Honokohau Small Boat Harbor (SBH) is located between the Kona Airport and the town of Kailua-Kona, on the western side of the island of Hawai’i. The Honokohau SBH was authorized under the River and Harbor Act of 1965. The non-Federal sponsor is the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai’i (DOBOR). The existing project is in the operation and maintenance phase.
The project was completed in March 1970 at a cost of $2,107,000 (Federal: $781,000; non-Federal: $1,326,000). The project consists of an entrance channel that is 1088 feet long, 120-160 feet wide, and 15-20 feet deep; a main access channel that is 660 feet long, 120 feet wide, and 12 feet deep; and two rubble-mound wave absorbers that are 640 feet long along the north side of the entrance channel and 150 feet long along the south side of the channel.
Honokohau SBH berths/moors 262 vessels. Diving and snorkel excursions, which depart out of Honokohau SBH, are popular recreational activities for the area.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining breakwater and wave absorber structures and project depths in entrance channels, main access channels, and turning basin areas. The local sponsor is responsible for maintaining depths in berthing and mooring areas.