WAILUA — Fire crews from the Kaiakea, Kapaa, Lihue and Kalaheo fire stations responded to a blaze at the Coco Palms Resort, which was reported at 11:58 a.m. Friday. “We were having a family picnic near the Wailua River mouth
WAILUA — Fire crews from the Kaiakea, Kapaa, Lihue and Kalaheo fire stations responded to a blaze at the Coco Palms Resort, which was reported at 11:58 a.m. Friday.
“We were having a family picnic near the Wailua River mouth when we saw the smoke,” said Alan Hiranaka. “When we went up the road to check, the flames were as high as the coconut trees.”
Bob Jasper, caretaker of the Coco Palms Resort, said he was on the property earlier in the day, leaving about 10:30 a.m.
“However the fire started, they were right on my heels,” Jasper said, speaking with Kauai Fire Department inspectors. “It appears the main lobby was damaged, the fire went down the breezeway and appeared to impact the lounge and dining room. At one point, someone said the heat was so intense, the big fiberglass shell hanging over the dining area simply melted.”
Kauai Police Department also joined the Kauai Fire Department in responding to the blaze, one traffic control officer noting they were hoping the wind continued to hold in its direction, blowing in from the ocean.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Coco Palms was badly damaged by Hurricane Iniki in 1992 and stood there since, vacant and deteriorated. There are plans to rebuild it with construction projected to begin later this year if those plans are approved.
Traffic slowed as curiosity seekers craned for better looks, many equipped with cell phones and cameras activated as the line of cars moved past on Kuhio Highway.
“The wind shifted from when the fire started,” Hiranaka said. “When we first noticed the fire, the wind was blowing toward Wailua River. Now, it’s switched to blowing toward the mountains.”
But before shifting, the winds blew embers, some as big as paper plates toward homes lining the Wailua River.
“One of those embers landed on a house and started smoldering,” Hiranaka said. “We had to run across Kuamoo Road to tell the officers the house was on fire. There was a guy on the roof trying to hose it down, but it was too much so one of the fire crews came over to extinguish it.”
The house fire was contained and turned down offers of sharing food from the Hiranaka family at the riverbank.
