The Hilo Deep Draft Harbor is located on the northeast coast of the island of Hawaii, the State’s southernmost island. The project was initially authorized under the River and Harbor Act of 1907, subsequent work was authorized under the River and Harbor Act of 1912 and 1925.
The project was completed in 1930 and consists of a 10,080-foot-long breakwater protecting a 35-foot-deep basin. The local sponsor is the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Harbors Division. Hilo Harbor is one of the two main commercial ports for the Island of Hawaii and is more than 70 miles from Kawaihae Harbor that serves the west side of the island.