The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Design and Construction announced that geotechnical work at the Kailua Beach Boat Ramp has been temporarily suspended this week because of bad weather and surf conditions. DDC expects the work to resume the week of March 31, with the project’s completion date pushed back from April 11 to April 25.
The work will take place on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for holidays and weekends. The schedule remains subject to changes based on weather and tide conditions, according to a news release from the DDC.
Hawaii residents and visitors should be aware that access to the boat ramp may be restricted for safety reasons. Additionally, parking on the east side of the adjacent parking lot will be limited while work is ongoing. The DDC is advising people to avoid the area.
The geotechnical work is a key component of the Kailua Boat Ramp Improvement Project. Pacific Geotechnical Engineers and Sea Engineering, the consulting firms overseeing the project, will conduct soil boring tests to assess the site’s geotechnical characteristics. The tests will include five borings: two in-water tests at the base of the existing ramp and three on land above the waterline. These soil samples are critical for designing the planned improvements to the boat ramp.
Constructed in 1962, the Kailua Beach Boat Ramp has undergone several repairs over the years because of constant wave action and erosion. It was closed in early Feb. 2021 because of its deteriorating condition, followed by emergency repairs in the summer of that year. Additional repairs are needed to ensure the ramp’s long-term stability and usability.
The Kailua Beach Boat Ramp is the only man-made watercraft launch facility managed and maintained by the City and County of Honolulu.
For more information, please refer to the May 2024 feasibility study.
