Hawaiʻi County will rebuild the pedestrian bridge connecting Waiākea Peninsula to Mokuola, commonly known as Coconut Island, opting for full reconstruction after an engineering review determined that repairing the damaged structure would not be the safest long-term option.
The elevated bridge, the only pedestrian access to the island, partially collapsed Nov. 14 while county workers were transporting maintenance equipment to Coconut Island. A section of the walkway gave way as a mini excavator crossed the structure, prompting the immediate and indefinite closure of the popular island park.
Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma told Aloha State Daily engineers concluded that rebuilding the bridge would better address structural concerns than attempting to repair the portion that failed.
The bridge, built in 1969 just off Banyan Drive, was long used to transport light maintenance equipment needed to care for the island. Honma said the bridge deck was reinforced in the early 2000s to increase its load capacity, and similar equipment had crossed the structure in the past without incident. There was no posted weight limit for the bridge, he said, and the most recent inspection was conducted in 2022.
County officials had previously estimated the cost of repairing or replacing the bridge at about $2 million, but Honma told ASD the county does not yet have an updated cost estimate for reconstruction. That figure will be developed by a planning and design consultant the county is in the process of hiring.
Honma said the county expects to have a consultant under contract in February, with a preliminary cost estimate delivered during the early design phase.
While a firm timeline has not been finalized, the county is tentatively projecting an 18-to-24-month period for design, permitting and construction. Honma said the consultant will play a key role in refining that timeline as regulatory requirements and approval processes are identified.
“The mayor has clearly established this as one of the top priorities for the Department of Parks and Recreation,” Honma told ASD.
Honma said the rebuilt bridge will include a formal maintenance program tailored to its design and construction materials, providing long-term guidance for county upkeep.
Public access to Coconut Island will remain closed throughout the reconstruction period. County officials said requests for limited cultural access may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Coconut Island, also known by its Hawaiian name Mokuola, is a small island park in Hilo Bay near Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens. Historically, the island served as a place of healing and refuge, where those who broke kapu could seek protection and where families buried the piko, or umbilical cords, of newborns to symbolize life, health and connection to lineage.
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