Hawaii’s famous Coco Palms Resort abandoned
Take a look back at what was once the most famous hotel in Hawaii. The the Coco Palms Resort located on the island of Kauai was severely damaged by hurricane Iniki in 1992 and has never re-opened. The hotel is now empty and plans to re-open the property have died with the slump in the condo market.
The ancestral home of Kauai’s Alii (royalty) since the 13th century, the area encompassing the Coco Palms Resort was the home of Kauai’s last reigning queen, Queen Deborah Kapule, in the mid-1800’s.
The hotel opened Jan. 25, 1953, with 24 rooms, two guests and four employees. At its peak in the mid 1970s, there were 416 rooms.
Originally opened on January 25, 1953, the Coco Palms Resort had 24 rooms, two guests and four employees. At it’s peak the Resort grew to contain 416 rooms by the mid-1970s. However by 1984, the number of rooms had been reduced to 393. In August of 1985, Wailua Associates acquired the resort from the Guslander/Amfac group.
When Hurricane Iniki struck Sept. 11, 1992, every room in the hotel was booked and the guests were evacuated to Kapaa High School. The hotel never re-opened.
Elvis Presley filmed the finale of his film “Blue Hawaii” there in 1961, immortalizing its lush coconut groves and picturesque lagoons. When Hurricane Iniki struck in September 1992 with less than eight hours warning, the Coco Palms was shut down indefinitely as repairs proved too costly, and the entire island struggled with recession. The property, located on the southeast shore of Kauai, has been left to decay now for over a decade and a half. Kauai was without electrical power for 40 days, without telephone communication for almost a month in some areas, 80% of the homes were damaged or destroyed.
Within the resort is the famous 2,000-tree coconut grove, which is the largest of only three similar groves in the entire state of Hawaii. The grove was originally planted with coconut tree nuts imported from Samoa by Mr. William Lindeman in 1896.
The Coco Palms Resort achieved early exposure and fame in the 1961 Elvis Presley movie, “Blue Hawaii.” Virtually the last 20 minutes of the movie was shot on and near the grounds of the Coco Palms.
An additional favorite scene to movie watchers and visitors alike was the conch shell-blowing doorman greeting them upon check in at the lobby (which was modeled after an ancient Hawaiian Canoe Lodge).
The wedding ceremony, portrayed in the final scene where Elvis croons “The Hawaiian Wedding Song” to Joan Blackman as they ride their flower bedecked double hulled canoe through the lagoon to the Wedding Chapel, is credited with creating a high demand for weddings at the Coco Palms Resort. Prior to its close in 1992, the Resort hosted over 500 wedding ceremonies annually.
Even with the property closed to overnight guests, on average, 1-2 weddings take place weekly either on the lagoon or next to them, as couples desire the “Blue Hawaiian” wedding with its famous songs from the movie sung for their own ceremony. A Kauai tour operator, Hollywood Movie Tours, stops daily with a van of tourists interested in seeing the grounds, lagoons, coconut grove and the #56 King’s Cottage of the Coco Palms Resort.
Classic Coco Palms
A brochure of the Coco Palms
A map of the hotel from the 1980s
A map of the island
The grounds before the hurricane
After the Hurricane
The sign still remains
The royal pools that once held fish for Hawaiian royalty are still intact
The canoe was also used in the Elvis movie Blue Hawaii
The main hotel wing
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The grounds of the hotel
Nature taking over the pools
From the air
Nature literally taking over
The bungalow used in the filming for Blue Hawaii
A golf cart disintegrating on the grounds of the hotel
The old kitchen
Classic mural still visible
The remains of the dining room
The swimming pool
The Wedding Chapel was donated by MGM Studios to Coco Palms in the mid 1950’s after using it in the film “Miss Sadie Thompson,” which starred Rita Hayworth. The Blue Hawaii Wedding scene has been replayed over the years by countless thousands of couples, exchanging vows at the Coco Palms Resort. Kauai’s Mayor Maryanne Kusaka was married at the Coco Palms.
