Nearly four years before an 8,000-pound county excavator collapsed part of Coconut Island’s pedestrian bridge in Hilo, engineers had already classified the structure as being in “serious condition.” They documented extensive deterioration and estimated repairs at about $1.35 million, including design and permitting. Now Hawaii County is looking at as much as $22 million for a temporary crossing and permanent replacement.
We’ve visited the closed bridge multiple times and reported what we saw firsthand, including the fencing, closure signs, and visitors arriving at what had always been an easy walk to the island, then turning around. When we last covered the extraordinary costs in April, our readers were already demanding answers.
For local families, the loss has been much more personal. Our reader Vivian recalled learning to swim, fishing, and spending time there with friends and family, and described how deeply the closure has affected people who grew up with Coconut Island.
Native Hawaiians know Coconut Island as Mokuola, or “healing island.” Long before it became a public park, people regarded it as a sacred place of healing and refuge, where they sought the restorative qualities of its waters. Families also brought newborns’ umbilical cords here to keep them safe beneath a special stone, a tradition that connects the island to life and protection.
Coconut Island Bridge was already in serious condition in 2022.
The January 2022 inspection documented deteriorating concrete and exposed, corroding steel. Engineers nevertheless allowed continued pedestrian use, with restrictions on large gatherings and maintenance vehicles.
The county proposed $2.5 million for bridge repairs in 2022 and announced handrail work that March. But we found no confirmation that the county completed the recommended structural repairs before the collapse, or that the engineering findings explicitly permitted the 8,000-pound excavator.
On the day the bridge collapsed, county spokesperson Tom Callis said officials were already negotiating a design contract for rehabilitation or replacement. That still doesn’t explain what happened to the earlier repair recommendations.
The mayor said heavy equipment had crossed for years.
Mayor Kimo Alameda defended the employee whose excavator collapsed part of the bridge in November 2025. “It wasn’t his fault,” he said in October, explaining that similar equipment had crossed for years. The county says it reinforced the bridge deck in the early 2000s and posted no weight limit.
Despite the documented deterioration, similar equipment kept crossing the bridge, and Alameda acknowledged the bridge wasn’t even among the county’s top 20 priorities. Yet it was the only public way onto Coconut Island, leaving everyone who used the park dependent on a structure the county already knew needed attention. Whether maintenance crews knew about the engineering findings remains unanswered.
How the proposed costs reached $22 million.
When we reported the proposed $20 million permanent replacement in April, our reader Mark asked, “How did the cost of the fix go up 10 times?” He also questioned why the public was bearing the financial and practical consequences of a county equipment accident. His reaction was hardly unusual among the comments.
The original $1.35 million estimate was for repairs, not replacement. The county now projects $20 million for a permanent bridge and up to $2 million for temporary bridge access, with Coconut Island remaining off-limits while those plans take shape.
The $20 million proposal also includes seawalls, utilities, and other park improvements, making it hard to separate the actual bridge cost. Alameda says federal funding could cover most or all of the replacement, but we haven’t seen a final award or a clear breakdown.
Coconut Island could reopen next summer.
That’s encouraging news for people awaiting its return. Alameda now says temporary bridge construction could begin as soon as January 2027, with pedestrian access potentially restored in June or July. That’s more specific and potentially sooner than the lengthy construction timeline we reported in April, though permitting and construction are still pending.
For visitors, reopening would restore one of Hilo’s easiest shoreline outings, close to Banyan Drive and Queen Liliuokalani Gardens, which remain accessible.
Have you visited Coconut Island in Hilo, and what do you think about the county’s handling of the bridge collapse, the prolonged closure, and the extraordinary cost of restoring access?
Photo Credit: © Beat of Hawaii at Coconut Island, Hilo.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
Some of the most meaningful parts of Hawaii are the ones visitors walk right past without knowing they are there. We’ve spent nearly 20 years finding them firsthand for BOH as full-time Hawaii residents reporting on travel, culture, and island life, and telling you what they mean for your trip. Join us →
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Hawaii doesn’t do maintenance. Once built,it’s expected to last forever with no upkeep. Hell,we don’t even cut the grass!
The Coconut Island foot bridge immense cost is certainly not a result of inflation. It is a result of Inflated numbers. Look directly at the people in charge of giving approval to such absurd outlays of citizen taxes, and the Mayor who should be overseeing the process.
It is also very telling that you have this little footbridge now supposedly costing over $20 million to fix, while you have a few miles of road improvements, traffic circles, and side walks being done in Poipu for $71 million. Compare the two. Does that make sense to anybody?
When will the citizens of Hawaii start examining these absurd expenditures of their tax dollars and make the people they elect accountable? Time for Big changes at the ballot box.