Posted on October 6, 2025
PUNA, Hawaii — More than seven years after lava from Kīlauea cut off communities in lower Puna, work is finally underway to reconnect residents and restore ocean access.
Construction crews have been rebuilding Pohoiki Road and Highway 137, which were both buried under lava in 2018, cutting off access to Isaac Hale Beach Park and the Pohoiki coastline.
“So Highway 137 and Pohoiki are the two big road projects right now, Highway 137 looks like probably another year before that gets completed. And then Pohoiki is important because it provides quicker access to Isaac Hale Beach Park and beautiful Pohoiki,” Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda explained.
Currently, residents have to drive the long way around and through Pāhoa, which could be a 30- to 40-minute detour. When the road reopens, Mayor Alameda said that the trip could take as little as seven to ten minutes.
“This gives them a straight shot to Pohoiki straight from Pāhoa. It also allows another escape route in case something happens again,” he said.
The road restoration includes 4.5 miles of new pavement and waterlines that will restore service to Isaac Hale Beach Park — including showers.
“When the road went out, so did all the water lines. The main water line we want to restore is the one that goes to Isaac Hale Beach Park, that’s where the fishermen get to wash their boats, so that’s going to be restored as well,” Mayor continued.
Pohoiki Boat Ramp is also being dredged after being landlocked by black sand and lava rock. Crews are currently removing 42,000 cubic yards of debris — the largest dredging job ever for the state’s boating division.
“The boat harbor is finishing up too. The state and counties are working really well together. It’s gonna be a nice reopening,” Mayor Alameda said.
Isaac Hale Beach Park currently remains closed through the end of the month as crews continue dredging the boat ramp area.
Officials expect the boat ramp restoration to wrap by November, the Highway 137 project by 2026, and Pohoiki Road by 2027.
The $50 million in recovery work is being funded largely by FEMA, with the state and county covering the rest.
