HILO, Hawaii — After lava surrounded the Pohoiki ramp during the 2018 Kilauea eruption, the community began relying heavily on Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo. Their calls for dredging the harbor finally resulted in a $3.1 million operation that started on Monday.

What You Need To Know

  • Calls for dredging the harbor finally resulted in a $3.1 million operation that began on Monday

  • The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation fast tracked the contracting, permitting and design process that could only begin once the legislature appropriated funding and Gov. Josh Green released the funds

  • The process for Wailoa took about five months compared to the nine months it normally takes

  • The project will be completed by the end of the year if not sooner, according to DOBOR

Following input from the community, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation fast-tracked the contracting, permitting, and design process that could only begin once the legislature appropriated funding and Gov. Josh Green released the funds, according to a DLNR news release.

"It's a multi-step process," explained DOBOR Engineer Finn McCall in the release. "The first thing that has to happen is funds have to be allocated. Once the funds are appropriated, there then has to be a request to release the funds and that takes time. Only when the funds are released can we actually begin actions on a project. That includes design, permitting and environmental reviews."

DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts explained the agency has been trying to get funding to dredge Wailoa Small Boat Harbor for years. The funds were allocated in the 2023 legislative session.

She said the process after getting the funds takes a while because it has to go through the permitting and design processes, which can take nine to 12 months. 

"We expedited this thanks to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who rushed the permit for the dredging. And our engineer has been on top of this project since the start," said Statts.

The process for Wailoa took about five months compared to the nine months it usually takes.

This week, an excavator and front-end loader are moving dark brown soil from the harbor basin and spreading it along the shoreline, where it will ultimately be trucked away.

A barge carrying an excavator will move into the basin in the next few weeks. Though lengthy closures aren't expected, McCall said he expects short, periodic closures to accommodate the barge's movement.

The project will be completed by the end of the year, if not sooner, according to DOBOR.

"The frequency of dredging really depends on the amount of debris and sediment that flows into a harbor," said DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts. "That material can block boats and create safety hazards. We're excited this project is underway and ask for everyone's continued patience as the work proceeds over the next few months."

DOBOR intends to conduct dredging operations in state small boat harbors every five to eight years, depending on the harbor's location, sediment build-up, and available funding.

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.