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- calendar_today October 27, 2026
Jury Trial Scheduled in Fatal Banyan Tree Collapse Case
A jury trial has been set for September 2027 in the wrongful death lawsuit relating to the tragic collapse of a massive banyan tree on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo, Hawaii, that claimed the lives of two women in July 2025. The proceedings are expected to address questions of negligence and tree maintenance responsibilities among several parties.
Incident Details: Tree Collapse on Kilauea Avenue
On July 12, 2025, a large banyan tree uprooted and fell onto the then-Calvary Chapel Hilo building and the adjacent state-owned parking lot near Wailoa Pond. The incident caused extensive damage to the structure and blocked Kilauea Avenue in both directions for days. Trisha Jaye Almazan, 35, and Michelle Katrina Noelani Comer, 48, were killed after being trapped beneath the fallen tree.
Timeline of Victim Discovery and Cause of Death
Almazan's family reported her missing, but both women's bodies remained undiscovered for eight days. It was only after reports of a foul odor emanating from the debris that authorities conducted a search, finding their bodies amid the tree's rubble. Autopsies performed on July 22, 2025, determined the cause of death for both women as mechanical asphyxiation—meaning their breathing was prevented due to an external force or object restricting their airways or chest movement. The deaths were officially ruled accidental.
Parties Named in the Lawsuit
The families, represented by the Honolulu law firm Leavitt, Yamane and Soldner, filed an amended complaint in late July naming the state, county, Hawaii Electric, Hawaiian Telcom, and Imua Landscaping and Tree Works as defendants. While the property is owned by Kamehameha Schools and was leased to Calvary Chapel Hilo, Kamehameha Schools is not named as a defendant, though the state Department of Land and Natural Resources had suggested shared responsibility for the tree, which had been designated an exceptional tree in 1999.
Lawsuit Alleges Negligence and Maintenance Failures
The wrongful death lawsuit argues that the defendants failed to properly inspect and maintain the banyan tree, as well as the surrounding area, thus failing to protect public safety. It states that all defendants shared responsibility for regular tree trimming and maintenance, especially in accordance with a joint pole agreement involving the county, Hawaiian Electric, and Hawaiian Telcom to perform routine tree trimming to keep utility lines clear as required by public utility safety regulations. The suit alleges these duties were not fulfilled adequately.
The complaint further specifies that the "banyan's canopy extended over utility lines and more than halfway across Kilauea Avenue," presenting a hazard as a result of the alleged lack of sufficient maintenance and warnings of potential danger.
Claims of Pain, Suffering, and Ongoing Emotional Distress
The filing seeks monetary damages, highlighting both negligence and gross negligence that allegedly reflect a "callous disregard and/or callous indifference to the rights and safety of others." It asserts that Almazan and Comer experienced "extreme pain, suffering, anguish, fear of impending death, anxiety, emotional distress and conscious pain and suffering" prior to their deaths. The families are said to continue suffering "serious emotional distress and mental anguish, grief, sorrow" due to their loss.
Broader Impact and Legal Proceedings
The banyan tree collapse not only resulted in tragic fatalities but also caused significant property damage. The Calvary Chapel Hilo has not returned to the damaged building, which remains closed. Cross-claims have been filed among the involved parties, and a formal settlement conference is scheduled for July 26, 2027, ahead of the September trial.
Source: westhawaiitoday.com.
