Coconut Island (Hawaii Island)

For other uses, see Coconut Island.

Moku Ola

Nickname: Coconut Island
View of Mokuola from Lili'uokalani Park
Moku Ola Location of Mokuola in Hawaii
Geography
Location	Hilo Bay
Coordinates	19°43′46″N 155°4′7″W
Archipelago	Hawaiian Islands
Administration
United States

Coconut Island, or Moku Ola is a small island in Hilo Bay, just offshore from Lili'uokalani Park and Gardens, in Hilo, off the island of Hawaii. It is a small park, and is connected to the main island via a footbridge. The island includes a large grassy field, picnic areas, restroom facilities, and a few tiny sandy beaches. A popular recreational activity is to jump off the tower into the waters of Hilo Bay.

Parks and attractions near Hilo Bay and downtown Hilo, Hawaii

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•  Points of interest 
•  Parks and open spaces 
•  Transportation 

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Lyman House Memorial Museum

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Haili Church

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Kalākaua Park / East Hawaii Cultural Center

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Pacific Tsunami Museum

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Moʻoheau County Park (Hele-On Bus Terminal) / S. Hata Building / Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

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Russell Carroll Soccer Fields

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Aupuni Center / County of Hawaiʻi offices

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Hilo Bayfront Beach Park

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Wailoa River State Recreation Area / Waiākea Pond

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Coconut Island / Moku Ola

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Queen Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens / Banyan Drive

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Grand Naniloa Hotel / Naniloa Golf Course

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Reed's Bay Beach Park

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Hoʻolulu Complex (Merrie Monarch Festival site): Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium · Aunty Sally Kaleohano's Luʻau Hale · Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium · 'Sparky' Kawamoto Swim Stadium · Walter Victor Baseball Complex · Francis Wong Stadium

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Hilo Harbor

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Hilo International Airport

The name Mokuola translates as "healing island" or "island of life" from the Hawaiian language. Moku meaning "island" and ola meaning "life." It was the site of an ancient temple dedicated to healing. It is located off Banyan Drive.

Legend tells that anyone who was sick or feeling ill would be healed by swimming around Mokuola three times. In ancient times, Mokuola was a pu'uhonua (place of refuge), where natives or warriors could "redeem" themselves. Many native Hawaiians would also bury their children's piko (umbilical cords) under the flat rocks here, so the rats would not find them (piko are often considered sacred to Hawaiians, as they are the connection to their mothers and to their blood lines).

View of Mokuola from Lihiwai Street