Coco Palms Kimpton Kauai

Coco Palms, A Kimpton Resort in Kauai, will open in 2026 after an extensive $400 million reconstruction and renovation of the property, the setting of “Blue Hawaii” starring Elvis Presley. Located in Wailua, only an 8-minute drive from the Lihue Airport (LIH), the resort fronts Wailua Beach and is a short drive from Wailua Falls and hiking trails.

The reconstruction and renovation will reduce the number of rooms and suites to 350, spread across three low-rise hotel structures as well as cottages. The resort itself encompasses 15 acres, and will have three outdoor swimming pools, a shoreline restaurant, pool bar, rooftop bar, and spa.

There will also be a cultural center and museum that hosts Hawaiiana exhibits, lectures, and activities, serving to educate both visitors and residents alike of the surrounding area’s native culture, rich history and flourishing artistic community.

While Kimpton is IHG's lifestyle brand and not high-end luxury, it's still good to see a renovated property slated to open on Kauai, which is lacking when it comes to upscale properties. There's no Four Seasons resort (the brand's four Hawaii resorts are on Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii, Lanai, and Oahu), no Rosewood, Montage, or Ritz-Carlton, and the fairly new 1 Hotel Hanalei (previously the St. Regis Princeville) has been getting mixed reviews.

Coco Palms Perks for TravelSort Clients

We'll have to wait and see whether Coco Palms becomes a Virtuoso member, but at the minimum, TravelSort Clients will enjoy IHG Lifestyle benefits when it opens. Current IHG Lifestyle benefits include: