Hawaii – Coco Palms Resort

May 6, 2020

By: marsha.l.scherer

The Coco Palms Resort was a resort hotel in Wailuā, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, that was noted for its Hollywood connections, Hawaiian-themed weddings, torch lightings, destruction by a hurricane, and long-standing land disputes. The resort includes or is near to culturally significant spots and the sites of some of most important legends and historical events for Native Hawaiians. The land is ancient Hawaiian royal property that has been in dispute since 1866. In that year, Junius Kaae, along with Kapiolani, Kalakaua, and others filed a petition seeking attempting to revoke the will of Kealiiahonui, which had been filed in probate by Levi Haʻalelea in 1855. The petition was eventually overturned by Sanford B. Dole almost immediately after the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Dole acted as a justice of the supreme court of the provincial government after stepping down from the bench and then being seated as president of the Republic of Hawaii. Litigants were made to sign an agreement for this adjudication to be allowed by Dole. Lyle Guslander leased the site of Coco Palms from the Territory of Hawaii in 1952; the resort opened in early 1953.

The hotel manager, Grace Buscher, took control of marketing the hotel as a Hawaiian-style getaway for tourists. A number of films were shot on location at Coco Palms, including Elvis Presley’s film Blue Hawaii. The hotel made a big business out of Hawaiian-style weddings for decades. Buscher started a tradition, still in use at hotels throughout the islands, known at the hotel as the torch-lighting ceremony. Buscher also initiated a tree-planting ceremony to replenish the old coconut grove and honor individuals of note. Coco Palm was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. In 2016, Honolulu developers GreeneWaters LLC formed a partnership, Coco Palms Hui LLC, to restore the resort. Their intent was to reopen Coco Palms “as part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection.” However, in 2019 the project collapsed.

More info about Coco Palms Resort: CLICK HERE

Coco Palms Resort – Background and History

A home on the property of aliʻi Kekaihaakulou (Deborah Kapule) around 1900. Kapule lived near the Wailua River and was well known for taking in guests. According to the book “The Story of the Coco Palms Hotel”, by David P. 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. 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. It is the landing place of the Kahiki voyagers, who came ashore at Kauaʻi in about 500 AD,[5][6] and the location of Hawaiian legends like the prophet Naula-a-Maihea and the origins of the Naha stone.

Coco Palms Resort – Hurricane Iniki and Closure

A building of the Coco Palms Resort with numerous rooms near the lobby. The resort has been closed since being hit by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Even though the hotel was closed, tours through the grounds continue with Hawaii Movie Tours, which was sold to Robert’s Hawaii in 2011. Bob Jaspers, the former owner of the tour, still greets guests regularly with occasional entertainment by Larry Rivera, who recounts stories of playing and touring with Elvis. Jaspers also serves as caretaker of the grounds. On July 4, 2014, the resort caught fire. No one was injured, and the fire was controlled by early afternoon.

Coco Palms Resort – Blue Hawaii & Elvis Presley

Blue Hawaii is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley. It is set in the state of Hawaii. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written American Musical. The film opened at No. 2 in box office receipts for that week and despite mixed reviews from critics, finished as the 10th top-grossing film of 1961 and 14th for 1962 on the Variety national box office survey, earning $5 million. The film won a fourth place prize Laurel Award in the category of Top Musical of 1961.

More about the Movie “Blue Hawaii”: CLICK HERE