(BIVN) – Kilauea Avenue in Downtown Hilo was closed on Sunday as police and road crews were back working on the recently fallen banyan tree, and this time they were investigating reports of human remains. 

UPDATE – (6:53 p.m.) – Police later confirmed the discovery of two deceased women within the debris of the downed banyan tree. “Preliminary observations indicate the women were likely struck by falling tree limbs,” police reported. The full news release is published below.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department issued an alert at around noon on July 20th, informing the public of the Kilauea Ave closure between Mohouli Street and Pauahi Street. The closure was in effect while “road crews clear the fallen banyan tree and police investigate reports of human remains found for the next 6 hours.” 

The road was reopened by early Sunday evening. 

Photo of crews working on the fallen banyan tree on the side of Kilauea Avenue in Hilo on Sunday, July 20th.

The landmark banyan tree fell across Kilauea Avenue on Saturday, July 12th, blocking the road and knocking down power lines. Portions of the tree fell across The Calvary Chapel Hilo, and covered a vehicle under its branches. 

At the time, there were no reported injuries. 

Since then, the tree was removed from the road and the power lines were restored. However, the mountain of roots and branches has remained, off the road, in the location where it toppled. 

UPDATE – (6:55 p.m.) – From the Hawaiʻi Police Department:

Hawai‘i Island police have recovered the remains of two women from within the debris of a downed banyan tree on Kīlauea Avenue in Hilo.

On Sunday afternoon, July 20, 2025, personnel from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Fire Department (HFD), and a body removal service extricated the remains of two adult females from deep within the banyan tree, which had fallen on Saturday, July 12.

Earlier in the day, the department announced it had launched an investigation after human remains were discovered in the tree debris.

Crews from the Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works, a county-contracted tree trimming company, and HFD spent several hours cutting away large branches to allow access to the victims. Preliminary observations indicate the women were likely struck by falling tree limbs.

Both women were pronounced dead at 4:28 p.m.

Autopsies will be conducted later this week to determine the exact cause of death. However, police do not suspect foul play at this time. The identities of the victims are pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

Police ask anyone with information related to this investigation to contact Detective Sybastian Keltner of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378 or via email at sybastian.keltner@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.