WAILUA — The Friends of Coco Palms, an ad-hoc steering committee dedicated to the acquisition of the Coco Palms property for public benefit, recently received a generous gift from Wailua resident and South Park creator Trey Parker, according to a
WAILUA — The Friends of Coco Palms, an ad-hoc steering committee dedicated to the acquisition of the Coco Palms property for public benefit, recently received a generous gift from Wailua resident and South Park creator Trey Parker, according to a press release.
Parker initially contacted the committee after several stories in The Garden Island newspaper highlighted their efforts to create a plan for the property that would reflect the community’s desires and needs. Inspired by their efforts to acquire the Coco Palms for the benefit of the public, Parker offered to donate $20,000. Funds will be used to cover operating and administrative costs for the group.
“He contacted us through our Web site, congratulated us on our work and expressed his interest in making a significant donation to the Friends of Coco Palms,” said Jennifer Luck, executive director of Kaua‘i Public Land Trust and administrative director for the Friends of Coco Palms Committee. “We are thrilled to have his support, his donation made a huge difference in our capacity to continue our work”.
“My parents honeymooned at the Coco Palms hotel and I have watched in disgust as the site remained neglected and abandoned for so many years,” Parker said. “When a friend told me about the Friends of Coco Palms and their attempt to acquire the property for public benefit I felt compelled to support their efforts.”
Parker’s contribution comes on the heels of the state Legislature’s decision to award the Friends a $234,000 Grant-In-Aid to create a site plan for the Wailua property, which includes the dilapidated hotel buildings, the old beachfront Seashell Restaurant, the historic fishpond and the leased coconut grove, a state park.
“Once the governor releases the Grant-In-Aid funds we will begin our work to create a viable plan for the property,” Committee Chair Pat Griffin said. “The initial step will be an extensive public input process to determine how the community wants to see this property utilized.”
The second component of the project includes expert analysis of the existing site components and recommendations for demolition, restoration and reconstruction. The plan will also address possibilities for the property’s acquisition. The Committee expects this aspect of the plan to enable it to identify and secure the capital necessary to purchase the property.
The Friends of Coco Palms is sponsored by the Kaua‘i Public Land Trust and led by an executive committee comprised of Pat Griffin, Diane Zachary and Sen. Gary Hooser. Friends membership also includes: Gary and Beryl Blaich, Andy Bushnell, Bill Chase, Robin Danner, Puna Dawson, David Penhallow, Linda Pizzitola and Rayne Regush.
The Committee strongly encourages residents to visit www.FriendsofCocoPalms.org and contribute ideas for the property or contact us if you are interested in becoming involved.
Contributions should be made c/o Kauai Public Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation, and mailed “Attention: Coco Palms” to P. O. Box 562, Kilauea, HI 96754. For more information please contact Jennifer Luck at 346-9419 or Jennifer@KauaiPublicLandTrust.org or PatGriffin@Hawaiiantel.net.
