Walt,

>Is there an easy to get coconut meat out of the shell??

You might consider getting an East Indian grater. The original
version is a narrow plank that is raised a few inches off the ground.
You place your foot on the plank. At the far end is a oval metal
blade jutting outwards in the horizontal plane. The coconut is
broken into two halves. Then each halve is moved across the
serrated metal blade. The halve is moved around and rotated,
while the plank is held stationary by the foot. There are
variations you can buy in ethnic stores, which clamp onto
kitchen counters and work in similar fashion. It is easy and
quick.

Roy