PUNA DISTRICT, Hawaiʻi Island – The massive dredging operation at Pohoiki, the largest ever undertaken by the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), is progressing at an astounding rate, with crews already approximately halfway through the excavation phase. The project aims to remove 42,000 cubic yards of black sand, rocks, and boulders deposited by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, which has blocked the vital boat ramp.
DOBOR Engineer Finn McCall expressed his amazement during a site visit on Tuesday. “I mean I’m absolutely blown away. I was not expecting them to get this far,” McCall stated. “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.”
The contractor, Goodfellow Bros., LLC, had an initial completion requirement of next February, with an internal expectation of November. The current pace suggests an even earlier finish.
Heavy equipment is being utilized to scoop large quantities of volcanic debris from the area near the boat ramp towards the shoreline. Once the inner basin is cleared, a crane will be brought in to create a wide and accessible entrance. “The entrance will be approximately 320 feet wide. There really wasn’t a channel before. It was just an open bay, but the designated entrance, I think, was 40 feet,” McCall explained.
The blocked boat ramp at Pohoiki, a long-standing gathering place for the Puna community, has severely impacted local fishers, forcing them to launch from Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo. This diversion has been costly and time-consuming, reportedly leading to the closure of several small commercial fishing operations.
“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 emphasized.
McCall described the Pohoiki dredging as unprecedented due to the nature of the material being removed. Unlike most dredging projects at state small boat harbors, which typically involve fine sediment and sand, this operation is hauling away a significant amount of heavy volcanic material.
While most harbors require dredging every seven or eight years, the long-term maintenance needs for Pohoiki remain uncertain. “For Pohoiki it remains to be seen. We really can’t predict how quickly the new channel might fill back in and how soon we’d have to dredge. We’re just going to have to closely monitor it after the project is complete,” McCall concluded.
The public is reminded that the “hot pond” that formed at the bottom of the blocked boat ramp, while popular, is within an active construction zone. Entering the project area to swim is strictly prohibited, as it is an around-the-clock closed construction site.