Larry Rivera

Lawrence ‘Larry’ Rivera

On the evening of Jan. 30, 2023, at the age of 92, legendary and beloved Kaua‘i entertainer Lawrence “Larry” Rivera peacefully passed away at the Garden Isle Healthcare Center in Lihu‘e after a brief battle with cancer.

Larry was born on Sept. 14, 1930 in Kekaha, to Policarpio and Rose Rivera (deceased). He lived in Wailua Homesteads and is survived by his darling wife of 68 years, Gloria Rivera, and children Lurline (Michael) Fernandez, Dwayne Rivera, Ilima Rivera, Derek (Ada) Rivera, Leilani (Darryl) Low, Larry Jr. (Pam) Rivera, plus dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and their names are…

In 1951, Larry graduated from Kapa‘a High School, and in 1952 while proudly serving in the U.S. Army, his group — named The Beach Boys — won first place in the All Army Talent Show, beating out over 35 other Army bands.

After his military service, Larry held a series of jobs, including busboy, waiter, bartender, and worked in the breakfast room The Earl of Sandwich in the early morning and performed on stage at night. He became the headline entertainer at the famous Coco Palms Hotel in Wailua, with Larry Rivera’s Love and Aloha Show, featuring his family. After his main show, he also hosted the Nightcap with Larry in the lounge.

For over 75 years — as a singer, songwriter, musician, comedian, and even wedding officiant and coordinator — Larry shared his love and aloha for Kaua‘i by composing over a hundred songs about the island paradise, releasing 14 albums, and performing for hundreds of thousands of visitors and locals from throughout Hawai‘i and from around the world.

For his contributions to Hawai‘i music, as an ambassador of aloha and as “Mr. Coco Palms,” Larry won numerous honors, including being the recipient of two Lifetime Achievement Awards — one from the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and another from the Hawai‘i Music Awards.

To this day, if you’re in Wailua by the Coco Palms lagoon and you listen closely, some say you will start to hear Larry playing his ‘ukulele and singing from heaven, where Elvis Presley and Pattie Page are singing backup for him.

Back here on earth, Larry’s celebration of life is Saturday, Feb. 25, at St. Catherine Church in Kapa‘a. Visitation starts at 9:30 a.m., Mass at noon and burial to follow at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Lihu‘e. For additional details, go to LarryRiveraKauai.com.

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