Update: Aliʻi Drive reopens to all traffic on Sunday following the fallen fig tree branch

Update at 5:20 p.m. Oct. 26: The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works has reopened Aliʻi Drive to all traffic.

Original at 11 a.m. Oct. 26: The Department of Public Works has closed a portion of Aliʻi Drive near Kailua Wharf in both directions.

A branch from a large Moreton fig tree fell on Aliʻi Drive on Friday night and was removed by Saturday. However, the road is closed today to both lanes of traffic for continued work on the road.

Motorists in the area are urged to plan accordingly and use alternate routes if possible.

According to an update from Mayor Kimo Alameda, the tree is in poor shape and had rotted internally. For safety purposes, the tree will be removed entirely, and the county plans to assess the health of several trees in areas with heavy foot traffic.

“Much of our trees of our trees were planted many, many years ago and they are all in need of assessment, especially in places where people walk,” Alameda said in his update on social media.

For more information on the road closure, visit the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency alert page.