coco Palms!

Go Santa

DC

Bump for Xmas

This just in:

WE DID IT...COCO PALMS LIVES!!! Today 12/18/13 the council voted 6 votes to 1, giving the go ahead to rebuild the Coco Palms. Mahalo to everyone for your support. Follow the rebirth at http://www.facebook.com/SupportCocoPalms

Great news! (Except that now I probably won't get to do the tour in February! My loss on that, but everyone's gain!)

Here's a great 3 minute video of an aerial view of the current Coco Palms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsqn1ehnSM4

That is a great overview. I hope they build a bridge for beach access. I bet the traffic has increased substantially during the last 23 years.

Fantastic news! Somehow it had eluded me that the new investor had passed yet another hurdle in bringing the Coco Palms back online.

A link I saw on facebook, lots of pics and maybe some not in this thread yet: http://www.messynessychic.com/2014/01/23/elvis-presleys-abandoned-tiki-paradise/

On 2014-01-23 09:39, 4WDtiki wrote:
A link I saw on facebook, lots of pics and maybe some not in this thread yet: http://www.messynessychic.com/2014/01/23/elvis-presleys-abandoned-tiki-paradise/

like :wink:

Just noticed that "Blue Hawaii" is now available on Netflix for streaming.

howlinowl

Another one today

We took the tour last week and it was impressive! Bob is full of information and stories and it was amazing to actually be inside.

I realized this article (below) hasn't been posted yet so I'll add the link - basically just an overview and stating that they'll be partnering with a national hotel chain, as christiki posted earlier. Bob told us during the tour (a week ago) that the hotel brand would be officially announced within a couple weeks, so news may be coming soon. He did say that the name will stay - it will be a "Coco Palms - a (whatever) Resort" type of thing. He also confirmed again that the plan is to rebuild exactly as it was; some of the wood buildings will need to be started from scratch, but that many of the buildings are concrete and can be rebuilt upon the existing bones.

There was no construction going on yet; basically just the dust screen around the property on the Kuhio Highway said. All the old building permits from the previous go-around have expired, so there's a wait for new ones to be approved. He mentioned that a permit for a pedestrian bridge was submitted - it was approved the last time around and hopefully would be again. They really will need that - we walked over for the tour and trying to cross there isn't pretty (or quick.)

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2014/02/06/coco-palms-investors-to-choose.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2014-02-06

Here are few of the shots from our tour a couple weeks ago. Sorry the lighting isn't great in most of them; it was raining so I had to just take quick snaps.

Approaching the lobby area

Lobby - you can see how the arch beams have started to warp into a concave shape

around the grounds

Restaurant/Lounge building

Lagoon outside the restaurant/lounge

Inside the cottage used in Blue Hawaii

Cottage bedroom

Remains of the bathroom in the cottage Elvis stayed in. They've had to remove the remaining clam shell sinks due to theft

Palm tree crash disaster

The coconut grove

Hallway of a hotel building. The flash on my camera is really powerful - it was almost pitch black and pretty creepy walking through here!

Hotel room

Lucky (literal) shot in the dark I took in the hall, revealing some wallpaper

Lagoon with (undecorated) wedding canoe

Almost forgot - here are a couple of the Seashell restaurant across the street.

One of the Honolulu news stations does a story on Coco Palms: http://www.kitv.com/news/hawaii/Coco-Palms-of-today-and-the-future/24654688

That's a good video. So they have actually started cleaning up the place. The guide said "a week ago this was jungle" and the reporter said "construction could begin before the end of the year." This is all truly good news, that place needs to be brought back.

Start saving up now for a grand TC meetup when it re-opens!

What "drinking problem?" I only drink twice a year -- on my birthday, and when its not my birthday!

[ Edited by: AceExplorer 2014-02-25 08:39 ]

Yes, they have been truly reclaiming it from the jungle, trimming back landscaping, cutting grass, and cutting down some dead and dying coco palms.
The official word still is that they will get construction permits this year, begin work late this year, and finish late 2015 or into 2016.
I'm watching closely, and will report anything I see!

Thanks for the story link! Interesting that they mentioned a shuttle to get people across the street instead of bridge of some sort. As long there's something - throngs of people trying to cross there all day would be a bad idea.

Is the Seashell restaurant going to be rebuilt, too?

Yes. That's the main reason they will have a shuttle and/or pedestrian bridge.

Great update w/photos. Can't wait to stay there! The first and last time I was on Kauai was in 1987 when I could have stayed at the Coco Palms. I stayed at the swanky Sheraton Princeville (now the St. Regis) instead. A beautiful resort with great views of the Na Pali coast but without the rich history of the Coco Palms.

Here's a nice news story about the Coco Palms:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3lbhx9MyDE

Found several postcards today
I didn't see these 2 posted here yet

Wow, that room was BLUE!

Here's a new article posted today; now saying maybe Spring 2017, still no permits yet.

http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/first-step-forward-for-coco-palms/article_3b038b90-b64b-11e3-a0dc-0019bb2963f4.html

New one today
The coconut palace suite

Another

Wow, was that undeveloped!

Just saw this update. Apparently it's Hyatt.

http://tinyurl.com/ncgsqbe

I was there today getting some coconut logs, here's a pic I took (through an instagram filter). It's the north wing, beach side.