WAILUA — While visitors may wonder what lies beyond the chain-linked fence surrounding the decaying frame of the Coco Palms Resort, those who visited Kaua‘i before Hurricane ‘Iniki remember a world-class resort that epitomized Hawaiian hospitality. Much of the romance
WAILUA — While visitors may wonder what lies beyond the chain-linked fence surrounding the decaying frame of the Coco Palms Resort, those who visited Kaua‘i before Hurricane ‘Iniki remember a world-class resort that epitomized Hawaiian hospitality.
Much of the romance surrounding the Coco Palms was created by the late Grace Guslander (1910—2000), who managed the property from 1953 to 1985.
On Oct. 23, the Kaua‘i Historical Society will celebrate what would have been Guslander’s 100th birthday at the society’s annual Pa‘ina.
“Every year, the Kaua‘i Historical Society honors someone who best epitomizes aloha,” said Tammi Andersland, member of the Kaua‘i Historical Society. “This year the society chose Grace Guslander.”
Set at Smith’s Tropical Paradise, the event features a cocktail hour, live and silent auctions, a buffet dinner, live entertainment and a recreation of the torch-lighting ceremony narrated by Larry Rivera.
Kaua‘i-born entertainer Kainani Kahaunaele will be at the event, singing original Hawaiian mele.
Among the items that will be up for auction are two original, giant, clam-shell sinks from the Coco Palms guest rooms. Weighing a couple hundred pounds a piece, these clam-shell sinks have become increasingly rare and are expected to be a hot item at the auction, according to the Kaua‘i Historical Society.
Under Guslander’s command, the Coco Palms became synonymous with Hawaiian hospitality. The hotelier, who was born in Pennsylvania, “epitomized what it meant to be Hawaiian even though she didn’t have one ounce of Hawaiian blood,” Andersland said.
In its heyday, the Coco Palms attracted Hollywood stars such as Elvis Presley, Rita Hayworth and Frank Sinatra.
Today, people rely on old photographs and relics to imagine what the Coco Palms used to be — a tropical oasis filled with fishponds and coconut groves.
In 1991, Guslander donated her museum collection at the Coco Palms to the Kaua‘i Historical Society, which currently resides in storage.
While the Coco Palms has yet to recover from the devastation caused by the hurricane in 1992, fond memories still resonate with the people who were a part of the Coco Palms.
“We encourage people to come out and celebrate Guslander,” Andersland said. “It’s important to keep history alive and honor those before us.”
Tickets for the pa‘ina are $65, and are available at the Kaua‘i Historical Society, Savage Pearls in Hanalei, Ship Store Galleries in Kapa‘a, Pictures Plus at Kukui Grove Center, Hilo Hattie in Lihu‘e and Aloha ‘n Paradise in Waimea. For more information, call 245-3373.
• Andrea Frainier, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or afrainier@thegardenisland.com.
