Pohokiki Boat Ramp: Open Or Closed?

The Pohoiki Boat Ramp in Puna, Hawaii, has been closed since the 2018 Kilauea eruption. The eruption caused lava to flow into the bay, creating a new black sand beach and blocking access to the boat ramp. This closure has impacted fishermen, commercial and recreational activities, and emergency rescue services that relied on the ocean access at Pohoiki. There are plans to dredge the ramp to restore access, with construction estimated to begin in February or March 2024 and take 6 to 9 months to complete. The project aims to remove volcanic debris and create a channel to accommodate boats, providing much-needed relief to the affected community.

The 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed surf spots and fishing grounds

The eruption also destroyed other areas in Hawaii, including the Kapoho tide pools and the Ahalanui warm ponds. It covered Hawaii Route 137 and reached the Pacific Ocean at Kapoho Bay, filling in the bay with lava and creating a new point. The official number of houses destroyed by the eruption reached 700, and the recovery efforts were estimated to cost more than $800 million.

The Pohoiki Boat Ramp, which played a significant role in the local economy, was spared from being engulfed by lava but became landlocked due to the accumulation of volcanic black sand in Pohoiki Bay. The boat ramp was the only ocean access point for commercial fishing, oceanic and volcanic tours, food sustainability, and cultural practices in the area. The loss of this vital access point caused hardship for the community's fishermen, who had to travel elsewhere to get their boats in the water and face longer and more dangerous trips to reach fishing grounds outside Pohoiki Bay. Many fishermen even decided to quit, selling their boats and giving up their trade.

The state has been working on reopening the Pohoiki Boat Ramp, with a projected timeline for construction to start in September 2024 and be completed by May 2025. The project involves dredging and removing volcanic debris to restore ocean access, with a focus on providing relief to the impacted fishing community and preserving the cultural significance of the area.

The Pohoiki boat ramp is the only one in the Puna district

The boat ramp was spared during the historic 2018 Kilauea eruption, which destroyed over 700 houses and covered beautiful destinations in Puna, including the Kapoho Tide Pools and the Ahalanui Hot Ponds. However, volcanic black sand, created when lava cools and shatters upon contact with seawater, filled Pohoiki Bay and rendered the boat ramp unusable. This accumulation of volcanic debris blocked ocean access, impacting fishermen, commercial and recreational activities, and even emergency rescue services.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) owns and maintains the Pohoiki Boat Ramp facility, which features an 18-foot-wide single-lane ramp. Reopening the ramp is a top priority, and plans are in place to dredge and remove the volcanic debris. The state has secured funding for a scaled-down version of the original proposal, which will create a 15-foot-wide channel from the end of the ramp, increasing to a width of 160 feet at its mouth.

The dredging project is expected to begin as early as February or March of 2024 and will take an estimated 6 to 9 months to complete. This project will restore ocean access for the Puna community, providing a vital boost to the local economy and the well-being of its residents. The Pohoiki boat ramp is the only connection to the ocean for miles, and its reopening will significantly impact the fishing industry and the broader community that relies on this resource for their livelihood and cultural practices.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to dredge a channel to restore access

The Pohoiki Boat Ramp, owned and maintained by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DLNR – DOBOR), has been closed since the 2018 Kilauea eruption. The eruption resulted in a new black sand beach forming in Pohoiki Bay, blocking the boat ramp's access to the Pacific Ocean. This has had a significant impact on the local community and economy, affecting commercial fishing, oceanic and volcanic tours, and cultural practices.

The DLNR plans to dredge a channel to restore access to the Pohoiki Boat Ramp. This project aims to remove the volcanic debris that has accumulated in the bay, including sand, gravel, cobbles, and boulders. The preferred alternative would involve dredging the channel and implementing hazard mitigation measures to protect the dredged area from erosion. The estimated cost of this option is between $3.5 million and $6 million.

The project is currently in the permitting and design phase, with the environmental assessment considering three alternatives. The final design will be selected based on the alternative chosen through the environmental assessment. The permitting process will begin after the final environmental assessment is issued.

The state has secured $5.4 million in funding for a more modest dredging option. This option will involve dredging and removing approximately 42,000 cubic yards of debris and creating a 15-foot-wide channel from the end of the boat ramp, increasing to a width of 160 feet at its mouth. The depths of the channel will range from 6 feet at the ramp's end to 12 feet where it meets the ocean. This scaled-down version of the project is expected to take 6 to 9 months to complete.

The new channel will accommodate boats that previously used the ramp and will ensure that the Pohoiki community regains direct access to the ocean. The project also includes the installation of a trail to access the beach area and the remaining natural warm spring at Pohoiki.

The boat ramp is owned and maintained by the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation

The Pohoiki Boat Ramp is currently closed. It was landlocked by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, which filled Pohoiki Bay with volcanic debris, including sand, rocks, and cobbles, blocking the ramp's access to the Pacific Ocean.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DLNR – DOBOR) owns and maintains the Pohoiki Boat Ramp facility. The division falls under the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

The Pohoiki Boat Ramp played a vital role in the Puna community and local economy, providing an ocean access point for commercial fishing, oceanic and volcanic tours, food sustainability, and cultural practices. The boat ramp is the only one in the entire Puna district, and its closure has significantly impacted fishermen and local tour operators, who are now facing financial strain and longer, more costly trips to alternative launch sites.

The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation has been working to reopen the boat ramp. Finn McCall, head of the engineering branch for the Hawai‘i State Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, has stated that a dredging project to remove the volcanic debris and reopen the ramp is in the works. The project will create a channel from the end of the boat ramp to the ocean, with depths ranging from 6 feet to 12 feet. This channel will accommodate any boat that used the ramp before the eruption.

The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is committed to providing ocean access to the Pohoiki community and has been collaborating with various agencies to address the challenges and meet the community's needs.

The Pohoiki boat ramp is expected to reopen by the end of 2024

The Pohoiki boat ramp has been closed since 2018 when the Kilauea eruption caused lava to flow into Pohoiki Bay, creating a new black sand beach that blocked access to the ramp. This closure has significantly impacted the local community, particularly fishermen who have had to travel further and spend more money to launch their boats.

Reopening the Pohoiki boat ramp is now a top priority, with a scaled-down dredging project approved to begin as early as February or March 2024. This project will remove around 42,000 cubic yards of debris and create a 15-foot-wide channel from the end of the ramp, increasing to a width of 160 feet at the ocean. The estimated completion date for this project is December 2024, finally restoring ocean access for the local community.

The Pohoiki boat ramp played a vital role in the Puna community and local economy before its closure. It offered the only ocean access point for commercial fishing, oceanic and volcanic tours, and cultural practices. The loss of this access has caused significant hardship for fishermen, who have had to travel greater distances to launch their boats, resulting in longer and more dangerous trips to reach their fishing grounds.

The new, narrower channel will still be able to accommodate any boat that used the ramp before the eruption. While the smaller project is a disappointment to some, it is a more feasible option as it only costs $5.4 million, compared to the original proposal's $40 million price tag. This reduced cost is crucial as the state legislators did not have a commitment of disaster assistance reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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