The cabana Elvis Presley stayed in was #56 and I think the Doors stayed in #55. Oh and I used to live in the homesteads area about a 10 minute drive above Coco Palms
What an iconic video of your trip to Kauai. I am a Hawaii resident born and raised and never got the opportunity to see Coco Palms resort. Thank you so much for posting this. Wow how beautiful it was before the hurricane.
If I ever win the Powerball, I am going to buy this place and restore it, move to Kauai and spend the remainder of my life living in paradise...I'm dead serious...
Right?! Never was interested in this subject, before my time. Yet of all way's to learn of it, was a South Park episode, called, "Going Native". After that, began reall looking into this place and, it's FACINATING and, really sucks you it. As you say, to have the ability to bring it back to it's rightful grandor, the notion really begins to "pull" on you. . .
Thanks for posting this! I didn't know how beautiful this resort was. I didn't visit Kauai till 1997, so this was all before my time. I remember our tour guide mentioning the history of Coco Palms and I wanted to explore the grounds so bad. My parents were like "Are you crazy?? We didn't come all the way here to see an abandoned hotel!"
Thank you so much for posting this! I never thought about checking UA-cam for info on the Coco Palms. I was looking for info on Kauai and stumbled upon this! In 1981 my husband and I were married in the chapel on the grounds and Larry Rivera sang at our wedding. We stayed in a Kings Cottage. We went back in 1991 and renewed our vows. Larry sang at that too. It’s so sad that the place is in such a shambles. We have had our hopes up with rumors of rebuilding. So far it doesn’t look hopeful. I’m going with a girlfriend this summer. I have been to Kauai numerous times with my husband (he passed in 2016) and with friends. It was so awesome to see it again before it was destroyed.
My wife and I stayed there on our honeymoon in 1979 and several time after that. It was our favorite hotel in the islands. Lyle & Grace Guslander were Gracious hosts. I'm saddened by CoCo Palms Condition these days, I visited there in 2012 and left the grounds really depressed. Your video has brought back some really nice memories, thanks very much Michael O'Kane
+Michael O'Kane I am so glad you liked this. We were never able to see it during the Guslander years. I know it was much nicer then. However, the scenery is so beautiful and we did our best to film it with that old, heavy video camera. I gather it kept going slightly downhill over the years, but perhaps the new owners will bring it back to life again. Fingers crossed.
Claire, thank you so much for sharing this video. When I was growing up, my parents couldn't afford to go to places like this. My husband and I were here as part of a movie tour in 2008 and we absolutely loved it. We so wanted to come back and stay when the place was renovated. We just visited again in March 2019 for our 25th wedding Anniversary and loved the tour that Bob gave but were a bit disappointed that the place hadn't reopened. Now we find out that it's up for sale again and Bob is moving on. I hope and pray that this place opens back up some day. Thanks again! It was a joy to see your video of the place while it was open.
Saw my brother get married in that chapel on August 15th, 1983---- And I went back for a week in 84. It was a true Paradise. My brother & sister in-law will enjoy watching this---- its their 30th wedding Anniversary this month. Many Many Thanks for posting ! ( I remember the Palms pancakes--- Best in the world )
Now that I see that some think we didn't enjoy this, I have to correct that impression. It was an unusual time to visit. Evidently, the company that took the place over when we were there had stripped the real "tropical" things from the rooms and put in other decor. It was a first for us. Geckos fell on my head when I was sleeping! The film was made mostly to entertain our family when we returned, and never meant to be public originally, but since older photos were in short supply we edited the other parts of our vacation out and tried to only show the grounds and cabin. We are so excited that there will be a renovation and hope we are still able to get there again. This was our 30th anniversary in 1991 and you can imagine how old we are now. It may, or may not be possible but we will definitely try to get back.
+Claire Rosenberg I so enjoyed your video! We were in Kauai in May this time last year and also just this past January. We went by here and just peeked, wanted to take the tour but ran out of time. So much history here. I'm glad I could see by your video what it used to look like. I don't know if I could have handled the geckos falling on my head! Hope you can get back to Kauai soon. It's the most gorgeous place; we are trying to plan our next trip!
I so enjoyed this. Thank you for taking me there. Hawaii in a natural setting. Your room was like camp for adults. My husband and I had a delayed honeymoon in Hawaii 83. I wish now we had spent a few nights here. Fascinating. You get the feeling that Elvis will be around the corner from. Again, thank you for sharing this history
My wife and honeymooned there in 89'. We were sad to hear of the loss of such a great landmark. My wife has been following the updates on the Coco Palms facility over the last several years. We are both excited hear they blessed the grounds and are moving forward to rebuild.
