Litany of injustices
An Aug. 16, 2020, article in The Garden Island quoted the project architect for Coco Palms hotel development, Ron Agor: “The concrete in the surviving shells of what were once the hotel’s main buildings is so severely deteriorated that it may be necessary to cut off the framing of all of the third floors.”
Following up, at an August 2022 Planning Commission meeting, the hotel’s developers promised they would be demolishing the old hotel structure “within six months”.
Now in a Feb 1, 2023, TGI article, “Kaua‘i Planning Commission meeting sparks Coco Palms revelations,” Agor is reported to have testified that developers have reversed course and are now pursuing renovation rather than demolition of structures closest to the highway.
“After looking into it, we found that the structure is non conforming and if we were to take it down we wouldn’t be able to rebuild it,” he said.
So the developers will move forward with a hotel intended to accommodate hundreds of guests knowing the supporting structure through decades of seaside exposure has experienced severe spalling of concrete and rusting metal.
Reef Capital, the developers, should have responded to Mr Agor’s finding by retaining forensic structural engineers to analyze the integrity of the old hotel’s basic structure and worthiness to support a new hotel for another 50 years of the hotel’s lifetime. But they didn’t. And no government agency has come forward to make them.
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources, the county Planning Department, Building Division of the Department of Public Works, and Planning Commission could have acted. Instead, they have all been bystanders at best, abetting the colonialist tradition of exploiting Kaua‘i’s natural resources for profits for wealthy investors at the expense of preserving local culture and lifestyle.
Concern for the proposed building’s integrity is only a subset in the litany of injustices Wailaunuiaho‘ano will experience if this project succeeds. It is an object lesson of government over time bending to the will of the development industry.
Kip Goodwin, Kapa‘a
On and on this goes and where it stops no one seems to know. It is now beginning to look like we in the Eastside have been driving through a one lane expansion, for 3 years, for the benefit of this hotel? A hotel that in my opinion a vast majority of folks here DO NOT WANT! Who has been making the money on this never ending project? Who has to drive through the very congested morning traffic in this area? Afternoon traffic, headaches! Sure looks like all this improvement is going to benefit stockholders or investors in whoever gets their name on this monstrosity. Whoever they are I’m pretty sure they don’t live here, or do some of them. How long now do we look at a black tarp monstrosity while stuck in traffic!
The Planning Commission should be ashamed of their collective selves, especially Miss Sustainability Helen Cox who is constantly lecturing everyone else about making responsible choices for the environment.
Do what is right for the public and the owners. There is a middle ground. Seek it. When the improvements have been made and opening the property is approaching, name it “The Larry Rivera Resort” to honor not only Larry, but the many others that worked there with him. Have photos of past employees like Charlie making one of his throw nets, and others that are similar. Honor past Hawaiian royalty too. Just my thoughts.