The redeveloped Coco Palms Resort on Kauai will be a Kimpton Hotel, according to a news release. This will be the first Kimpton Hotel in Hawaii.
Kimpton Hotel and Restaurants, which is part of the British hospitality company IHG Hotels and Resorts, plans to open the new Coco Palms in 2026.
Coco Palms is owned by Reef Capital Partners, a Utah-based real estate firm, which started the $250 million restoration process in March. Highgate, a hotel management and development firm, will operate the hotel.
Hurricane Iniki damaged the iconic hotel, known for its Hollywood ties, in 1992. In 1961’s “Blue Hawaii,” Elvis Presley’s character gets married at the lagoon at the hotel.
The restored landmark will feature 350 rooms across three low-rise hotels and cottages. The resort will include a 15-acre coconut grove, spa, three swimming pools, a rooftop bar, a pool, and a restored shoreline restaurant. It will also bring back the torch-lighting ceremony, an evening event the original hotel was known for.
However, the long-awaited restoration of Coco Palms has not been without controversy. Community members who oppose rebuilding the hotel have said it is the site of ancient Hawaiian archaeological sites and is on a floodplain and wetland system, which is home to endangered Koloa ducks and other Hawaiian birds.
In the news release, IHG said the new Coco Palms will include a cultural center and museum honoring Kauai.
“It’s a true privilege to bring the first Kimpton resort to Hawaii,” said Jon Day, Chief Financial Officer at Reef Capital Partners in a statement. “IHG shares our belief that the history and culture of this site, especially the pre-contact history, is what distinguishes Coco Palms from other properties and makes it such a magical place. They’re just as committed as we are to preserving its legacy and sharing it with the world.”
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.