I just left Kauai four days ago. We passed the ruins of Coco Palms daily. This place is haunting and it’s sad it’s been destroyed. I’m so glad there are videos of it when it was up and running. Thanks for sharing.
A trip to Coco Palms in 1991 just before Hurricane Iniki destroyed this beautiful place. This wasn't really the heyday of the hotel, but it does show what it looked like just before its demise. Oh, how we wish it could be brought back to the original. Please forgive the amateurish filming and silly comments but it is what it is.
Thank you so much Clair... brings back memories. I was the sommelier at the Coconut Palace in the mid 80's. This was and remains a place in time and space that's priceless.
Thanks for the video. It really shows how great the place looked. I just walked through most of the grounds a couple days ago. It is just so sad it was never rebuilt. Hopefully one day it will be.
Aloha, Claire! THANK YOU so much for posting this! I was thrilled watching it! It is the best footage I've seen online of Coco Palms. You shot so extensively -- it really highlights the magic of this property! I visited Coco Palms as a child in the seventies and it reaffirmed my love of the real Hawaii, as well as Artificial Polynesia. Like you, our family is closely following its rebirth and will be among the first to book a reservation! Mahalo nui loa!
Thank you for posting this video. I just recently learned about this place from researching the music of Larry Rivera who was an entertainer there for almost its whole life. In the 60s I made a number of trips to Kauai, my favorite island, but I never made it there.
+Richard Riley Thank you so much for your comments. I had been concerned about the negative one here recently. As I had said, this was originally filmed to entertain our family when we returned home and was not filmed with any You Tube even in existence. Now so much is possible. I am glad that many people have been able to see how lovely it was and I hope that the silly comments will be dismissed as just that. Silliness.
Awe I’m from here but I love how respectful and peaceful you guys are and just taking it all in who knew this would be historic evidence of the famous coco palms 😂
As others: I must thank you so much for this post! I was never really interested in this subject, since it was way before my time. Yet ironically, I learned about it a few years ago via, a South Park episode, called, "Going Native". (Even if you don't like South Park, or think it to be crude (which it IS), their parody of the whole Hawaiian life style is spot on and priceless. Anyway, The Coco Palms is featured in this episode, (with the ghost of Elvis!), and, after seeing that, I HAD to begin to look into this FACINATING place. One you do, you really get sucked into it. As you say, to have the ability to bring it back to it's rightful grandor, if only there was a practical way. . .
Awesome job Claire. Thanks for having the courage to post the entire thing. I watched it beg. to end. A piece of history preserved. We were married in Hawaii a couple years before, and visited Kaui but had no knowledge of this resorts history. I just found this today when learned that the resort is getting auctioned off, and will likely be destroyed. Also curious, did you intentionally not mention Elvis's bungalow 56 or did you just not know about it?
+André Kaiser Have they started renovations yet? We were just there in January and wanted to take a tour of this place, but ran out of time. Did you take the tour or have they stopped tours now?
went on the tour at CoCo Palms in 2011 for about 2 and a half hours it was very sad ta see how run down it was when there was so much history there.But glad tp have experienced it.Thanks for the video of what was.
We are closely following the progress. It has begun and clearing of the land is happening right now. They will save the Elvis cottage and place it separately as a sort of museum to that part of the history. Sadly, the cottages cannot be left in their original state - they have to be built higher from the ground. I am hoping that we are still able to travel when it makes its comeback and will get to see it again. Fingers crossed.
+tourguy3 Not really. I was trying to be silly. We really loved it. I didn't mean to give that impression. We so want to go back. I haven't had the chance to go back. It rained the entire time - LOL but it was fun.
Really, Bob? Funny that I didn't get that impression at all. I'm just glad she posted this video, so we can all enjoy Coco Palm's beauty while we (eagerly!) await its resurrection. Aloha to you (and thanks for all of YOUR videos, too!)
The cabana Elvis Presley stayed in was #56 and I think the Doors stayed in #55.
Oh and I used to live in the homesteads area about a 10 minute drive above Coco Palms
Just knowing that Elvis Presley was staying there and filmed the movie Blue Hawaii was a shame to not leave him abandoned for so long.
Awesome Video ! My wife and I were married here in May of 1981 .We are still married today. Thanks for posting this.
What an iconic video of your trip to Kauai. I am a Hawaii resident born and raised and never got the opportunity to see Coco Palms resort. Thank you so much for posting this. Wow how beautiful it was before the hurricane.
If I ever win the Powerball, I am going to buy this place and restore it, move to Kauai and spend the remainder of my life living in paradise...I'm dead serious...
