The Pohoiki boat ramp, once buried under the remnants of Kilauea's 2018 eruption, is now seeing light at the end of the tunnel, with a massive dredging effort underway. According to the DLNR News Release, the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) has embarked on its largest dredging project to date, moving an equivalent of 42,000 large refrigerators worth of black sand, rocks, and boulders to reopen the critical access point for local fishers.
During a recent site visit, DOBOR Engineer Finn McCall expressed his astonishment at the progress made by Goodfellows Bros., LLC, the contractor in charge which he saying, "I'm absolutely blown away. I was not expecting them to get this far. I'd say they're about halfway done with the excavation portion of the project. So, it's looking really good. Looking like we may be done ahead of schedule," he told DLNR. The project, anticipated to wrap up potentially before its November expectation, involves heavy machinery to relocate the volcanic debris that has blocked the boat ramp at Pohoiki for years.
McCall also noted the new entrance to the harbor would be vastly wider than before, spanning approximately 320 feet compared to the original 40-foot open bay. This change aims to restore the full functionality of the Pohoiki boat ramp, which has been a sticking point for the local economy, particularly for fishermen forced to travel from Hilo, a journey that proved costly and contributed to the closure of some small commercial fishing businesses. "This has been one of the highest-priority projects I’ve worked on. The community is excited and fishermen can’t wait to have the ramp and entrance restored," McCall explained, in statements detailed by the DLNR News Release.
Unlike typical dredging projects that involve removing fine sediment and sand, Pohoiki's demands are considerably greater as the dredging process here involves hauling off hefty materials. According to DLNR News Release, McCall highlighted the project's unprecedented nature and future considerations, stating, "For most dredging projects at state small boat harbors, fine sediment and sand is removed. For this one, a lot of heavy material is being hauled away." The longevity of the dredging's effects remains uncertain, and McCall acknowledged the need for vigilant monitoring post-completion to determine when the next dredge might be necessary. The beloved "hot pond" created at the bottom of the blocked ramp, while a popular spot for swimmers, remains off-limits, as the area is an active construction zone and safety is a paramount concern.
