Introduction
After nearly seven years buried under volcanic debris, the waters of Pohoiki Bay are finally set to be reopened to the community. In a significant coastal dredging milestone, the State of Hawaii has awarded a $9.2 million contract to Goodfellow Brothers to remove the vast accumulation of black sand and debris that blocked ocean access after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. This long-anticipated dredging project marks not only the restoration of a vital harbor but the revival of cultural and economic lifelines for the Puna District.
A Bay Transformed by Lava
In 2018, one of the most destructive eruptions of Kīlauea in decades sent lava flowing across the Puna landscape, transforming coastal areas, covering roads, and reshaping the shoreline. At Pohoiki, the Isaac Hale Beach Park and boat ramp were spared from destruction, but lava flows cut off direct access to the ocean. Over the years, a pool of black sand, piled in by relentless wave action, buried the ramp and transformed the once-busy bay into a landlocked lagoon.
For the local boating and fishing community, the loss of access at Pohoiki meant more than inconvenience. Many turned to the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo, nearly an hour’s drive away. This detour disrupted daily routines, strained small businesses, and disconnected people from traditional fishing grounds and cultural practices rooted in the area.
Launching the Dredging Project
On a clear Monday morning, dozens of community members gathered at Isaac Hale Beach Park to witness a blessing ceremony that marked a new beginning. The launch of the dredging project represents not just infrastructure work—it’s a community healing process. The ceremony highlighted the spiritual and cultural significance of Pohoiki and reaffirmed the local community’s voice in shaping the bay’s future.
Goodfellow Brothers, a contractor with a proven track record of environmental and marine construction in the state, was selected to undertake the dredging. The company will use specialized equipment to carefully excavate tons of black sand and restore a safe and navigable channel to the boat ramp.
This coastal dredging effort is carefully designed to strike a balance between environmental considerations and operational needs. While the primary goal is to restore access, the project also protects the surrounding marine habitats and honors the site’s spiritual significance. State officials and environmental specialists are working together to ensure that the dredging process causes minimal disruption to marine ecosystems and respects local cultural protocols.
Community Impact and Cultural Reconnection
Pohoiki Bay has long served as more than just a recreational area—it is an essential point of connection for subsistence fishermen, cultural practitioners, and local families who rely on ocean access for their livelihood and heritage. The reopening of the boat ramp will restore these ties, enabling traditional practices such as fishing, canoe launching, and ocean ceremonies to return.
For many residents of the lower Puna region, the dredging project is seen as overdue but welcome. The bay’s inaccessibility for seven years felt like a wound left unhealed. While the lava’s impact was dramatic and unavoidable, the slow pace of restoration added frustration to grief. Now, with active steps being taken, hope and excitement are building.
The return of ocean access could also provide economic benefits. Charter fishing, eco-tourism, and small-scale transportation businesses, which previously operated out of Pohoiki, may gradually return, bringing much-needed revenue and jobs to a region still recovering from the 2018 disaster.
Coastal Dredging and Long-Term Resilience
This dredging project also serves as a test of resilience and adaptability in an era of increasing coastal challenges. Hawaii’s location in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” makes it particularly vulnerable to volcanic activity, and climate change is adding further pressures, including rising sea levels and coastal erosion. As such, the Pohoiki dredging is more than a cleanup—it is an example of how communities and governments can work together to restore essential services while planning for future sustainability.
Long-term planning for Pohoiki and similar sites will likely require a mix of engineered solutions, traditional ecological knowledge, and community engagement. Coastal dredging, when done responsibly, can be a powerful tool not just for restoring access but also for protecting shorelines, supporting local economies, and preserving cultural identity.
A Symbol of Renewal
Pohoiki Bay’s transformation from a buried boat ramp to a beacon of community renewal is a powerful reminder of Hawaii’s unique relationship with its land and sea. Nature’s forces can be devastating, but the human spirit, grounded in culture, cooperation, and care, can restore and rebuild.
As dredging begins, the once-silent bay echoes again with the sounds of progress and hope. Boats may soon glide across its waters, fishers may cast their nets, and families may once again gather at the shoreline not to mourn what was lost, but to celebrate what is being regained.
In the broader context of Hawaii’s environmental and cultural resilience, the Pohoiki Bay dredging project stands as a significant chapter—one where healing, restoration, and respect converge, just as the waters return to the bay.