Collisions with Animals Pose Costly Challenges in Hawaii

Residents and visitors grapple with vehicle damage, safety concerns, and economic impacts from frequent animal encounters on the road.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Collisions with animals such as pigs, goats, and sheep on Hawaii's roads have led to significant vehicle damage, safety risks, and economic costs for residents and visitors. One local resident describes recent incidents where he swerved to avoid a pig and previously hit a goat, resulting in hundreds of dollars in repair costs and psychological impacts. The writer wonders about the broader economic toll of these animal collisions and whether local authorities are studying solutions to this persistent problem.

Why it matters

Animal-vehicle collisions are a common occurrence in Hawaii, particularly on roads near forested areas, that can result in property damage, safety hazards, and economic losses for the community. Understanding the full scope of this issue and exploring potential mitigation strategies could help improve road safety and reduce the burden on residents and visitors.

The details

In one recent incident, the writer swerved to avoid hitting a pig that had been struck on the road near Panaewa forest, causing only minor vehicle damage. However, the writer recalls a previous collision with a goat on Saddle Road that resulted in hundreds of dollars in repair costs, including a separated front body panel, a torn wheel well-liner, and a broken fog light. The writer wonders about the broader economic toll of these animal collisions, including lost time and productivity, the need for police and road crew response, and potential psychological impacts on drivers.

  • Recently, the writer swerved to avoid a pig that had been hit on the road near Panaewa forest.
  • A couple of years ago, the writer hit a goat on Saddle Road.

The players

Chad Shibuya

A resident of Keaau who has experienced multiple animal-vehicle collisions on Hawaii's roads.

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What they’re saying

“Knowing this type of accident is common and affects many residents and visitors, it makes me wonder about the 'freakonomics' of all this. Aside from varying degrees of vehicle damage, there is lost time and productivity to fix the vehicle, and more if it is not safely drivable, and possibly a psychological impact as well. Also, there is the cost of local response if police and road crews are needed.”

— Chad Shibuya, Resident (hawaiitribune-herald.com)

What’s next

The writer suggests that while there may not be a simple solution, the issue of animal-vehicle collisions in Hawaii should be further studied and addressed by local authorities to improve road safety and reduce the economic burden on the community.

The takeaway

Animal-vehicle collisions in Hawaii's rural and forested areas pose significant challenges, from vehicle damage and safety risks to broader economic impacts and psychological tolls on drivers. Addressing this persistent problem will require a multi-faceted approach involving local officials, transportation planners, and the community.