It's Official--Kauai Coco Palms Rebuild Is Cancelled

On September 8, I posted an unconfirmed report that the owners of the Coco Palms were canceling their plans to rebuild the famous Coco Palms Resort and putting the property up for sale.  That report was confirmed in the local Garden Island newspaper today.  The paper reported that the developer made the decision partly as a result of the county rejection of plans for a full-scale fitness center they were relying on to attract affluent buyers.  For now, this means the unsightly, Hurricane Iniki-damaged hulk of this former grandiose hotel will remain an eyesore on the island.  Developer plans to widen the highway to alleviate the horrendous traffic jams leaving Kapaa are now gone as well leaving local gridlock in place.  Gone too is the plan to build a highway overpass for pedestrians to safely reach the beach without crossing the congested highway.  I have heard no reaction yet from groups that had opposed rebuilding the hotel.  Some had expressed concern about the ability to access ancestral grounds.  A local politician, Sen. Gary Hoser, had wanted to turn it into a state park at one time but the idea never moved forward.

The Garden Island Newspaper article is HERE.