Hawaii resort in Elvis movie undergoes big renovation

WAILUA, Hawaii – A resort featured in the 1961 Elvis Presley movie “Blue Hawaii” and destroyed in a 1992 hurricane is nearing the end of its demolition phase.

The $3.5 million partial demolition of the Coco Palms resort is part of a $175 million renovation, the Garden Island reported (http://bit.ly/2eV2C0Y).

“We hope to be done by the end of the year with demo and start construction in January,” said Tyler Greene, co-owner of Coco Palms Hui, LLC.

Greene and his business partner Chad Waters started work on the project in 2012.

The demolition is expected to be done by the end of this year, with construction possibly starting as soon as January

The resort is expected to reopen in 2018 as one of the Hyatt brand’s upscale luxury properties.

Board of Land and Natural Resources members gave approval in October to permit the temporary use of state land on the property while renovations are underway.

Kauai geologist Chuck Blay plans to survey Wailua Beach in anticipation of future use with the reopening of Coco Palms.

The beach “has had a history of going almost completely away over past decades,” he said. “We would like to learn more about how and why it may fluctuate from a beautiful, full, wide beach to almost nothing within months or even weeks.”

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Information from: The Garden Island, http://thegardenisland.com/