POHOIKI BOAT RAMP EXCAVATION & DREDGING PROJECT BLESSING CEREMONY

Story by Raydiance Joy Grace Photos by Raydiance and DLNR 

Since March 2025, the Pohoiki Boat Ramp has remained closed following the  2018 Kilauea eruption, which filled Pohoiki Bay with volcanic debris. In December 2024, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation awarded a $9.2 million contract to Goodfellow Bros. to dredge the bay and restore access to the ramp. 

Dredging began in June after the blessing held on June 9, 2025. It is scheduled for completion by November 2025. A beautiful sunny day with billowing clouds overhead created a perfect outdoor meeting for Hawaiian dignitaries, Kupuna, Kahuna, with their relatives and friends. Important elected county and state officials, the chairperson of the  DLNR, consultants and contractors, and the Goodfellow project manager all gave speeches about the opening of the Pohoiki Boat Ramp. An attentive crowd of approximately 200 culturally diverse people attended the festivities, eagerly listening to speakers and their stories of how this opening had affected their lives.

Leila is wearing a traditional Kihei white wrap, which signifies she is doing a formal ceremony. The Koa bowl she is holding represents the earth as she sprinkles water with sea salt for purification and cleansing of the area. The Ti leaves she is using to spread the water hold significant spiritual and ceremonial importance in Hawaiian Culture. Ti leaves are often used to ward off evil and bring good spirits to rituals and ceremonies. Leila blesses the project in her prayers, a Pule for the highest good of the people working on the Pohoiki Boat Harbor and their safety. 

Dredging began in June after the blessing held on this day. It is scheduled for completion by November 2025. 

Finn McCall said, “When the bay first closed up due to the eruption, we anticipated that the bay was just going to continue to fill up with no end in sight. We started to look for a new boat site along the coast from Kopoho to Kalapana, and nothing worked because of the steep coastline cliffs. As we worked on this project, the more we became aware of how important this place is, where fishing can continue at this location. There is a reason why this place was originally built here;  we started to see that the bay was actually eroding, and the material was being pulled away naturally. We saw that we could reopen this boat harbor; we just have to remove the material and get the funding, which was a challenge.

We appreciated the help of our state legislators as we looked forward to getting this project underway, and it took a long time to get special permits. Everything finally got clear, so we can afford having Goodfellows brothers as the contractors who will be doing this project, who are very capable of handling a lot of projects like this. Nothing quite like this project has been done before, but they know how to use the equipment. I’m very much looking forward to this, and again, I thank you for your patience.  I’m just so happy to be here today and that we’re getting this project started as we fulfill this program for all you guys.”

Ku’uhiapo profoundly offered, “When Puna changes, when the land changes, so do its people. The people move, they are dynamic when there’s a flow, when there is a need, people are there. I’m young and I get to see and I get to admire my Kapuna, the aunties, the uncle’s and my cousins as well who continuously show up for this community; they are the representation of Puna. I’m so grateful to have leaders like them who truly advocate for our Aina. I look at this crowd and I just see so much Aloha all over. Mahalo to all of you guys who are coming out here as well.  Maikaʻi to our state representatives as well, Aloha nui to our community members. This couldn’t have happened without you. Mahalo for showing up, for calling endlessly to our reps, especially to our office as well. We appreciate your voices as we are here standing with you. This is just the first start of recovery. When we asked the community what recovery looks like to you, they said we need a boat ramp because it is a part of our identity here in Puna. This is where it is supposed to be. Our Ohana is from here. Let’s keep it here. Mahalo nui loa for everybody being here. Aloha!” 

The Blessing Ceremony for Pohoiki Boat Harbor successfully renewed Puna today on many levels. Communication between the Hawaiian community, friends, and neighbors. Important elected county and state officials, the chairperson of the  DLNR, consultants and contractors, and the Goodfellow project manager demonstrated what mutual co-operation and respect between diversified individuals can manifest. After many years of negotiations among all these individuals, the Pohoiki Boat Harbor is being restored to Puna in its rightful place, as the community so strongly requested to establish full recovery here after the volcanic eruption in 2018. In November 2025, the boat harbor opens for use by the local fishermen, the residents of Puna, and all future generations.

Click on the link below to discover more images of the event from DLNR:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kedkashm6iqvkt9q7l7v6/AD3MEi0Yyw70FEu516nwrQ0?dl=0&e=1&rlkey=c4c37j39ftlugmkq0hzh8cws6&st=g5azq90c