In June, people showed up for a celebratory blessing upon the Pohoiki boat ramp in preparation for the dredging that ensued. They are expected to clear an estimated 42k cubic yards of lava rocks and boulders. The Pohoiki boat ramp is a focal point for the community and people are very pleased with this project being underway. Fishing is an important part of the Puna community, and local fishermen have been waiting patiently for the project to start. The state had hoped for more federal support in funding the removal of all the volcanic rock that is blocking the boat ramp, but FEMA only approved the rebuilding of the entrance channel. It took the efforts of state lawmakers to convince the legislature that this was a top priority for their people. The cost of the total project is approximately $9 million, which is less than the total amount that was needed and the extra cost is being covered by the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation’s Boating Special Fund, which gets its revenue from boating fees. Everyone, including the companies hired to do the work, gave props to the community for demanding to have Pohoiki restored. The crew has nine months to complete the work, but the expectation is that they’ll be finished by November.
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