Yesterday, dredging work began to restore access to the lava-barricaded Pohoiki Boat Ramp, eight years after lava from the Kīlauea eruption rendered it unusable.

Hundreds of people recently gathered for a community celebration and blessing at the top of the ramp, which by November is expected to be clear of an estimated 42,000 cubic yards of black sand and boulders.

DLNR Chair Dawn Chang, speaking before the blessing, commented, “This is a day of celebration to recognize the collaboration of the community, elected officials and DLNR working together to support this project. 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. The million-dollar question is what took so long?”

The state had hoped for more federal support to approve removal of most of the volcanic debris in Pohoiki Bay, but FEMA was only able to approve restoration of the boat ramp entrance channel.  It took dogged efforts by state lawmakers from the district to convince the rest of the legislature that opening the Pohoiki boat ramp was the top priority for people in the district.

 

Photo credit: DLNR