Coco Palms deserves support, not negative reporting
It is very clear that the author of the Coco Palm story is no friend of the resort. He has not sung with the Hawaiian choir or watched the torch-light ceremony in the glory days of Coco Palms. He has never seen the pageantry of the wedding scene in “Blue Hawaii,” with Elvis Presley singing in the lagoon surrounded by beautiful people and thousands of flowers.
Presley’s aura is dismissed by the article writer as diminished to his mansion in Graceland. Yet every night in Waikiki, Presley look-a-likes sing his songs and wow audiences from all over the world. He is still big-time in Hawaii.
There is much in the article about money and the precarious financial status of Greene/Waters. A specter of 24 federal bankruptcy cases is raised. This is boogie-man talk. Clearly this is fake news intended to propagandize the reader into realms of concern for financial stability of the project.
This is not anything to be worried about. The developers have paid $3,000,000 for demolition. They have paid $125,000 yearly in property taxes for the land. They are seeking financing, but are held up by the county failing to approve their building permits, which have been held in limbo by the county for most of this year. You can’t get financing without those approvals. This being said, there is overseas interest in financing the entire project.
For some reason beaches is a subject of detraction in the article. Wailua Beach was once the most popular beaches on Kauai. It has nearly a mile of sandy shore. There are no reef rocks to step on in the water. It means there is no wana, puhi paka, or coral to tear your feet to shreds. At most times of year the waves are excellent for surfing both board and body.
What does a star rating have to do with why the hotel should be built? Are we coming up with a new planning rule: Only five-star hotels are allowed on Kauai? Hotels are rated once established, and I will attest that I have stayed in many five-star hotels and they do not justify such a rating.
For 25 years you have had an uhane, ghost, in Wailua. The county and private parties have talked about buying the land and turning it into a park or cultural center. It would cost multi-millions to do so. This county has more important things to spend taxpayer money on.
Hey brothers and sisters, pa‘a ko waha. Lets get behind the development of Coco Palms. County, do your job, get the permits issued. TGI stop printing opala about Coco Palms. Be maika‘i loa. Say something good about the project.
William J. Fernandez, Kapaa
