KAPULE PALMS

Located on the Wailua Coast on the island of Kauai, rests a site encompassed by coconut trees and a strong cultural history. Until 1853, the site, including the water front and the Wailua River – the state’s only navigable river – was home to Kauai’s royal family. When the last monarch, Queen Deborah Kapule, passed away in August of that year, the land surrounding the river was sold, and was soon developed into what is known today as one of Hawaii’s most iconic resorts ever to exist – Coco Palms. Drastically, however, this hotel was destroyed when Hurricane Iniki struck the island in 1992. Since then, the site has been left decaying, reminding visitors of the unfortunate past it has endured. 

Today, the abandoned site is left untouched. The time has come to develop the land back to the iconic place it once was. Of course, the cultural aspect of the site won’t be harmed, as the new resort – Kapule Palms – will enhance the cultural integrity of the region and provide guests with a true, authentic Hawaiian experience. 

Kapule Palms takes into account the restraints of the resort’s previous design and turns these restraints into opportunities. Looking at current trends in sea level rise and climate change, the resort’s new design reacts to various environmental ideologies in order to accommodate any potential future changes in the island’s ecological typologies.