Bodies of 2 Women Discovered Inside Massive Fallen Tree in Hawaii

What began as a fallen tree is now a grim mystery. Authorities in Hawaii say two women were found dead inside the massive root ball of a toppled banyan tree — eight days after it came crashing down in a public area.

The giant tree collapsed on July 12 along Kīlauea Avenue, a busy thoroughfare in Hilo on the Big Island. It wasn’t until July 20 that workers sifting through the tangled debris made the shocking discovery — two lifeless bodies hidden “deep within the tree,” according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said one county worker, speaking under condition of anonymity. “We thought it was just storm damage. Then we found them.”

Police say early evidence suggests the women were likely killed by falling limbs when the banyan gave way. “At this time, foul play is not suspected,” the department said in a statement released Saturday. “It appears the victims were struck and killed by collapsing branches.”

Autopsies are scheduled later this week. The victims have not yet been identified, and police are withholding further details pending notification of next of kin.

Crews from the Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works, the Fire Department, and a private tree-trimming contractor had been removing branches and cutting through debris when the remains were uncovered. Video footage shows teams using chainsaws to access the base of the tree, unaware of the horror beneath.

The tree had reportedly been a local landmark — an enormous banyan towering over the avenue, with sprawling roots and thick, shady limbs. It’s unclear what caused it to fall. Recent storms in the area had brought heavy rain and gusting winds.

Some locals are raising concerns about public safety. “This tree was huge and it was clearly aging,” said Hilo resident Marissa Kalani. “Why didn’t the city do something sooner? Why were people even near it?”

The incident has drawn national attention, coming at a time when infrastructure and emergency response are under heavy scrutiny across the country.

President Donald Trump, currently in his second term, has not commented directly but issued a broader statement about the importance of “maintaining safe public spaces across our beautiful nation.”

This tragedy marks yet another bizarre turn in a summer of extreme weather, with record heat, flash floods, and sudden disasters dominating headlines. The banyan collapse — and the revelation of two victims hidden inside — now joins the list.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the victims or who may have witnessed the tree falling is urged to contact the Hawaiʻi Police Department.