PUNA DISTRICT, Hawaiʻi Island – After eight years of being rendered unusable by a Kīlauea eruption, dredging work officially began today, June 10, 2025, to restore access to the lava-barricaded Pohoiki Boat Ramp. The project, expected to clear an estimated 42,000 cubic yards of black sand and boulders by November, marks a significant milestone for the Puna community.
A community celebration and blessing held yesterday, Monday, June 9, brought together hundreds of people at the top of the ramp, underscoring the deep connection residents have to this vital coastal access point.
DLNR Chair Dawn Chang highlighted the collaborative spirit driving the restoration. “This is a day of celebration to recognize the collaboration of the community, elected officials and DLNR working together to support this project,” Chang remarked before the blessing. “The Pohoiki Boat Ramp is a piko, or focal point for this community. Fishing is a huge part of the greater Puna community and commercial, recreational and subsistence fishers have been waiting patiently for this work to begin.” Addressing the long delay, she added, “The million-dollar question is what took so long?”
Finn McCall, head engineer with the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), recounted the arduous journey to restoration. “Boy, this has been a long journey,” he said, noting his visits to Pohoiki both before and immediately after the eruption to strategize for the ramp’s needs. Initial attempts to find alternative sites from Kapoho to Kalapana were made as sand and boulders continued to fill the bay, but once the volcanic activity stabilized, focus shifted to restoring the Pohoiki ramp itself.
While the state had hoped for more federal support, FEMA was only able to approve restoration of the boat ramp entrance channel. State lawmakers, particularly Senator Joy San Buenaventura and Representative Greggor Ilagan from the district, were instrumental in securing $5.4 million in state funding for the dredging. The total project cost is $9.28 million, with the remaining $2.9 million shortfall being covered by DOBOR’s Boating Special Fund, which is almost entirely derived from boating user fees.
During the blessing ceremony, Senator San Buenaventura emphasized the economic burden the closure placed on local fishers. “We needed people to understand how much it cost in fuel just to bring all our boats from the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo, the nearest boating facility, out to Puna so they could fish to feed and support their families.” She and Representative Ilagan often likened the situation to Oʻahu having only one small boat ramp. San Buenaventura noted that while she advocated for an alternate highway route in 2021, the community reprioritized their needs in 2022, making the Pohoiki Boat Ramp their number one priority.
DLNR Chair Chang acknowledged the unwavering persistence of local fishers, some of whom had to abandon generational livelihoods due to the increased costs of accessing fishing grounds. She, along with other speakers, lauded the community for their tireless advocacy.
Consultants and contractors echoed this sentiment. Kyle Kaneshiro of Limtiaco Consulting described it as “one of the most eye-opening, humbling projects I’ve ever worked on. The community made everything so easy. This is not an easy project, but the community got everyone together.” Guy DiBartolo from Goodfellows Bros. Inc., added, “This one for me, stands out as something unique and special, seeing the community’s involvement over many months and years.”
For many, like DLNR First Deputy Ryan Kanaka’ole, Pohoiki holds cherished personal memories. “Summertime for me was coming down here, making the two-hour drive each way from Kaʻū with my father to dive, surf, or just relax. This day makes me remember my dad. He didn’t have a house, but he had a car and I’ll never forget those days spent at Pohoiki.”
The contractor has nine months to complete the project but anticipates finishing the work by November.