6-foot fence to protect
vacant Kauai resort

Homeless people were found
entering rooms at Coco Palms

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Associated Press

LIHUE >> A 6-foot fence is being put up around the historic Coco Palms Resort after recent reports from security officers that homeless people had entered vacant hotel rooms, officials said.

Resort owner Wailua Associates obtained a permit for the fence a few weeks ago from the Kauai County Planning Department as a way to reduce liability, said Thomas King, a representative for the owner.

Officials with the state Department of Land & Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division will monitor work that might occur around historic Hawaiian sites on or around the hotel property, King said.

The resort, where the wedding scene in Elvis Presley's 1962 movie "Blue Hawaii" was filmed, operated for about 40 years before it was closed because of damage from Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

The hotel has been on the sale block for a few years, and a proposal to sell the hotel fell through last December. There are no prospective buyers for the property at this time, King said.