Puu Pulehu Reservoir
Puu Pulehu Reservoir is an earth dam located in Hawaii County, Hawaii, built in 1910. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Puu Pulehu Reservoir
The primary purpose of Puu Pulehu Reservoir is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by State Of Hawaii, Dept Of Agriculture (state). It impounds the Upper Hamakua Ditch Off Stream near Kukuihaele.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 445 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1910, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/22/2025.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Hawaii dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Hawaii |
| County | Hawaii |
| Nearest City | Kukuihaele |
| River/Stream | Upper Hamakua Ditch Off Stream |
| Coordinates | 20.03940, -155.59930 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 445 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 445 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 338 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 93 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | State of Hawaii, Dept of Agriculture |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | HI00123 |
| Federal ID | HI00123 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |