Coconut Island is a small island park on Hilo Bay and is reached by crossing over a footbridge near Banyan Drive where the many bay front hotels of Hilo town are located.
The park is a nice place for a swim or picnic, and is also a popular fishing area. Coconut Island facilities include a picnic pavilion and showers.
A small sandy beach is located on the northern side of Coconut Island and children enjoy playing in the park’s shallow, sandy-bottom pools, and this area is also frequented by Hawaiian green sea turtles. There are some trees in the area to provide shade.
Also located on Coconut Island is a stone tower that is the remnant of an old footbridge destroyed by a tidal wave. The remnants now serve as a place to jump into the water.
The tsunami also destroyed a hospital located on the island. A coconut palm tree on Coconut Island shows the high water marks of three different tsunamis that have inundated this area.
Coconut Island provides a nice view of downtown Hilo, the bay front and the surrounding mountains as well as Hilo Bay which is used by boaters, outrigger canoe paddlers, stand up paddlers and other water sports enthusiasts. Community events and concerts are sometimes held on the island.
To reach Coconut Island from Route 11 South (Kanoelehua) turn onto Banyan Drive and turn right after the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. On the left you will see Queen Liliuokalani Park and Gardens and a parking for Coconut Island is located on the right.