• The Coco Palms highway bridge The Coco Palms highway bridge Erecting a pedestrian bridge from the grounds of the Coco Palms Resort over Kuhio Highway to Wailua Beach makes a lot of sense. Tragic accidents have occurred in the
• The Coco Palms highway bridge
The Coco Palms highway bridge
Erecting a pedestrian bridge from the grounds of the Coco Palms Resort over Kuhio Highway to Wailua Beach makes a lot of sense.
Tragic accidents have occurred in the past when beach-goers were hit by cars while crossing the highway. Today the traffic is much heavier in the Wailua-Kapa‘a corridor, and it is likely the highway crossing is now much more dangerous. Visitors to the Island staying at the resort would be tempted to save the walk to safe crossings at the traffic lights located at each end of the resort and make the dash across the highway. With a pedestrian bridge in place the crossing would be inviting and safe.
While we back the county’s plan to allow the bridge, we question whether requiring elevators on each end of the bridge is wise. Wailua Beach sand and salt air will permeate the beachside elevators, limiting their usefulness. Creating a ramp that would allow easy access for the disabled is a better solution, and one that won’t break down.
We look forward to the revitalization of the Coco Palms Resort. The forlorn remains of the resort is the last major reminder of the devastation of Hurricane ‘Iniki, which struck in September 1992. That’s almost 13 years ago.
Tens of thousands of visitors, as well as many Kaua‘i residents, hold fond memories of holidays at the Coco Palms, and of the days when Grace Guslander held nightly torch-lighting ceremonies and Larry Rivera played in the lounge. They will return to Kaua‘i on a regular basis to again enjoy the Coco Palms and its lovely grounds.
Hopefully, the rebuilding of the resort will return a touch of the idyllic Polynesian spell that Grace Guslander wove. Grace and others are to be remembered in April. The hey days of the Coco Palms, of Club Jetty at Nawiliwili and of Hanalei’s Tahiti Nui is the focus of the upcoming Kaua‘i Historical Society Royal Paina.
Let the future days of the Coco Palms bridge the glorious days of Kaua‘i’s past, and may the walking bridge across Kuhio Highway bring an extra measure of safety for future guests.
