Four years before the bridge connecting Hilo to Coconut Island collapsed under the weight of a maintenance vehicle, Hawaii County received an inspection report that detailed extensive structural issues and recommended the span replaced.

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Four years before the bridge connecting Hilo to Coconut Island collapsed under the weight of a maintenance vehicle, Hawaii County received an inspection report that detailed extensive structural issues and recommended the span replaced.

The 2022 report, prepared for the county by Consor Engineers, found the bridge to be in “serious condition.”

“At numerous locations the prestressing strands and mild steel reinforcements are severed or have section loss due to corrosion,” it stated. “Due to the extensive deterioration and environmental conditions, the bridge is recommended for replacement.”

It warned that the issues would continue to get worse over time, stating: “Due to the condition of the structure and the exposure to salt water over its lifetime, the bridge is expected to degrade and worsen unless repairs are conducted.”

The report said the bridge could remain in use in the meantime, as long as restrictions were put in place to limit weight on the structure.

“Based on the current condition, the structure may remain open subject to: prohibiting public gatherings and crowds in the park and on the bridge, and limiting maintenance cart access to one cart per span at a time,” it stated.

It is unclear if such restrictions were put in place or enforced. For years, the park served as a popular gathering location, often crowded with people on the weekends picnicking or jumping into the water from an old stone tower.

The bridge to the park collapsed in November 2025 when a county worker was driving over it in a mini-excavator to preform maintenance in the park.

Since then, the county has estimated it will take several years and about $20 million to replace. The 2022 report estimated the cost of replacing the structure at that time would have been less than $2 million.

“The estimated cost for the design and permitting is approximately $350,000, and estimated construction is approximately $1 million,” it stated.

Mayor Kimo Alameda on Friday said he was aware of the 2022 report when he came into office in 2024, but said that he did not believe the situation posed a threat to the public and that the footbridge was not a priority compared to other projects throughout the county.

“It was up for repair, but it wasn’t high on the list,” he said. “It was down on the list. It was after all the vehicle bridges.”

He said plans for the temporary and replacement bridges are moving forward and that he expected construction to begin on the temporary one in January.

“We’re super excited,” he said. “We got the plans, the design completed for the temporary fix. The temporary fix is going to start. We’re getting permits, we got approvals.”

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He said he hopes it will be completed by June 2026, restoring access to the tiny island while work is underway on the permanent replacement — which will feature some upgrades.

“The permanent bridge is going to be bigger, a little bigger, a little wider,” Alameda said. “The technology on the concrete is super, super strong. … I wanted to make sure that the railings are kind of up to date. And then we want to put lights.”

To fund the project, he said he is hopeful the county will be able to secure federal funding to offset the cost to residents.

“I’m working also so it doesn’t cost the taxpayers dollars,” he said. “So, I already got 80% of the federal government saying — I haven’t seen any writing – but they told us that they’re gonna cover it.”

He said he would continue pursuing additional funding and believes the total cost of the project will likely be less than the estimated $20 million.

In the meantime, residents say they miss having access to the island, which is also known as Mokuola.

“We’d go over there and walk over. It’s a nice place to go. It’s where the locals go and hang out. Now, it’s like, well, you kind of took that away,” said Claire Oswald of Hawaiian Paradise Park.

She was hanging out Friday in Lili‘uokalani Gardens near the bridge, watching a turtle in the water with Michael Oswald, also of HPP.

Michael Oswald said it was disconcerting to know the county had been aware of issues with the bridge before its collapse, and questioned what other known issues may exist that are not being addressed.

“What else? What has been inspected that they’ve got similar types of reports? What are they hanging on to that they’re not reacting to that could potentially have similar instances that would cost us more as taxpayers in the end?” he asked.

But, he added, he still had faith in the mayor’s judgment.

“Given the full context of what the mayor has to balance, maybe he deserves a little bit of grace, being able to figure out what are the highest priorities,” he said. “Because who is in a better position than the mayor to know what the priorities should be?”

While Claire Oswald said she understood that it may not be as critical as highway bridges and other infrastructure, she said Coconut Island has significant value to the community.

“It is important because they come here, and they barbecue, and they bring their kids here, and they all play here, you know?” she said. “And now it’s like, okay, now it’s limited. Their Sunday weekend place to go, they can’t go there.”

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Email Grace Inez Adams at [email protected].