UPDATE: Road reopened near Woodland Center
UPDATE 4:30 p.m.
It was determined at about 3:15 p.m. that what was initially reported as unexploded ordnance was in fact an inoperative “novelty type grenade,” according to police.
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The roadway is now open, and there is no threat to the public.
PREVIOUSLY
Police are asking the public to stay away from Kahakai Boulevard near Woodland Center in Pahoa for the next several hours due to the discovery of possible unexploded ordnance.
The device, which was found today shortly before noon, appears to be a grenade, but police couldn’t determine its volatility.
As a precautionary measure, the surrounding business establishments were evacuated, and police are on scene and are awaiting the arrival of the Hawaii Inter-island Bomb Squad to safely remove the ordnance.
Police are asking the public to avoid this area for the next several hours.
Police also are using this incident as an opportunity to remind Hawaii Island residents who find possible explosives to leave them alone and immediately call the Hawaii Police Department at 911 or the police department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311.
