Whenever I write about a hotel that’s being built, I like to check back every once in a while to see how things are progressing.
Sometimes there’s clear movement. For example, we’ve seen steady progress on the Hyatt project in Iceland.
Other times… not so much. The planned Fairmont hotel in Orlando, for example, still doesn’t appear to be moving forward.
That brings us back to Kauai.
Checking Back On The Coco Palms Redevelopment
It’s been a while since I last wrote about the long-planned redevelopment of the Coco Palms site on Kauai.
The resort, which has been closed since Hurricane Iniki in 1992, is one of the most famous abandoned hotel properties in Hawaii.
The current plan calls for the property to reopen as a Kimpton resort, making it the first Kimpton property in Hawaii.
A Quiet Project — But Some Interesting Clues
There hasn’t been much public news about the redevelopment lately.
But while looking around for updates, I came across an investment website connected to the project. While it doesn’t provide construction updates, it does offer something arguably more interesting: insight into what the developers expect this property to become.
And based on those materials, the resort appears to be targeting the luxury end of Hawaii’s hotel market.
Aiming For Kauai’s Luxury Market
According to the information presented to investors, the resort is being positioned alongside Kauai’s higher-end hotels.
One slide in the investor materials compares Kauai’s overall lodging market with the luxury segment the developers expect the resort to compete in.
The numbers suggest the developers believe the property will be able to command nightly rates comparable to those of other luxury resorts on the island.
That would put it in the same general pricing territory as properties like the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa or 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on Kauai’s north shore. But unlike those properties, the Coco Palms site is not directly on the ocean.
The property sits near the Wailua River on Kauai’s east side. While it’s close to the coast, it doesn’t have the same beachfront setting as many of the island’s most expensive resorts.
That makes the developer’s expectations particularly interesting. They appear to believe the property can compete in Kauai’s luxury tier despite that difference in location.
Comparable To Kimpton’s Other Luxury Resorts
If those price targets sound ambitious, they’re actually in line with pricing at some of Kimpton’s most upscale resort properties.
For example, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman often charges $900 or more per night during peak travel periods, with suites climbing much higher.
That resort sits on Seven Mile Beach and is widely considered one of the flagship resort properties in the Kimpton portfolio.
In other words, the pricing targets shown in the Coco Palms materials don’t suggest a typical boutique Kimpton. They suggest the developers believe this can become one of the brand’s true luxury resort properties.
Final Thoughts
It’s still too early to know whether those expectations will play out. The project has had a long and complicated history, and there’s still no firm opening date announced.
But if the investor materials are any indication, the new Kimpton resort planned for the Coco Palms site isn’t trying to recreate the past.
Instead, it looks like the developers are aiming squarely at Hawaii’s luxury traveler.
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