Jury Trial to Begin for Fatal Hilo Tree Fall
A wrongful death lawsuit regarding a 2025 tree collapse in Hilo moves to a jury trial in September 2027.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Accidents
A jury trial is set for September 2027 following a wrongful death lawsuit over a banyan tree that fell on Kilauea Avenue on July 12, 2025. The incident resulted in the deaths of 48-year-old Michelle Katrina Noelani Comer and 35-year-old Trisha Jaye Almazan.
Why it matters
The litigation targets multiple entities, alleging negligence and gross negligence in the maintenance and inspection of a tree previously designated as exceptional. The outcome could establish liability standards for managing hazardous vegetation in public spaces.
A formal settlement conference is set for July 26, 2027, ahead of the jury trial. Defendants include the state, the county, Hawaii Electric, Hawaiian Telcom, and Imua Landscaping and Tree Works.
The players
Michelle Katrina Noelani Comer
The 48-year-old victim who died in the collapse of the banyan tree on Kilauea Avenue.
Trisha Jaye Almazan
The 35-year-old victim who died in the collapse of the banyan tree on Kilauea Avenue.
Kamehameha Schools
A private educational institution in Hawaii that owns the building damaged by the falling tree.
Imua Landscaping and Tree Works
One of the defendants named in the wrongful death lawsuit regarding the tree maintenance.
The details
The banyan tree, designated as an exceptional tree in 1999, uprooted and collapsed into a state-owned parking lot near Wailoa Pond, also damaging a building owned by Kamehameha Schools. The victims were discovered eight days after the collapse and were determined to have died of mechanical asphyxiation.
Timeline
1999: The county designated the banyan tree as an exceptional tree.
July 12, 2025: The tree fell on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo.
July 20, 2025: The bodies of the victims were discovered.
July 26, 2027: A formal settlement conference is scheduled to take place.
September 2027: A jury trial is scheduled to begin.
Legal Context
The case highlights the legal implications of Hawaii's exceptional tree statutes regarding municipal liability for natural failures. It marks a significant challenge to the maintenance obligations associated with trees designated as historically or environmentally significant by the county.
The lawsuit underscores the potential hazards posed by legacy vegetation near public walkways and parking areas in Hilo. Residents are advised to report concerns regarding overhanging or unstable trees on public property to local authorities.
The takeaway
Maintaining urban forests requires a balance between preserving historical trees and ensuring public safety through active inspection. Property owners and municipal agencies may face significant legal exposure if oversight of designated exceptional trees fails to prevent structural collapse.
What happens next
A formal settlement conference is scheduled for July 26, 2027, followed by the commencement of the jury trial in September 2027.
Further reading
For ongoing updates regarding local incidents, visit the Accidents section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Honolulu Star Advertiser.
