Posted on September 1, 2025
At the beginning of the summer, crews began dredging work to restore access to the Pohoiki Boat Ramp in Puna, which was surrounded by lava during the 2018 Kilauea eruption. On Thursday, the County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation announced that Isaac Hale Beach Park, which includes the boat ramp, would be closed starting Sept. 2 to allow for crane dredging operations.
Officials did not provide an estimate for when they would reopen the park, but the contractor Goodfellow Bros., LLC, is expected to clear about 42,000 cubic yards of black sand and boulders and restore a wide entrance channel for the boat ramp by November.
“Once completed, the dredging project at Pohoiki will restore boat access that is vital for the Puna community,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda in a news release. “This temporary park closure is necessary to ensure the project is done safely and effectively.
The $9.28 million dredging project that began in June is entering a phase that requires a crane to dredge volcanic debris on the makai side of the channel, according to the DPR. Crane dredging operations will begin on Sept. 3 and will continue until Oct. 31.
“This project is critical to restore ocean access for the Puna community fishers, boaters, and emergency rescue personnel,” said state Department of Land and Natural Resources Engineer Finn McCall. “Temporary closure of the park and boat ramp is important to ensure safety during crane dredging operations that will be carrying heavy loads of lava debris overhead. Even during non-dredging operations, the crane may present a safety hazard to the public.”
