
On April 30, 2015 in Honolulu, Hawaii, a Robbins Main Beam TBM began a 4.6 km (2.8 mi) drive for a new sewer tunnel.
In the spring of 2015 by the idyllic shores of Oahu, a Robbins 3.96 m (13.0 ft) diameter Main Beam TBM began its long journey. The TBM started its excavation on a 4.6 km (2.8 mi) drive for a new sewer tunnel in Kaneohe, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. The machine, nicknamed Pohakulani, meaning “Rock Girl” in Hawaiian, launched from a 23 m (74 ft) deep starter tunnel on a mission to bore through almost 4.8 km (3.0 mi) of basalt bedrock. Contractor Southland/Mole JV is building the Kaneohe-Kailua Wastewater Conveyance Tunnel for the City and Council of Honolulu, which will improve wastewater infrastructure by eliminating overflows during rain events.