Partial demolition of Coco Palms Resort set to begin this month

Demolition work at the shuttered legendary Coco Palms Resort on Kauai will start later this month, according to Coco Palms Hui LLC.

Co-partner Chad Waters estimated that the work will take four months to complete. Though demolition is scheduled to start within a few weeks, the group is still awaiting the release of the demolition permits.

“We are in the process of finalizing the selection of our demolition contractor,” Waters said.

The release of demolition permits is pending approval from the State Historic Preservation Division.

Slated for partial demolition are the property’s shell, Alii Kai I and II, Queen Audience Hall, Flame Room Bar, Lotus Restaurant, Seashell Restaurant and retail buildings.

Architect Ron Agor of Agor Architects LLC, who is working with developers on the renovation effort, said, “If we can save something, we’ll keep it. If we can’t, we’ll demolish it.”

Among buildings to be completely demolished are cottages, Palms Lanai, King Lagoon and outbuildings.

In March the Kauai Planning Commission approved a special management area use permit, project development use permit, variance permit and Class IV zoning permit to renovate the hotel in Wailua.

Coco Palms closed in 1992 due to damage caused by Hurricane Iniki.

The hotel opened Jan. 25, 1953, with two guest rooms and four employees. It expanded to 416 rooms at its peak in the mid-1970s. The Coco Palms resort served as a backdrop in about a dozen films, including the 1961 Elvis Presley movie "Blue Hawaii." Most of the movie’s final 20 minutes was shot on and near the hotel grounds, including the famous wedding scene, which was filmed at the lagoon.