The Coco Palms
property is well-loved as a place that for hundreds of years has
embodied Hawaiian culture and hospitality. In the mid-19th century, the
property was the home of Queen Deborah Kapule, Kaua‘i’s last reigning
queen. Guests were always welcomed there. After her death, the land was
used to raise sheep, cattle, horses and cobra. It became a private
residence in the early 1900s, with accommodations for visiting salesmen.
Grace and Lyle Guslander opened the Coco Palms resort in 1953, and until
it closed it was a well-known, beloved, gracious resort that honored
Hawaiian culture and provided hospitality to guests from all over the
world.
Coco Palms Hotel, January 2009 - Photo by Jason
Schaper
The resort suffered major damage during Hurricane Iniki in 1992 and has
remained closed ever since. The damaged buildings remain, visible from
Kuhio Highway.
Artwork by John Webber
“Wailua was known as
one of the residences for the ali‘i (royalty on Kaua‘i) and was greatly
influenced by the many voyaging canoe landings from the South Pacific
[1000-1300 CE]. During the era of the Ali‘i nui when the island was
governed by several independent high chiefs or regal family lines in
different districts, Wailua would have served as the primary domain and
seat of government for those chiefs who reigned over the windward region
and Puna District of Kaua‘i. Some time after A.D. 1400, the political
and social affairs of Kaua‘i were consolidated and restructured under
the title and reign of a Mō‘ī (paramount ruler) for the entire island (Fornander
1969:II 291-292). Eventually, Wailua and Waimea served as alternating
royal residences with the ali‘i and their courts. Wailua was usually
occupied during the summer months and Waimea during the winter months.
Therefore, corresponding religious, political, and civic sites were
established within both of these ahupua‘a…by moving the royal households
between Wailua and Waimea, it provided a period of relief for the
resources and people of each respective district who would need to
sustain the royal court with its daily food supply and essentials.
Contrary to various statements declaring that Wailua was exclusively for
the ali‘i, Wailua was an ahupua‘a that was definitely used by the
maka‘āinana (general populace). The maka‘āinana were the primary
cultivators of these lands who also provided labor for the ruling
chiefdom and konohiki of this ahupua‘a. However, there were certain
areas such as the royal compounds with the high ranking chief’s homes,
fishponds, stately temple sites, royal birthing site, and other
religious locales where access was often restricted. (Flores 1999).”
- E. Kailani Flores, Historical & Cultural
Research of Malaeha‘akoa, State of Hawai‘i, DLNR, Division of State
Parks,rev. May 1999