The chapel
Sun coming through the chapel
Chapel interior
Chapel exterior
Exterior with signs to dining room
Front exterior with old shop signs still intact
The ruins of the main hotel
Main Entrance
The famous shell in the center of the hotel
The lobby
The lobby shudders still open and close
The hallway of the main hotel wing
All of the furniture is gone now
Failed Plan to Re-Develop
Coco Palm Ventures LLC had planned to spend some $220 million constructing 196 condominium units, 48 hotel bungalows, a spa and two restaurants on the 54-acre site. Plans called for the resort to reopen next summer. Demolition of the old buildings was due to start last year.
Map on the website of the failed re-development of the Coco Palms
Model of the planned re-development
Donna Apisa, listing agent for the sale of the condominiums, said the county Planning Commission’s rejection of Coco Palms’ plans to build a full-scale fitness spa on the 54-acre site was one reason for abandoning the project. “The current owner isn’t going to develop the land and will auction it off (later this year) to another developer,” Apisa said.
The signs were taken down and deposits made on the condos were refunded.
36 Responses to “Hawaii’s famous Coco Palms Resort abandoned”
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Inrested in Coco Palms,would like to communicate.Re: contacting owner. Await yur reply.Thank you.
Great pics. Appreciate you putting these up. Coco Palm gave our family many great memories.
The Coco Palms was where my family spent every summer. It holds many dear memories for my sisters and myself. Thank you for putting these pictures up, I hope to one day see the Coco Palms in its old glory – the current scene just brings me tears.
Shocked to hear of abandoned redevelopment plan. Is the county crazy not to have approved & encouraged this place to come alive & bring Kauai alive?
I was so looking forward to coming back & reliving memories. Sadly love your photos – thanks.
We’re celebrating 20 years of marriage in April – so sad to see the lovely place where it all started for us is still in ruins. After all these years you’d think there could have been some sort of agreement to redevelop this gorgeous piece of real estate. For shame.
Does anyone know if you can still get in to view the remains?
It is really sad to see the remains and nature taking over the grounds. The hotel is in shambles. There is a movie tour that you can take to see the hotel. They want let you go inside but you can walk the grounds around the hotel. We visited in Sept of 2008.
Thank you for the great pics of the coco palms. I only wish it could be restored back to the beauty it was before the Hurricane. Such a pity to see it in ruins. I visited it in 2005, I did not go on the grounds of the hotel. I regret not sneaking a peek at the famous room #56, Elvis,s room in “Blue Hawaii”. Thanks again, Judy
We were planning on celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary at the Coco Palms. thats where we honeymoned in 1987. I am so saddended. I have such beautiful memories. I hope something can be done soon!
i thank you so much for sharing these photos with us,its very sad to see coco palms like this peace jimus
My husband, Chuck, and I were married in the chapel at Coco Palms in June, 1981. Music director, Larry Rivera, sang “The Hawiian Wedding Song” and he and his wife stood up with us during the ceremony. It was a magical experience and we returned for 10 years following on our anniversary. We met many people who were also sharing their anniversaries at that time. It is heartbreaking to see the pictures of the hotel in such tragic condition. It will always be a special memory for us and I don’t think we could handle seeing it the way it appears today. I hope eventually someone will be able to bring back the beauty and mystical place that was the Coco Palms.
These were great photos. I stayed there in the Summer of 1961 right after the Elvis movie was filmed. My sister and I and my parents stayed in 2 cabins then. What a great time we had there.
My husband and I came to Coco Palms on our honeymoon in 1982. I always wanted to see Hawaii but I didn’t want to stay in a regular hotel. Coco Palms was so gorgeous, with all the palm trees and greenery and flowers, I just loved it. I have been waiting for it to re-open but it doesn’t look like it will. I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else in Kauai except Coco Palms. Friends of ours just happened to be there at the same time as we were and they got married in the little chapel and my husband and I were their witnesses. It was the most beautiful sight in the world. I miss it so much and want so much to see it again the way it was. Coco Palms filled a huge fantasy of mine that no other place could have.
