Abandoned Paradise: Coco Palms Resort

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Explore the Coco Palms Resort, the historic first resort on Kaua'i with me. This was the happening spot of its day. Now the derelict buildings crumble and are overgrown by greenery in between tall palms.
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Video and editing by Luke.
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[@kimmiquinn4205]

This is so heartbreaking! My sister and I would stay there every summer in the Queen’s cottages when we were little girls during the early-mid 80s. It was so beautiful and such a happy time in our lives. One of the hotel hula dancers was our babysitter during the day and would take us on little island adventures and teach us all about the island and culture😢

[@lifeofluke]

It is heartbreaking. I'm glad you have those wonderful memories of this beautiful place, though! You and your sister can look back fondly on that time, even as things decay and the world changes.

[@markwinchester3005]

Envious of you!

[@trevormumby9664]

Such a shame!! I got married there in 1990 stunning location, such a provenance with the Elvis connection! So sad to see an old friend so sick and in need of help.

[@Canuckbuc44]

Went there as a 9 year old child in 1981. It was THE place on Kauai.

[@SweetWeepingAngel143]

It’s where I grew up🥲 being raised with my dad parents, they were the head of (grandfather)maintenance and (grandmother) housekeeping. I use to walk the grounds, visit the monkeys in the back, swim in the swimming pools, eat free lunches from the uncles & aunties that worked in the restaurants every day except on my grandparents day off❤ it’s sad that they will demo the place. It was a huge part of my life as a little girl to a young adult😢 I love you coco palms n I will greatly miss you😢🥲 but I will never forget you cause you’ll always be in my memories 🌹🌹🌹

[@lifeofluke]

Ahh those are wonderful memories!

[@davidgiles9751]

Watching this in March of 2023. Looks like there's plans to try and rebuild the hotel, although I'd imagine it'll be quite different from how it was. There is some local resistance to the plans though. I'd like to see something happen with the grounds, as it's quite an eyesore these days.

[@RUmom08]

Stayed there in 1982 and our sink was a giant shell. It was such a glamorous place. It's so sad to see it in such a state.

[@nataliegoodwin3068]

My parents and me as a little girl stayed there in 1982 I was three . It was in May.

[@mariemackenzie7087]

We had our honeymoon there in 1982 and it was stunning! Beautiful, lush and romantic. This makes me so sad.

[@steveflynn6935]

Coco Palms was FANTASTIC! I was married in the chapel there in 1981. I subscribed to your channel.

[@connieoliver7369]

I had the privilege of staying at Coco Palms back in the 70s it was beautiful. So sad to see it like this.

[@lifeofluke]

The good news is it is being rebuilt.

[@mod91Kauai]

I've lived here on Kaua'i my entire life but I've never actually gone inside Coco Palms. I always wondered what it was like. It's illegal to go in and I always figured homeless people/meth heads would be in there. Mahalo for the revealing footage!

[@lifeofluke]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@evanazbell]

Beautiful how the jungle has reclaimed the resort. Great footage.

[@lifeofluke]

Thanks Evan! I find it incredibly beautiful too

[@phoenixtoash2396]

My grandmother Bernadine used to come to this place every year for about three months at a time. She had pictures of the lobby I had seen. It was beautiful.

[@BryanJones]

People on forums were always saying how awesome were these shell shape sinks and how these were stolen trough the years. Thank you for showing that one that remained there, they are actually indeed pretty awesome looking.

[@lifeofluke]

I agree, they are definitely unique and kind-of funky!

[@danielroque8504]

Coco palms is currently being demolished but is being rebuilt!!🎉🎉 the article stated it will reopen 2026, and have all the old with today's modern amenities....the drawings look beautiful!!

[@prp3231]

Great to hear. It would be a shame if they neglected it. It's a huge money spinner, will give jobs to the locals and keep the Elvis memory alive.

[@tinathomas4999]

I can imagine that it was once a very beautiful and high end place to be. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@lawsongray63]

As a mainland American, it really surprises me that there isn't very much visible vandalization, graffiti, squatters or trash around the place (over video anyways). Like the population actually stays away from it. How i wish abandoned building would stay un-spraypainted and un-trashed by tresspassers

[@erikh9991]

What a period piece. It's finally being remodeled. Hopefully they can finish it.

