Retire Coco Palms, serve kapuna
Retire Coco Palms, serve kapuna
My husband and I spent a few glorious days at the Coco Palms being treated like royalty during our honeymoon in 1985. Years later, we moved from the mainland to within a couple of miles of Coco Palms. Like so many, we were saddened by Iniki’s destruction of the property and the subsequent inability to return it to its glory days.
Today as I was reading TGI’s Coco Palms headline story, it occurred to me that we may be trying to “re-do” what cannot — and perhaps should not — be redone. Our loving memories of Coco Palms stand the test of time. How will we feel when a new hotel is in its place, creating more traffic congestion?
Instead of “making Coco Palms an iconic hotel as it once was” perhaps we should be asking, “What does Kauai need that is the next gift of this sacred land?”
Has anyone considered whether the island needs an additional retirement center (aka assisted living facility)? Most transportation needs of retirement center residents can be handled by a shuttle and dedicated driver, minimizing added congestion.
Many of us who know and love the Coco Palms would be grateful for the opportunity to live out our years in companionship on this historic property. Shall we retire the Coco Palms we knew and loved — and transform the space into something that serves our kupuna?
Marian Head, Kapaa
I don’t see that happening.
Wonderful idea…and maybe families would visit their Kapuna in such a beautiful place.
The last thing we, the people ,need at Coco Palms is another resort. A community center, film center, cultural center or even a new museum, horse back rides,,,. Just fix the highway in front.
In a consumerist society, everything is assigned a commodity value. Those who are locked into that mindset, who see the value of Coco Palms only in terms of development opportunity (like, apparently the mayor?), don’t see the infinitely greater value of that location as the piko of Hawaiian culture.
Nice idea, Marian. But the problem is not the lack of ideas of which there are many. It’s the lack of capital to implement them. Look at it this way. If the ideas for the property could return a reasonable return in investment commensurate with the risks taken in carrying an idea to fruition, then it would attract investors. The problem is that with all the challenges the development of that property presents, few wish to risk their precious money on it. The current owners were rare risk takers. Sadly, they needed more capital, more equity, than they had to implement their planned resurrection of the resort. Hence, their failure.
Unfortunately, it’s the lack of funds that prohibits us from doing what’s right for the people of Kauai. But there is a way to remedy that. How about an “assessment district”? Or sell bonds to buy and improve the coco palms land to make it a park and cultural center. Then assess a bond levy onto the property tax bill of every piece of property on the island to pay for it.
Nothing is “FREE”. “FREE” only means that someone else is paying for it.
Good thinking!
What you suggest offers a lower scale project and could be combined with a small kind community or cultural center and park.
That would give many (even if not all) some benefit.
Elder care is important and there’s enough revenue in that industry to make it, especially if it had partial county and state support combined.
TOO LATE!!! WAIPOULI COURTYARD CRONIKS ALREADY MOVING IN!!!
Coco Palms Site
The site of the Coco Palms honors Kauai’s unique place in our world. This site is destined to become Kauai’s Aloha Park, Kauai’s gift of Peace & Love to a chaotic world.
Years ago the King of Rock n Roll focused the World’s attention on the peace and beauty of Kauai. He sang “Kauai, Island of Love” and married on this site in a “Hawaiian” wedding. People still seek that wedding and our world still needs that Love as expressed on our gorgeous & peaceful island. Kauai’s Aloha Park will be a tribute and monument to our Peace and Love.
Red Dirt Lover