Coco Palms…where “mana” truly existed to fill a person’s Spirit with an extraordinary realm of “life” as never known before.
Married at CPs in ‘87, our hearts never left the Chapel…OR Kaua’i. We made a promise to each other that we would return to CPs every 2 years (for 2 weeks), and so we did until Iniki -then stayed elsewhere- but none compared.
With CPs being the MOST SPECIAL RESORT for innumerable amounts of people around the world for DECADES -and who have also RETURNED REPEATEDLY (some staying for MONTHS)- it is beyond our comprehension why it has been FOOLISHLY allowed to delapidate! ANY reason given would NOT be justifiable since a MAJOR part of Kaua’i has been chipped away. Our hearts are devastated just as Iniki devasted Coco Palms.
So sad to see that the redelopment has been abandoned. Was there in 2006 for a tour and talked with my friends about coming back there to stay after it was re-opened. Such a tragedy to see such ruin in a place that is so beautiful. I love the Islands and have been there several times. I love to return as often as I can save up the money to do so.
The Coco Palms should be rebuilt exactly as it was, faithful to Hawaiian culture and uniquely simple. No Frills, just natural beauty. Maybe then, the island government would declare the project a historical landmark and give the developer big tax breaks. I don’t want to return to stay at a big Condo/Hotel Mega Resort. Jack up the prices! I think developers would be surprised to discover how much people would be willing to spend for the genuine article.
got married there in 85 went back twice a year till sept 9th of 92, many great memories cant bring my self to go back to kauai to painful
Wow. I had just assumed that the hotel had been re-built after the hurricane. These photos are shocking. Was there in 1979 for a family vacation for a week and always remembered the outdoor shower and bathtub in our cabin, with the water coming out of the lava rock wall. Was only 15, but thought it was the coolest thing. Have stayed in many fancier places since, but never one that was as much a part of the physical beauty around it. It was truly unique, some of which you can still see in those recent photos. Sure hope it is eventually redeveloped…but sure hope it manages to reclaim, in the process, what made it truly special in the first place. Thanks for the photos…and the memories.
Thanks so much for this site! It is bittersweet, to be sure. How I wish for what many want — a compassionate, artistic developer to come forward who can work synergistically with the powers-that-be of Kauai! I know there are throngs of us who long for Coco Palm’s return! When it does (I’m putting good wishes into The Universe) I will be there, cash in hand!
Got married in March 31 1990 . It was an awesome time going down the lagoon to pick up my wife on the other side of the lagoon in the canoe.
Then getting married at the outside chapel . What will it take to see it come back ? Would have like to take my family over to the resort to see it .
I was fortunate to stay twice, 1976 and 1983. I haven’t wanted to return to the Islands because we couldn’t stay at the Coco Palms. It would be wonderful to see this jewel of the Island repaired and brought back to its’ former glory. But the way resorts are managed now, I doubt the atmosphere that we all loved so very much could be duplicated. If the Coco Palms ever does reopen, maybe I will return to the Islands.
These pictures make me so sad. I visited the hotel with my family in 1964 as a young girl. I still remember the beautiful shell that was the sink in our hotel room and the special lighting of the torches in the evening. Wish they would do something with it. It is so sad.
WE LOVED OUR STAY…LIKE SO MANY OTHERS WE HAD WANTED SOMETHING UNLIKE THE BIG HOTELS…
WE’VE BEEN BACK TO KAUAI ABOUT 10 TIMES SINCE INIKI CAME THROUGH…ALWAYS DRIVE BY WITH SADNESS BUT GREAT MEMORIES.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE ANIMALS IN THE ZOO….I’D “TALK” TO THE GIBBONS DAILY WHEN WE STAYED THERE….
Such a sad and unfortunate situation for the beautiful Cocoa Palms Resort. Hopefully, one day soon, someone with the inspiration and knowhow will bring the Cocoa Palms back to what it once was. If I could do it, I certainly would not hesitate to bring it back to what it was in its original state. Whenever I return to Kauai, the Cocoa Palms is on the top of my list to visit.