Right?! Never was interested in this subject, before my time. Yet of all way's to learn of it, was a South Park episode, called, "Going Native". After that, began reall looking into this place and, it's FACINATING and, really sucks you it. As you say, to have the ability to bring it back to it's rightful grandor, the notion really begins to "pull" on you. . .
You still couldn't afford it
Thanks for posting this! I didn't know how beautiful this resort was. I didn't visit Kauai till 1997, so this was all before my time. I remember our tour guide mentioning the history of Coco Palms and I wanted to explore the grounds so bad. My parents were like "Are you crazy?? We didn't come all the way here to see an abandoned hotel!"
I was there in 1991 and loved it wish to go back hope it is rebuilt
Thank you so much for posting this! I never thought about checking UA-cam for info on the Coco Palms. I was looking for info on Kauai and stumbled upon this! In 1981 my husband and I were married in the chapel on the grounds and Larry Rivera sang at our wedding. We stayed in a Kings Cottage. We went back in 1991 and renewed our vows. Larry sang at that too. It’s so sad that the place is in such a shambles. We have had our hopes up with rumors of rebuilding. So far it doesn’t look hopeful. I’m going with a girlfriend this summer. I have been to Kauai numerous times with my husband (he passed in 2016) and with friends. It was so awesome to see it again before it was destroyed.
My wife and I stayed there on our honeymoon in 1979 and several time after that. It was our favorite hotel in the islands. Lyle & Grace Guslander were Gracious hosts. I'm saddened by CoCo Palms Condition these days, I visited there in 2012 and left the grounds really depressed. Your video has brought back some really nice memories, thanks very much
Michael O'Kane
+Michael O'Kane I am so glad you liked this. We were never able to see it during the Guslander years. I know it was much nicer then. However, the scenery is so beautiful and we did our best to film it with that old, heavy video camera. I gather it kept going slightly downhill over the years, but perhaps the new owners will bring it back to life again. Fingers crossed.
Claire, thank you so much for sharing this video. When I was growing up, my parents couldn't afford to go to places like this. My husband and I were here as part of a movie tour in 2008 and we absolutely loved it. We so wanted to come back and stay when the place was renovated. We just visited again in March 2019 for our 25th wedding Anniversary and loved the tour that Bob gave but were a bit disappointed that the place hadn't reopened. Now we find out that it's up for sale again and Bob is moving on. I hope and pray that this place opens back up some day. Thanks again! It was a joy to see your video of the place while it was open.
Hope it will open one day.
Saw my brother get married in that chapel on August 15th, 1983---- And I went back for a week in 84. It was a true Paradise. My brother & sister in-law will enjoy watching this---- its their 30th wedding Anniversary this month. Many Many Thanks for posting ! ( I remember the Palms pancakes--- Best in the world )
Excellent footage of Coco Palms.
What a beauty she was in her time.
Now that I see that some think we didn't enjoy this, I have to correct that impression. It was an unusual time to visit. Evidently, the company that took the place over when we were there had stripped the real "tropical" things from the rooms and put in other decor. It was a first for us. Geckos fell on my head when I was sleeping! The film was made mostly to entertain our family when we returned, and never meant to be public originally, but since older photos were in short supply we edited the other parts of our vacation out and tried to only show the grounds and cabin. We are so excited that there will be a renovation and hope we are still able to get there again. This was our 30th anniversary in 1991 and you can imagine how old we are now. It may, or may not be possible but we will definitely try to get back.
+Claire Rosenberg I so enjoyed your video! We were in Kauai in May this time last year and also just this past January. We went by here and just peeked, wanted to take the tour but ran out of time. So much history here. I'm glad I could see by your video what it used to look like. I don't know if I could have handled the geckos falling on my head! Hope you can get back to Kauai soon. It's the most gorgeous place; we are trying to plan our next trip!
I so enjoyed this. Thank you for taking me there. Hawaii in a natural setting. Your room was like camp for adults. My husband and I had a delayed honeymoon in Hawaii 83. I wish now we had spent a few nights here. Fascinating. You get the feeling that Elvis will be around the corner from. Again, thank you for sharing this history
My wife and honeymooned there in 89'. We were sad to hear of the loss of such a great landmark. My wife has been following the updates on the Coco Palms facility over the last several years. We are both excited hear they blessed the grounds and are moving forward to rebuild.
Wow. So nice!! Too bad it's gone. You were so lucky to see it!!! Thanks for sharing this!!!
I just left Kauai four days ago. We passed the ruins of Coco Palms daily. This place is haunting and it’s sad it’s been destroyed. I’m so glad there are videos of it when it was up and running. Thanks for sharing.
Stayed here on my honeymoon in 1970.. Thanks for sharing.. we didn't take many pictures then..so glad to see again how it was..
