A small Hamakua Coast community is fighting to stop a Verizon cell tower from going up near their houses, pitting local safety worries against a push for better coverage.

• Neighbors near the Papaikou site worry the planned tower, disguised to look like a palm tree, could fall on homes or hurt people during high winds, including at a nearby post office with frequent deliveries.
• Opponents say they never got notice before construction began and claim the county issued the wrong permit, grounds they hope will pause the project.
• The landowner's 2018 contract with Verizon lets the tower go up because the land is zoned commercial-industrial, so the county didn't require a public hearing; Verizon argues the appeal is too late since the original approval window closed back in 2024.
• The county's mayor says he understands the concerns but notes the rules favor the tower, especially since the Hamakua area has poor cell coverage that many see as a safety lifeline.
• Residents are taking their case to the Hawaii County Board of Appeals this Friday to try to get the tower moved to a less populated spot.

Outlook: The Board of Appeals hearing Friday will likely decide whether construction is paused or the tower project moves forward as planned.