Coconut Island Bridge Collapse Closes Hilo Park

Published on Nov 21, 2025, 6:47 pm CST

6 min read

Key points

Coconut Island bridge collapse in Hilo on November 14, 2025 has closed Mokuola park until further notice
The pedestrian bridge is the only access to Coconut Island, so grassy picnic and swimming areas are off limits for now
The collapse happened as a county crew drove a mini excavator across the nearly 60 year old bridge to clear storm debris
No serious injuries were reported, but repairs are estimated at about $2 million and could take 18 to 24 months
Visitors staying in Hilo hotels near Banyan Drive must plan alternative bayfront walks and picnic spots while Mokuola remains closed

Impact

Where Impacts Are Most Likely: Expect closures and barriers around the Coconut Island bridge and shoreline entrance near Liliuokalani Gardens, with no public access to the island itself
Best Times To Visit: Bayfront promenades and nearby parks remain open, so visit in early morning or late afternoon to enjoy Hilo waterfront views without expecting access to Mokuola
Onward Travel And Changes: Travelers who chose Hilo hotels specifically for easy Coconut Island access should adjust plans toward other parks, swimming spots, and short drives around Hilo Bay
What Travelers Should Do Now: Confirm with Hilo accommodations how this closure affects walking plans, avoid the barricaded bridge area, and pivot picnics and family outings to nearby parks
Health And Safety Factors: Respect closure signs, avoid attempting to wade or boat across to the island, and keep children away from the damaged bridge structure and shoreline work zones

The Coconut Island bridge collapse in Hilo, Hawaii, on November 14, 2025, has closed Mokuola park and cut off the short pedestrian walk from Banyan Drive hotels to one of the bayfront's most popular picnic and swimming spots. County crews were driving a mini excavator across the pedestrian bridge around 7:40 a.m. when a section gave way, sending part of the nearly 60 year old structure into Hilo Bay and forcing an immediate shutdown of the island. The worker operating the equipment was taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center as a precaution and released the same day, so the main ongoing risk is structural rather than medical. Visitors who had planned to walk out for views, swims, or family photos now need to rework Hilo itineraries around alternative parks and shoreline walks.

The net effect is that the Coconut Island bridge collapse in Hilo has shut Mokuola, or Coconut Island, indefinitely, removing a key bayfront attraction from Big Island itineraries and forcing travelers to substitute other parks while repairs are planned and funded.

Coconut Island Bridge Collapse In Hilo: What Happened

According to Hawaii Police Department and county statements, the partial bridge collapse happened at about 7:40 a.m. on November 14, 2025, as county crews drove an approximately 8,000 pound mini excavator over the span to clear debris left by high surf. A middle section of the bridge buckled, leaving the deck hanging into the water and making the only route to the island unsafe. Police and parks officials estimate the damage at around $2 million and have barred access to both the bridge and Mokuola park until engineers can assess the structure and install safety measures.

Hawaii County emphasizes that the precise cause is still under investigation, and it is not yet clear whether the excavator's weight, unseen corrosion, or a combination of factors triggered the failure. Barricades now block the approach, and signs instruct the public to stay away so inspectors, structural engineers, and construction teams can work without interference.

How Long Repairs May Take

County leaders have already warned that this will not be a quick fix. In comments to local media, officials said the bridge's age, its location over water, and the number of state and federal agencies involved could push repairs into an 18 to 24 month project once a plan is agreed and permits are in hand. Separate statements from Hawaii County and the Department of Parks and Recreation confirm that they are working with structural engineers to define the scope, design repairs or replacement, and lock in funding, but no start date has been announced.

For travelers, this means Coconut Island is unlikely to be accessible for at least several upcoming peak seasons, including winter surf months and summer family travel windows, and possibly for multiple years. While timelines can tighten or stretch once contracts are signed, visitors should not plan trips around access to Mokuola until formal reopening dates are published.

Background: Mokuola's Role In Hilo

Mokuola, whose name is often translated as "island of life" or "healing island," sits in Hilo Bay just offshore from Liliuokalani Gardens and is connected to the shoreline by the now damaged pedestrian bridge. The small park combines a large grassy field, picnic tables, pavilions, a few sandy entries into the bay, and a tower that locals and visitors use for supervised jumps into deeper water. For many Hilo residents, it is both a daily recreation spot and a place layered with cultural stories about healing, refuge, and family gatherings.

The bridge itself is part of the routine rhythm of Hilo stays, especially for guests at hotels along Banyan Drive who expect to stroll across for sunrise views or short swims before venturing farther afield to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or other Big Island attractions. Its sudden loss turns what used to be an easy, car free add on into an off limits area that visitors can now only see from the shore.

Impacts On Hilo Stays And Itineraries

The most immediate impact is that there is no legal way to reach Coconut Island. The bridge is the only designed entrance and exit, and county notices stress that wading, paddling, or boating across to the island while the structure is compromised is not allowed. Families that might have planned an afternoon of jumps from the tower, shoreline barbecues, or children's swimming in the island's shallow areas will need to relocate to other parks and beaches.

Hilo's wider waterfront remains open, so travelers can still enjoy walks through Liliuokalani Gardens, viewpoints along Banyan Drive, and other small parks along the bay. However, those hoping for the specific combination of a short bridge walk, lawn space, and protected swimming coves will not find an exact substitute nearby. Advising clients or companions accurately will be especially important for trips that were marketed or imagined around easy walking access to Coconut Island from specific hotels.

The closure also has knock on effects for event planners and locals, since weddings, community picnics, and informal meetups that once used Mokuola's pavilions and lawns must move elsewhere until the bridge is rebuilt. That creates more competition for other bayfront shelters and may leave some groups looking inland or shifting dates.

What Travelers Should Do

For travelers already booked into Hilo, the key is to treat Coconut Island as unavailable for the foreseeable future and plan days around alternative sites. Reach out to hotels along Banyan Drive to ask what changes they recommend, since many properties have updated local walking maps or can steer guests to less crowded parks and tidal areas that still work for picnics, sunrise walks, or supervised children's swimming.

Visitors planning future Big Island trips should keep an eye on Hawaii County and local news updates rather than assuming a quick reopening. Until there is a formal construction timeline and reopening date, it is safer to frame Coconut Island as a viewpoint from the Hilo shore, not a guaranteed stop. For travelers with mobility considerations, remember that the loss of the bridge removes one of the shortest, flattest waterfront walks in town, so ensure replacement plans match the group's access needs.

Above all, respect the barricades and police instructions around the damaged bridge. Climbing fences for photographs, sending drones into work zones, or trying to reach the island by improvised means adds risk for both visitors and the crews working on assessments and repairs. Hilo's bayfront still offers plenty of space to enjoy the water, light, and views while the community, engineers, and officials decide how best to restore safe access to this small but significant island.

Sources

Topics

Hawaii