A trip to Coco Palms in 1991 just before Hurricane Iniki destroyed this beautiful place. This wasn't really the heyday of the hotel, but it does show what it looked like just before its demise. Oh, how we wish it could be brought back to the original. Please forgive the amateurish filming and silly comments but it is what it is.
Thank you so much Clair... brings back memories. I was the sommelier at the Coconut Palace in the mid 80's. This was and remains a place in time and space that's priceless.
Thanks for the video. It really shows how great the place looked. I just walked through most of the grounds a couple days ago. It is just so sad it was never rebuilt. Hopefully one day it will be.
I haven't been able to find any pictures or videos not this place. Me and my husband just visited and it was so sad. Thanks for sharing!
Aloha, Claire! THANK YOU so much for posting this! I was thrilled watching it! It is the best footage I've seen online of Coco Palms. You shot so extensively -- it really highlights the magic of this property! I visited Coco Palms as a child in the seventies and it reaffirmed my love of the real Hawaii, as well as Artificial Polynesia. Like you, our family is closely following its rebirth and will be among the first to book a reservation! Mahalo nui loa!
Thank you for sharing this look into the past. We were just there and it is very sad to see what it has become. Thank you for saving this archive.
No tourons everywhere, like Hawaii today.
Thank you for posting this video. I just recently learned about this place from researching the music of Larry Rivera who was an entertainer there for almost its whole life. In the 60s I made a number of trips to Kauai, my favorite island, but I never made it there.
+Richard Riley Thank you so much for your comments. I had been concerned about the negative one here recently. As I had said, this was originally filmed to entertain our family when we returned home and was not filmed with any You Tube even in existence. Now so much is possible. I am glad that many people have been able to see how lovely it was and I hope that the silly comments will be dismissed as just that. Silliness.
Mahalo for this upload love seeing the palms in there glory days.
Awe I’m from here but I love how respectful and peaceful you guys are and just taking it all in who knew this would be historic evidence of the famous coco palms 😂
As others: I must thank you so much for this post! I was never really interested in this subject, since it was way before my time. Yet ironically, I learned about it a few years ago via, a South Park episode, called, "Going Native". (Even if you don't like South Park, or think it to be crude (which it IS), their parody of the whole Hawaiian life style is spot on and priceless. Anyway, The Coco Palms is featured in this episode, (with the ghost of Elvis!), and, after seeing that, I HAD to begin to look into this FACINATING place. One you do, you really get sucked into it. As you say, to have the ability to bring it back to it's rightful grandor, if only there was a practical way. . .
Awesome job Claire. Thanks for having the courage to post the entire thing. I watched it beg. to end. A piece of history preserved. We were married in Hawaii a couple years before, and visited Kaui but had no knowledge of this resorts history. I just found this today when learned that the resort is getting auctioned off, and will likely be destroyed. Also curious, did you intentionally not mention Elvis's bungalow 56 or did you just not know about it?
If you pause the video at 8:42 that's the spot where a famous photo of Elvis was taken. He's standing next to a lady in a white dress .
This is priceless.
I was there last week! It's good to see how it once has been :)
+André Kaiser Have they started renovations yet? We were just there in January and wanted to take a tour of this place, but ran out of time. Did you take the tour or have they stopped tours now?
went on the tour at CoCo Palms in 2011 for about 2 and a half hours it was very sad ta see how run down it was when there was so much history there.But glad tp have experienced it.Thanks for the video of what was.
Thanks for the footage of the Coco Palms! What year would this have been?
What year was this?
hopefully, Hyatt will do justice with this hotel, to be open spring 2018.
We are closely following the progress. It has begun and clearing of the land is happening right now. They will save the Elvis cottage and place it separately as a sort of museum to that part of the history. Sadly, the cottages cannot be left in their original state - they have to be built higher from the ground. I am hoping that we are still able to travel when it makes its comeback and will get to see it again. Fingers crossed.
Did elvis. Presley. Stated.
Thanks for sharing your video!
You people get off our island. I you never came back!
I just watched this for the second time....you really seemed to hate the place...sad.
+tourguy3 Not really. I was trying to be silly. We really loved it. I didn't mean to give that impression. We so want to go back. I haven't had the chance to go back. It rained the entire time - LOL but it was fun.
Really, Bob? Funny that I didn't get that impression at all. I'm just glad she posted this video, so we can all enjoy Coco Palm's beauty while we (eagerly!) await its resurrection. Aloha to you (and thanks for all of YOUR videos, too!)
You're right. Claire loved the place.......
Bump
yep great video weve lived on kauai twice, ounce before iniki and from 1999 til 2010 thanx