KAUAI
Kauai lifeguards recovered the body of a 53-year-old woman Saturday after she became distressed while swimming off Kauai’s North Shore, Kauai officials said.
Kauai police identified the woman as Janet Ballesteros of Hanamaulu.
A state park ranger reported Ballesteros was in distress off Hanakapiai Beach at about 11:30 a.m. Firefighters, lifeguards and the Coast Guard responded.
Lifeguards found Ballesteros’ body in a nearby cave but couldn’t reach her because of the high surf.
Eventually, lifeguards were able to bring Ballesteros out of the cave and transfer her to a fire helicopter, which brought her to the Kee Beach landing zone, where she was pronounced dead.
Kauai authorities urged beachgoers to avoid beaches without lifeguards along east and south shores during a high-surf warning in effect through 6 p.m. today.
Demolition phase almost complete for Coco Palms
WAILUA, Kauai >> A resort featured in the 1961 Elvis Presley movie “Blue Hawaii” and destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992 is nearing the end of its demolition phase.
The $3.5 million partial demolition of the Coco Palms Resort is part of a $175 million renovation, the Garden Island reported.
“We hope to be done by the end of the year with demo and start construction in January,” said Tyler Greene, co-owner of Coco Palms Hui LLC.
Greene and his business partner, Chad Waters, started work on the project in 2012.
The demolition is expected to be done by the end of this year, with construction possibly starting as soon as January.
The resort is expected to reopen in 2018 as one of Hyatt brand’s upscale luxury properties.
Board of Land and Natural Resources members gave approval in October to permit the temporary use of state land on the property while renovations are underway.
