Hawaii County has initiated the planning phase for a full reconstruction of the pedestrian bridge connecting Waiakea Peninsula to Moku‘ola (Coconut Island), following its collapse in November 2025. The structure failed on 14 November after a county-operated mini-excavator crossed the elevated walkway to conduct routine park maintenance.
Originally opened in 1969, the bridge had long served as a pedestrian link but also periodically accommodated small maintenance equipment such as mini-excavators.
After consulting with an engineering expert, the Department of Parks and Recreation determined that focused reconstruction, rather than a partial repair of the damaged segment, would offer a safer and more effective long-term solution for restoring access to the popular island park.
The County is now negotiating a contract with a consultant to undertake comprehensive planning and design work for the new bridge. Once finalised, the contract is expected to detail the project scope, design requirements, anticipated costs and initial schedule milestones. Officials anticipate the agreement will be executed in February, allowing the planning process to begin shortly thereafter.
County Parks & Recreation director Clayton Honma stated that although emergency procurement was initially considered, engineering guidance supported allocating resources toward a full redesign rather than temporary remediation. The forthcoming planning phase will include an environmental assessment to meet Hawaii's environmental regulatory requirements.
More information, including the selected consultant, contract value, scope of work and projected timelines, will be released once the agreement is officially signed.
