Hilo’s Coconut Island Footbridge to Be Fully Rebuilt After Collapse

Hawaiʻi County will fully replace the pedestrian footbridge that links Mokuʻola, commonly called Coconut Island, to the Waiākea shoreline after a partial collapse during maintenance. The bridge buckled on Nov. 14, 2025, while county crews were driving a mini-excavator across the span. No one was seriously injured, but the failure exposed structural vulnerabilities that county engineers now say are best addressed with a complete rebuild rather than a series of repairs.

Initial damage estimates circulated around $2 million. Hawaiʻi County Parks and Recreation concluded after an engineering review that full reconstruction would better ensure long-term structural integrity than piecemeal fixes. County officials also warned that the project will face extended timelines because of permitting, engineering and environmental-review requirements. Earlier county guidance estimated repair-related work could take 18 to 24 months; the full-build decision changes the project scope but not the need for interagency reviews.

As of the county announcement on Jan. 20, 2026, the project was in the design phase. Hawaiʻi County is aiming to have a planning contract in place in February and is coordinating with state and federal agencies to satisfy required reviews and permits before construction can begin. The existing bridge remains closed and Mokuʻola is off-limits to the public until replacement plans are complete and construction proceeds.

The closure removes a familiar access point to the island and restricts pedestrian traffic along the Waiākea shoreline. Mokuʻola is an iconic Hilo landmark with longstanding significance for residents and visitors. Loss of access has immediate recreational and community implications and will alter patterns of use along Hilo Bay while the island is closed. The county’s timeline and funding choices will determine how long that disruption lasts.

Policy and institutional questions follow from the collapse. Hawaiʻi County Parks and Recreation’s decision to pursue full reconstruction signals a preference for durable solutions, but it also raises questions about project funding, maintenance oversight and interagency permitting efficiency. Residents and local leaders will be watching for the February planning contract, details on project financing and clear milestones for design, permitting and construction.

For now, Hilo residents should expect continued closure of Coconut Island and staged updates from Hawaiʻi County as design work progresses and as state and federal reviews move forward. The reconstruction decision prioritizes long-term safety, but it also sets the timetable for when Mokuʻola will return to public use.