In July 1966 we spent part of our honeymoon at the CoCo Palms hotel. By looking at the grounds/hotel diagram I can pinpoint exactly which bungalow at the end of the river my husband Reid and I now married 43 years started our lives in. CoCo Palms gave us so many good memories to look back on. The employees in every dept were gracious from our arrival to our departure. One of our most memorable moments were when an announcer in the dining restaurant introduced us to the diners as Mr and Mrs as we sat eating dinner in the restaurant and greeted us with leis. This was certainly a homegrown hotel and it is very sad to see it in this condition…
I am working with a group that plans to reopen the Seashell across the street from the Coco Palms. There was yet another attempt made to acquire the Coco Palms this past summer (of 2009), a group from Hong Kong. That deal also fell through because of restrictions on building and zoning – not sure if you all realize this or not, but the new laws require occupied buildings be at least 15 feet above sea level, and currently the Coco Palms is only at 5 feet above sea level, meaning – basically, and I hate to have to be the one to say this but – there is almost no chance this land will ever be a resort / hotel / condo. The fact is – it’s just way too costly to raise 10-feet PLUS if you did raise it what would happen to the infamous coconut groves and more to the point – what about the lagoons?? You must try to understand that billionaires have walked away from this. You can’t raise the coconut groves, and you can’t raise the lagoons – and those things are the entire point of this property – best thing that could happen would be making it into a big museum (and I don’t see anyone throwing down $15m for that…), but otherwise it will either end up a mall or a strip mall or something – but they will require that the coconut groves and lagoons remain as part of the attraction, so at least that will be salvaged no matter what. Anyway – I may at least be able to get the Seashell up and functioning again, probably not under that name but a name that would include “at the Historic Seashell” or “at the Historic Coco Palms” or something like that. I cannot disclose any plans until after an offer has been accepted, which is pretty far off – but we’re making progress every day. you all know the deal, little by little…
My son and I visited the island for a week , what a wonderful vacation . The Coco Palms was such an awesome piece of history . We met Larry Riveria what a jewel , he has worked for the hotel for 58 years , I believe he is 78 . He was an entertainer at the Coco Palms , He now performs weddings there .
He was such a heavenly person , very handsome for his age (he does not look 78 } We met his wife and heard stories about how he entertained at the lounge and how he and Elvis were the best of friends . This was one of the best things that happened on our stay in Kauai !!! If your lucky take the 4×4 movie tour take the tour that Tom drives and if they are still going to the Coco Palms Go its worth the money to see Larry Riveria !!!
Just wanted to make the comment that although yes, new buildings have to be built at a safer height than these old ones were, there are plans in place to rebuild these structures on the old foundations, that would allow the old buildings to basically be reconstructed. I believe the previous owners, who had these plans drawn up and at one time approved by County, were considering using the first floor for a spa, storage, etc., so that no one would be sleeping in the lower/more vulnerable areas. A model of these plans can be seen in the photos above (with lagoons and coconut groves intact.) The real hurdle appears to be County Planning, who have enough people determined to thwart development at every turn, that they miss a good thing when they see it. I can’t help but think, had they allowed the plans to go forward with the outdoor spa near the tennis courts, (changing their minds on that was the final straw for the previous owners), that project would have been sold out and completed before this economic downturn. And while the rest of the islands are hurting for visitor occupancy and jobs, we’d have had a very real bolster to Kauai’s economy. I’m certainly not for rampant development, this is and always should be the “Garden Island”, and I’d actually love to see more of the island reflecting that, but this already was a hotel ~ and not just any hotel, a place people came just to see it and feel a part of its history, and we all know there are plenty of places on the island that will never be over-run (or even found) by tourists, so a commercially zoned parcel on a highway fronted beach is not exactly something to try to keep hidden. What a shame and embarrassment to have this left in ruins. PS: Hey, Disney, wouldn’t this make a great “out-island, old Hawaii” experience to add to your Oahu Resort?