[@sandramorey2529]

We didn't stay there as it was very pricey, but we camped for a month on Kaua'i in 1980. We did go to the Hawaiian show at Coco Palms. Very nice and the kids in the cast gave us a ride back to our hotel since we weren't renting a car.

[@nancyreynolds6794]

I was there in 1978 and was beautiful and very romantic. I remember having dinner along the lagoon after dark with my husband and the native Hawaiian men running along the lagoon during the torch lighting ceremony. Such a shame to see it in ruins.

[@mokuohaisaia8447]

You were very lucky to have experienced that. This place (coco palms ) was not meant to be, it wasn’t ours, and it was meant to be left alone. 🤙🏽 Aloha from a guy from Kauai 😁

[@melindamonroeneumann]

Great video! While I’ve never been to this place, it’s really interesting to the way nature is reclaiming the space. Thanks for sharing!

[@lifeofluke]

Thanks Melinda!

[@aldofhister6859]

I went there back in 89 ! Time changes everything

[@skatee99]

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". (Sixteenth Season - episode 11) 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, (along, with the ghost of Elvis!), so, after seeing that, I HAD to begin to look into this FACINATING place. One you do, you really get sucked into it. If only there was a way to help bring it back to it's rightful grandor, . . .

[@skatee99]

Very good effort! I am a Film/Video grad from Chicago, currently living/working in the G.C.N.P., South Rim. The funny thing is, what lead me to your video is, a love for South Park! lol In reviewing older seasons, there is a show, from their Season 16, they titled (#11), "Going Native". I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is interested in the Coco Palms and, just the tourist vs. native vibe there. Does not matter if you don't like South Park. It's all pretty funny and I promise, no rude, crude South Park jokes. Just good, biting commentary and, highlights of the COCO PALMS and, relations of tourists with natives! (With Elvis's ghost making an appearance!) Come on! ! !

[@cesarsalad.6944]

My grandma marie used to work there many years ago when I wasnt even born.

[@kaeobermoy4401]

When I was I kid remember they had monkeys there in a huge cage that place is so dangerous a coconut could fall on you’re head

[@kimmasuen4107]

So sad to see, I spent my honeymoon there in 1988

[@OutdoorRob]

Nice find! Thanks for the tour!

[@lifeofluke]

Thank you Rob!

[@d7seven]

my brother got married at the chapel like 40 years ago

[@ScottDLR]

It wasn't arson specifically; it was fireworks that burned the main building/check-in. We were there last May. The hotel buildings have been stripped and cleaned up and are ready to rebuild. The basement was flooded and they were pumping it out. The hotel chain that bought it has gotten cold feet and I understand it is up for sale. Again. Not sure it will ever be feasible to rebuild. It's not on the beach and you have to cross a busy road to get to the beach. In this area, you really have to have great beach access for a resort to be able to charge a high price. Withthe amount of money it will take to rebuild, they will have to charge a lot.

[@lifeofluke]

Ya for sure. Thanks for the info!

[@markthomas2436]

Has it been demolished since this was filmed in 2016?

[@lifeofluke]

I don't know for sure, but I think it's being demo'd and renovated to reopen

[@makaylasmanifestations]

this is cool thanks for sharing

[@millerfisherman1989]

Thanks for sharing! But do you think its possible we could get less footage of cocoa palms and more selfies and more slow mos of you exploring the place? Thanks. I kid I kid!

[@lifeofluke]

Damn, I'll have to go back to do just that!

[@millerfisherman1989]

Appreciate the great vids, keep up the good work!

[@lifeofluke]

@@millerfisherman1989 Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@charl.4407]

January 2024….still there…still in ruins☹️

[@s12T13ash]

i went there and we explored for a few hours until we saw police so we talked to them and they were looking for a missing person so we left after that but there are cool things to look at there.

[@melaniepickett5106]

I was married in that chapel 1.10,91.

[@adamlocke2356]

free rent! It would be cool to see some footage in its prime.

[@lifeofluke]

Haha, yeah I bet there is some classic video out there.

