Posted on October 22, 2025
PAHOA – A $9 million effort to reopen a Pahoa boat ramp destroyed by lava flow in 2018 has failed.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) said that the recently dredged Pohoiki Boat Ramp entrance channel is filled with volcanic debris due to heavy tidal conditions over the past week.
Dredging operations first began in August as part of an ongoing effort to restore ocean access by removing sand and debris that accumulated during the 2018 Kilauea lava flow.
However, due to the volume of volcanic debris, DLNR said it knew there were limited options when it came to reopening the boat ramp.
Officials said dredging was the least expensive option to reopen the boat ramp. Other long-term solutions were estimated to cost upward of $40 million or more.
DLNR said it is aware of the community’s disappointment and is currently examining site conditions and evaluating options to address the situation and long-term solutions.
The project was expected to see completion by November.
