PUHI — The future of the Coco Palms Resort was a deeply discussed topic during the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kaua‘i Island Community Meeting on Tuesday night, where attorney Mauna Kea Trask emphasized the developer’s commitment to restoring the site.
“My client has the resources to finish this. 100 percent,” said Trask to OHA trustees and community members at the meeting at Kaua‘i Community College.
The site’s current developer, RP21 Coco Palms LLC, also known as Reef Capital Partners, recently appointed Trask, a fourth-generation Native Hawaiian attorney, to represent them amid increasing contention and uncertainty about the project’s future.
Reef Capital’s Managing Director Patrick Manning previously told The Garden Island that the reconstruction of the approximately 350-room resort would start in September and be completed within three years.
But just weeks later, in April, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources issued a letter asking the developer to stop all work due to evidence showing work being done without proper authorization. “Had that (letter) not happened … those buildings would be coming down,” said Trask during the meeting.
During the meeting, Trask said he has done a lot of research to catch up on the project’s history.
“When this project was initially permitted in 2014, the government and community leaders recommended the developer work with the community to incorporate a strategy that would support the feedback from the Native Hawaiian community on the development,” he said.
According to Trask, that strategy includes a vision of a new Coco Palms Resort making a number of cultural contributions, including building a cultural research center, providing student internship opportunities, supporting local farmers and businesses and restoring the fish pond and wetlands.
The cultural contributions also include keeping and maintaining the coconut grove, taking care of local cultural resources, integrating proper historical place names, treating all workers well, having local housing in the area, and an employee orientation and training program that emphasizes Native Hawaiian history, language and culture.
The resort would be a “funding mechanism to support these kinds of cultural programs,” said Trask, noting that just maintaining coconut groves would be “extremely expensive” for the state and county.
He urged the community, county and state to come together to support the project.
In a council meeting last month, state Board of Land and Natural Resources Chair Dawn Chang stated the department had received numerous complaints of land-use violations by the developer, including failure to maintain the premises, failure to submit annual reports, failure to pay property taxes and cutting down palm trees without consent.
The state is currently conducting an investigation into the claims, after which they could decide to revoke the developer’s three permits for state-owned land covering the property. A representative of the DLNR was unable to immediately answer a question regarding when the department’s land-use violations investigation would be completed.
Community members, including representatives from I Ola Wailuanani, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization made up of Kaua‘i residents, also spoke during the meeting. The group has spent years advocating against the reconstruction of the resort. Instead, they say the site should be purchased and turned into a Hawaiian cultural and education center.
Mason Chock, the organization’s vice president, thanked Trask for representing the current developers.
“I wish they had hired him years ago for this discussion,” said Chock.
The group shared a video detailing some of the site’s rich cultural history and significance, including its time as the royal residence for Kaua‘i’s last queen, Deborah Kapule.
“My point is, we make no claims to the future of this property. We really are here to educate, to share what it is,” said Chock.
“What we represent here is to make sure that the committee does have a voice in the process and that we’re not just subjected to anything that the future might hold.”
OHA trustees Brickwood Galuteria and Kalei Akaka asked Chock how they could collaborate and support his organization.
“Frankly, I’m very saddened by what I saw today,” said Galuteria of the site’s dilapidated structures. “I remember a very vibrant Coco Palms. Now, having said that, I for one would want specificity in terms of what comes next.”
Galuteria added that he didn’t want to be having the same conversation another year from now.
Chock said they needed to allow for government process, as the community’s role is currently limited.
“Right now, that’s a hotel. So until it’s not a hotel, our role is marginal … so I think those discussions need to be happening with the current owners,” he said.
Trask repeated similar statements, highlighting Reef Capital Partner’s dedication to the project, in an email response to The Garden Island on Wednesday.
“Reef Capital is deeply committed to completing the restoration of Coco Palms while balancing the needs and concerns of the community. After 30 years of failure by previous owners, we recognize that some may be skeptical, but we are the first owner with the financial strength and commitment to finally follow through on the restoration of this important landmark,” he said.
“We believe the majority of the community supports starting the demolition of the remains of the Coco Palms as soon as possible.”
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Emma Grunwald, reporter, can be reached 808-652-0638 or egrunwald@thegardenisland.com.
Sounds like government getting in the way of progress.
The community doesn’t want a hotel/resort, the County doesn’t have the funds to buy the property and a rich Uncle didn’t step up to turn it into a cultural park. Does it have to be one or the other ? Why is there no consideration to allow the developer to build a condominium project ? With the stipulation that you can’t rent them out for short-term stays. Condominiums are cheaper than houses and there aren’t enough condo units available for residents outside VDA’s. Seems like a win-win to me, let the developer make some money while creating permanent housing for residents.
Trask: “We believe the majority of the community supports starting the demolition of the remains of the Coco Palms as soon as possible.”
TRUE, but deceptive. The majority of the community supports starting the demolition of the remains of the Coco Palms as soon as possible, but the majority of the community does NOT support the re-building of a hotel on that site.
No way. This is a lose situation for the millionaire. No way he wins on this partnership with the state. Lame story and u can say up for prayers. I doubt this project will materialize. A bad financial idea.
Are the owners of reef capital Hawaiians or Arabs
The community wants jobs and tourism. Toward that end, they need hotels. Toward that end I can only hope the new hotel is like the old one that was so beautiful and not just a square box.
What I see being built are what will eventually be time sharing units or condominiums, something that locals will not purchase. Less employees are required for time sharing units/condominiums compared to a hotel resort.
Not all structures will be demolished; the most makai building will be left standing and will be “renovated” as present day setback (code) does not allow NEW structure to be built so close to the property line.
Fishermen move your recreational activity elsewhere as besides fish you’ll have people swimming in front of your poles. You might be lucky and have a hookup but it might come along with you being sued after injuries are sustained by your fishing hook.
Wailua Houselots residents if you think the waiting time at the lights is long now, be prepared for an increased waiting time as the exit out of the hotel will be into Haleilio Road according to past articles in The Garden Island newspaper.
This kapuna is nearing 80-years old and I’ve seen alot. It tears my heart each time I see projects that takes away use of cultural and recreational practices from the locals. I can tell you how fun it use to be having easy access to the beach and ocean … now no more. I weep.
No matter what the Coco Palms carcass needs to go. It had its day. Its dangerous and unsightly. Demolition and rebuilding will take forever and then the developer will probably throw in the towel as the county makes the process impossible.
Nothing has happened in 31 years except watching the fungus grow in the remains. The county has largely been part of the problem here.
Building a new hotel in that location is unsafe. Its sits just feet from the most heavily travelled road on the island. As noted by the reader/ poster above new code changes the frontage setback layout to highway.
People wanting to access the beach from the other side of the road is problematic in itself. Additional vehicle traffic just compounds the problem. Throw in construction traffic and materials supply logistics and its amplifies the current problems more.
kauaiboy above nailed it.