• Coco Palms Resort goes ‘Native’ Coco Palms Resort goes ‘Native’ By Alan Fayé The following dialogue was recalled by one of the visiting tourists on a tour bus who then shared it with several Kauai residents in the year
• Coco Palms Resort goes ‘Native’
Coco Palms Resort goes ‘Native’
By Alan Fayé
The following dialogue was recalled by one of the visiting tourists on a tour bus who then shared it with several Kauai residents in the year 2006. It went something like this:
Tour Bus Driver – “Keoni”: “…and ladies and gentlemen, as we cross the Wailua River on our way to Hanalei, please take note to our left, of the beautifully-restored, historic Hawaiian village that was recently known as “Coco Palms Resort.”
Knowledgeable Tourist – “Linda”: “Yeah, but didn’t I read in your Garden Island newspaper some time ago, that the Coco Palms Resort was planned to be replaced with a fairly large new resort development? Four-story buildings with a massive parking garage and all that?”
Keoni: “Quite right, young lady. Fortunately for the Native Hawaiian population of this island, as well as Native Hawaiians who visit from other Hawaiian Islands, the local residents of Kauai took it upon themselves to pressure the County Government to deny any re-development of the Coco Palms. In fact the Kauaians convinced the County that the land should be returned to its original use as a sacred place of Hawaiian refuge. This was a tough decision on the part of the County officials, as they so often favor projects that produce great revenues. The Kauai population said: ‘It is OK for some limited development in places like Poipu and Princeville. But to take this sacred site with such beautiful coco palms and Hawaiian fishponds and desecrate it with large buildings that would forever deny any cultural enjoyment by both visitors and local Hawaii residents – this is a no no!’ And for once, the County Government listened, and funds were obtained to purchase the land and dedicate it to public use.”
Linda: “So when and how did this take place?”
Keoni: “Good question. At the eleventh hour, early in 2005, the County Government decided wisely, to condemn the property and purchase it with specially-derived funds. Some of the funding was in the form of very large private donations. Some funding was through grants. The initial rationale was that, ‘hey, if the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu can be so successful and self-sustaining, why not something like this on our sacred Wailua land? But not to make it quite so commercialized.’ A Kaua‘i restoration coalition was formed which involved the Kauai Historical Society, local Kauaians and many kanaka-maoli. Now there are many, many cultural events that take place at the site. The Hawaiian fish ponds have been restored and are operated by the kanaka-maoli. Native Hawaiian structures dot the site as best representing the original village.”
Linda: “You’re saying that by a wing and a prayer, the site was saved by the Kauai community just in the nick of time, right?”
Keoni: “Absolutely! We Kauaians collectively look back and shudder at what it could have been. For one thing, the traffic jam would have been a huge detriment. Most importantly, the site was the sacred residence of the last queen of Kauai – Queen Kapule. Further, the site is located in the confluence of many of the most significant heiau in the State of Hawaii and represents a most important cultural part of the history of Kauai.”
Linda: “My oh my. I feel so fortunate to learn of this and know that I may come back to visit this beautiful site and learn more of the cultural history of Kauai. Thank you so much.”
Keoni: “Auwe. mahalo, Linda – we hope all of you visitors on this tour bus will feel that way too. This is the ‘real Hawai‘i!'”
Alan Fayé is a resident of Princeville