My husband Al and I celebrated our 25th anniversary at the Beautiful Coco Palms in 1984. We just returned to Kaui in October ‘09 to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, and we were very saddened that the resort is still left in ruins. It made me feel very BLUE, to know that this amazing place is not being revived. Just wanted to let the people of Kaui know that they are wasting a beautiful piece of God’s land! Since my visit in October it has left me distrurbed to know that it was left to just rot away………I will continue to pray that one day some one or some corporation will restore its beauty and glory. I will continue to treasure my memories of Coco Plams, and my movie, “Blue Hawaii”!
The extremely well-loved Coco Palms resort has been on that property for decades, no problem. Then Iniki struck, and suddenly one new “reason” after another continues to be given as to why it can’t be restored.
We were married in the Chapel, stayed at Coco Palms, Returnees 3 times (up until Iniki)…and had planned to return many more times, especially for our 25th wedding anniversary. Having returned to beautiful Kaua’i once after Iniki, it just wasn’t the same without the heart of CPs…and we haven’t returned since then. Like so many others, we share in the heartfelt memories and the sadness…and we long to return to the place we had come to deeply cherish. PLEASE RESTORE Coco Palms the way it was.
I am so saddened that the plans to reopen did not take place. My husband and I honeymooned here in 1973. We like many were others were treated like royalty and we were very young and enjoyed every minute of it. The Guslanders even had us to their home for dinner. This is never heard of in the states. What service and compasion for two kids away from home who were so in love. We have been married 37 years and revisited CP in 96 when our oldest daughter graduated from high school. We had told such glorious stories of our beginning we wanted to share this place with our children. How sad it was to see it this way. At that time we were told of the plans to rebuild it. I was on this site to see if it was complete as my husband and I were planning a trip back again. Please restore it to the way it was in all it’s beauty so others can have the fantasy they long for. If you build it they will come!We vwere also sung to many nights by Larry Riveria. What a great guy!!Thanks for the memories that will never fade.
I can’t remember just when my Beautiful Sweetie and I first spent a few nights here, must have been in the ’60s or ’70s.
In 1980, due to a problem with the freighter we were on at the Island of Saipan, we flew from Gram to Honolulu. We said we would get on the first airplane leaving for one of the islands, we didn’t care which one. We ended up in Kauai, and the Coco Palms.
I seem to remember a very special lamp lighting each evening. As I remember, men would run, swinging a fire torch round and round, and each time it neared the ground, it would touch, and light a buried torch. Is that even close to what you remember?
These days it is sometimes difficult to remember what I ate for breakfast, let alone our visit to the Coco Palms, all those years ago.
I visited the Cocoa Palms in 1975 with my then husband on our tenth anniversary. Thirty five years ago, and it is still crystal clear in my mind all of the sights, sounds, and smells of the resort. We stayed in the Kings suite,overlooking a pool. It was so unique,but everything was unique about the place. The first night there experiencing the call to dinner, and the lighting of the torches inthe palms, and crossing the famous foot bridge over the water and going into the dinning room with music and singers beconing. It was a very magical place, what I dreamed Hawaii to be like. It would be a shame if others are robbed of the priviledge I was blessed to experience. I didn’t really need a camera, since the pictures remain with me, but I am glad I have pictures to share after seeing the devistation.
Thank-you for posting the pictures but it brings me to tears. My parents had their 25th Anniversay there and my family spent many vacations there. Please reopen so I can return
I saw the Coco Palms 6 years ago and was also saddened by the ruins. I love Kaui, it is the most beautiful place on earth! I am a fan of “Blue Hawaii” not just because of Elvis, but because it symbolizes a simpler time. How awesome it would be to at least have the bungalows restored. I live near Memphis and I think that the Elvis Estate should consider buying it and making it a Museum/Day Resort with just the bungalows for couples. They could use the movie to inspire activities. Thanks so much for the pictures!
Stayed at the Coco Palms in the Elvis party and fell in love with it and the people of Kaui..Would love to see it restored to its original site….so would so many others…