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For years now efforts have been underway to create a path to facilitate the restoration of a large piece of one of Hawaii’s most significant cultural areas in Wailua on Kauai.

Wailuanuiahoano is made up of an array of incredibly important archeological sites, boasting the federally listed Wailua Complex of heiau (designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962) with at least seven sites densely situated in this area and an abundance of moolelo (narrative stories) that refers to the origins of various aspects of Hawaiian culture.

The Coco Palms Hotel was initially established in the 1950s, with only 24 rooms and was famously featured in the Elvis Presley film, “Blue Hawaii.” The hotel was expanded significantly with two giant concrete structures in the 1970s with major disturbance to Hawaiian burial sites and the establishment of at least one mass grave.

The hotel was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. For over 30 years, developers have promised to rebuild the hotel, but the hotel has remained in ruins for much longer than some of the buildings were in operation at all.

There have been hundreds of testimonies to the Kauai Planning Department over the last few years in opposition to continuing hotel permits at this site and in support of community access and restoration to create a place for Native Hawaiian advancement, education, practice, environmental protection and art. Over 14,000 people have signed one of the online petitions against the hotel development.

The increasing controversy surrounding the development of the former Coco Palms Hotel lands is complicated and convoluted largely because of the previously demonstrated failure to follow the existing standards and laws and provide adequate protections for the cultural significance of Wailuanuiahoano and the archeological sites present on the property.

Widespread opposition over the last few years and decades has resulted in the development highlighted in various media outlets, movies and heated conversation for the following reasons:

The ancient fishponds of Queen Kapule and the burial ground of Mahunapuuone are on these former hotel grounds. The ancient fishpond system that the property boasts was modified for an aesthetic pond for the benefit of the hotel, but remains largely intact.

At a time where we are seeing increased support for the restoration of Hawaiian fishpond systems and agricultural knowledge, there is great interest in the restoration and preservation of this critical infrastructure for the benefit of the community and Hawaii, rather than perpetuating its use as a lagoon for a hotel.

At the time Coco Palms was established and construction occurred (1950s through 1970s) there was little respect or protective measures for the iwi kupuna laid to rest in the described Mahunapuuone Cemetery on this property. Much has changed in 50-plus years of environmental and cultural standards and policy, yet hotel developers are granted complete exemption to rebuild on outdated standards in what seems to many as completely outrageous.

To allow, again, for hotel development on a profoundly unique and significant burial ground such as this area encompasses is absolutely repulsive to many. Previous reinterments and mass disturbance here in the 1970s specifically leaves deep wounds and great wrongs that need correction.

‘Environmentally Significant’

All of the cultural aspects aside, the site is environmentally extremely significant also. The site is a floodplain and wetland system that is spring-fed. Endangered Koloa ducks, moorhens and other Hawaiian wetland birds are known to utilize the property.

There quite possibly has already been significant violations of the U.S. Endangered Species Act without the inclusion of a Habitat Conservation Plan. It may also be a violation for a county government to issue permits at all for such development that results in disturbance to the habitat of endangered species without the proper federal oversight.

We cannot pretend we won’t be facing major impacts to this coastal wetland system due to climate changes and rising sea levels. Predictions suggest that more and more of the property will be underwater within a relatively short period of time due to sea-level rise.

There is a need to better manage these sites across the board to ensure environmental services and values are preserved as best as possible as we deal with future environmental uncertainty.

Over the last decade we have revisited our relationship with tourism. We have moved to better manage the industry in a way that does not feel extractive to our people and resources.

Allowing new development of a hotel, even larger and more intrusive than the original on such an important and sensitive sacred site for the benefit of transient guests and out of state developers’ profits goes against the fundamental changes in tourism we are aiming for and perpetuates a system of abuse and extraction from Hawaiian communities, environment and culture.

There is no denying the unique and important place Wailuanuiahoano holds to the Hawaiian people, culture and the future of our sustainability and survival. Just because great injustices were done here in the past, does not mean we continue to build on them and perpetuate them, and allow developers to continue to benefit from the use of our public lands, historical cultural sites and iwi kupuna.

Many agree that this property is so culturally and historically significant that its value to the general public far exceeds any monetary value brought in by the proposed hotel development. Time and time again we hear the call that this site would be better utilized for food production, community building, coastal wetland and environmental restoration, education, cultural practice and art.

The site is so significant it begs to be honored for its ancient history and inherent value to Hawaiians everywhere. The restoration of this site for the benefit of community, culture and the healing speaks to many as the righteous path forward from here. Despite all this, construction of the 350-room hotel here appears to be imminent and has started this week.

One thing everyone seems to agree on is it’s going to be great to finally have the horrible monstrosity eyesore that is the Coco Palms Hotel ruins demolished and not blocking the mountain views.