Hilo, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Island police have launched an investigation after human remains were discovered today, Sunday, July 20, 2025, within the debris of a large banyan tree that recently collapsed on Kīlauea Avenue in Hilo.
At approximately 9:41 a.m., police responded to the area following reports from the public of possible human remains located deep within the fallen tree. Hawaiʻi Fire Department personnel confirmed the presence of the remains but were unable to immediately extricate them due to safety concerns given the unstable nature of the large tree’s debris.
Road crews are now responding to the site to assist in clearing the heavy debris, which will allow detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section to continue their investigation and recovery efforts. As a result, Kīlauea Avenue, specifically between Mohouli Street and Pauahi Street, will be closed while crews work and police conduct their search and recovery.
This discovery adds a somber new dimension to the incident involving the banyan tree, which had previously fallen across Kīlauea Avenue, impacting Calvary Chapel Hilo and a vehicle. An earlier report detailed efforts to correct the Tax Map Key for this specific Chinese Weeping Banyan, which is known to be the same tree that collapsed.
Police are asking anyone who may have information about this incident to contact Detective Sybastian Keltner of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378 or via email at sybastian.keltner@hawaiicounty.gov.