LIHUE — The damage estimate from the Independence Day fire at the Coco Palms Resort is $600,000, Kauai Fire Department officials said Monday. The cause of the midday fire remains under investigation, said Capt. Daryl Date of the Fire Prevention
LIHUE — The damage estimate from the Independence Day fire at the Coco Palms Resort is $600,000, Kauai Fire Department officials said Monday.
The cause of the midday fire remains under investigation, said Capt. Daryl Date of the Fire Prevention unit.
The blaze destroyed the main lobby and an adjoining office structure was so badly burned it had to be knocked down to allow the firefighters to soak other exposed areas with foam. The breezeway that connected two wings of the hotel was also badly burned. The fire was fully extinguished on Sunday.
The resort is scheduled for a $125 million renovation. Calls to the project developer, Coco Palms Hui LLC, were not returned Tuesday.
Meanwhile, things are mostly back to normal at the famous Wailua destination. Despite the damage, site manager Bob Jasper continued with his regular 2 p.m. tours of the Coco Palms grounds, although tours no longer stop in the lobby.
