Police ID 1 of 2 women found dead within twisted canopy of downed banyan tree in Hilo

Hawai‘i Police Department detectives officially identified one of two women found dead and recovered July 20 from within the twisted and tangled branches of a downed banyan tree that uprooted and fell onto Kīlauea Avenue and a nearby church a week prior in Hilo.

She is identified as 35-year-old Trisha Almazan of Kea‘au, whose older sister says had a contagious smile and was always there to help someone in need no matter if she was struggling herself.

The second woman has not yet been officially positively identified; detectives are working to confirm her identity through DNA comparison.

Autopsies on Almazan’s and the other woman’s body were conducted July 22 to determine their exact cause of death after their bodies were extracted from within the massive felled iconic banyan’s branches about 8 days after it came crashing down across Kīlauea Avenue and onto a portion of nearby Calvary Chapel Hilo on the west banks of the Wailoa State Recreation Area lagoon.

The forensic pathologist ruled the cause of death for both women as mechanical asphyxiation. Their manner of death was ruled accidental.

Anyone with information relative to the investigation is asked to contact Detective Sybastian Keltner with Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2378 or via email at Sybastian.Keltner@hawaiipolice.gov.

They can also call the department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-3311.

Hawai‘i Island police responded at 9:41 a.m. July 20 after reports of possible human bodies being found deep within the fallen banyan tree’s twisted and tangled canopy — just up the street from Chiefess Kapi‘olani Elementary, not too far from Cafe 100 and across the street from Roxy’s Salon, right behind Just Cruisin Coffee and a short walk from the Hilo Burger Joint.

Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel confirmed the presence of human bodies, but were unable to extricate them because of safety concerns.

Crews from Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works, a county-contracted tree trimming company and Hawai‘i Fire Department spent several hours cutting away large branches to gain access to the two women.

Kīlauea Avenue, between Mohouli Street and Pauahi Street, was closed while debris was removed and officials conducted search and recovery efforts.

Several media outlets and many people across social media — including family members — had already “unofficially” identified Almazan and the second woman as a couple who frequented the area where the banyan tree fell to fish the lagoon and hang out.

Savana Moore, an older sister of Almazan, organized a GoFundMe campaign to help “Lay Trisha and Michelle to Rest with Love.”

“If you knew Trisha then you knew how special she was,” Moore wrote in the campaign message. “Her smile contagious, always there to help someone in need even if she was struggling herself. She loved all of her nieces and nephews and all her family and friends with everything she had.”

Funds raised by the campaign will be used for cremation, services and a celebration of life for both women.

The families also hope to be able to place something at the site where they were found in their remembrance once the tree is cleared and it is safe to enjoy again.

Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources hired a contractor to trim and remove the massive tree, which began earlier this week.

“Trisha was born and raised on the island and was the youngest of 6,” Moore wrote in a July 26 update on the GoFundMe campaign, wanting to open up a little more about her sister. “She was always making people laugh. She loved being an aunty and was always there to help, and she is greatly missed. She was so special to us all, and life wont be the same without her.”

She said in her most recent update that the past few weeks have been rough on the families of the two women. They are very thankful for the outpouring of help and love from the community.

Even if you can’t donate funds and want to help in other ways, don’t hesitate to reach out to the families, and if you see any of the family members be sure to send them some love.

“We definitely appreciate it!” Moore wrote in another GoFundMe update. “Again, thank you all for your kindness; it doesn’t go unnoticed!”

EDITOR’S NOTE: There has been a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding this incident. Big Island Now is following the story closely, but in the best interest of its readers, choosing to bring you information when it can without adding rumor and gossip, if possible. As an example, while we could have “unofficially” identified the two women found within the tree as other media outlets did earlier, we chose to wait because we were unable to confirm their identities through other sources first. We included the GoFundMe campaign from Trisha Almazan’s sister as a source of the “unofficial” identifications. We hope you understand. This is a developing story, so keep your eyes on Big Island Now for more information as it is made available.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.