[@itsMeDAnn]

yeah i smoked weed in there before

[@lifeofluke]

we got a badass over here

[@aldofhister6859]

And you still didn't get laid

[@kapuaolena]

😂😂

[@ML8Format]

Is this the same Hawaiian hotel with the night watchers urban legend For those who don’t know about the legend. They are ghostly tribal members that haunt the forest, they are said to be very territorial and even if a person just looks at them, they will try to kill the person. When these spirits are around it is said you can hear drums beating, and see torch fire through the trees. At least that’s what ghost asylum taught me.

[@kaeobermoy4401]

You see what the tourist industry can leave behind !! It’s a shame

[@WesleySnipes3568]

Ho Brah....you no spell Kauai la dat🤙🏾

[@lifeofluke]

ma bad brah

[@clairek3009]

Is this heavily guarded or is it easy to walk into?

[@lifeofluke]

It's private property so I can't recommend going inside. (but it was really easy a couple years ago, though)

[@asapicton7038]

Just went today. Very very easy to walk into

[@kittengurl1015]

How do I get there? I’d really like to go there, but I think I’ll need more specific instructions.

[@lifeofluke]

It's right beside the highway in Kapaa, right next to the Wailua river

[@aaronbelmonte2710]

Kittengurl101 how about you don’t

[@CocoPalmsResortKauai]

How about if you do you make sure you have bail money with you.

[@theresagosselin2705]

Who owns the land

[@joshv3107]

how did you get in? its private property.

[@lifeofluke]

I parachuted in from a helicopter

[@CocoPalmsResortKauai]

He trespassed.....I told him to remove this video. He is a Canadian who doesn't think the laws apply to him.

[@noleftturnunstoned]

What part of BC is this?

[@lifeofluke]

Hawaii

[@KrownDC]

Does this place still exist? Is it legal?

[@lifeofluke]

I'm not sure how much still exists because they're re-developing it

[@KrownDC]

I appreciate the quick response. I am visiting Hawaii in a week but I also love Urbex. I wanted to know if this was legal

[@lifeofluke]

It is private property. I even got messages from a local "citizen police" threatening me.

[@CocoPalmsResortKauai]

Not a citizen police. A paid security officer for the property. You my friend are not a typical Canadian. Most Canadians have respect. You are a punk.

[@texm2775]

@@CocoPalmsResortKauai chill

[@joyousjoyyr337]

HI, Nice photography! However, did you see all the fences around the hotel property that had signs saying, "Private Keep Out"? Did you get permission to go inside first? They are doing a demolition in there and they are wearing hazmat suits to tear the stuff out. Hawaiians like it when you respect the signs.

[@CocoPalmsResortKauai]

He trespassed.....I told him to remove this video. He is a Canadian who doesn't think the laws apply to him.

[@texm2775]

@@CocoPalmsResortKauai dang, you need to take your anger down a few notches!

[@CocoPalmsResortKauai]

@@texm2775 Obviously I need to take it up a few notches to keep punks out.

[@texm2775]

@@CocoPalmsResortKauai then you are just being a nasty and hateful prick that likes to bully. Good luck with getting therapy on your anger issues.

[@mskfrutoz]

Unfortunately it's not going to be salvaged

[@eyeballairvent1248]

Good to see you exploring old buildings. Now use your drone - and stop this horrible music.🙂

[@lifeofluke]

Yeah this was over 7 years ago so it was the best copyright free music I found at the time, and as you know, currently I have found much better music for my recent videos.

[@mskfrutoz]

It should have Hawaiian food

[@mskfrutoz]

Elvis Presely

[@Hearts4meeeeee.]

Dude trying to act like he is Hawaiian

[@lifeofluke]

Just having fun, not trying to act like I'm Hawaiian! Don't take it so seriously

[@kenhorne5650]

Thought hurricane was 1982

[@davearlen3362]

1992 Iniki

[@justwondering90]

storm on 9-11...think about it.

[@lifeofluke]

Uh oh! Conspiracies here we come!

[@StuieMaaate]

Shame

[@stevegeczy2443]

Stop the nonsense and build a new resort. Get on with life.

[@staceysepulveda1838]

You are illegally on the property.

[@lifeofluke]

You should be a detective

[@alanbenjaminw]

american menu :p

[@aldofhister6859]

That menu could be from anywhere