“Wherever you go and in all that you do, remember to carry the Love & Aloha of Kaua’i with you.”
- Larry Rivera
Lawrence “Larry” Rivera was born in Kekaha, Kaua’i on September 14, 1930 to Policarpio and Rose Rivera, and raised with siblings: Leolani, Annie, Arthur Sr., Manuel “Sonny”and Ernie.
For 68 years, Larry was married to and celebrated life with his darling wife, Gloria Rivera, raising their six children at their family home in Wailua Homesteads: Lurline (Michael) Fernandez, Dwayne Rivera, Ilima Rivera, Derek (Ada) Rivera, Leilani (Darryl) Low, Larry Jr. (Pam) Rivera, plus dozens of grand and great grandchildren, and their names are…
In 1951, Larry graduated from Kapa’a High School, and in 1954 while proudly serving in the United States Army, his group - named The Beach Boys - won 1st 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 Early of Sandwich in the early morning, and performed on stage at night. He became the Headlining Entertainer at the famous Coco Palms Hotel in Wailua with the Larry Rivera: Love & 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 of Blue Hawai’i Weddings - 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 as the recipient of multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards, such as from the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and the Hawai’i Music Awards.
On the evening of January 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. His Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at St. Catherine’s Church in Kapa’a, burial at Kaua’i Memorial Gardens and reception with friends and family at the Kaua’i Veterans Center in Lihu’e.
To this day, if you’re in Wailua by the Coco Palms lagoon and you listen closely, some say you’ll start to hear Larry playing his ‘ukulele and singing from heaven where Elvis Presley and Pattie Page are singing backup for him.