On Thursday, November 30, 2023, at around 11: 59 a.m., Puna patrol responded to a call about the discovery of a possible unexploded ordnance in the area of Kahakai Boulevard near the Woodland Center in Pahoa.

Responding officers determined that the ordnance appeared to be a grenade, but could not 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 Hawai’i Inter-island Bomb Squad for safe removal and disposal of the ordnance.

Police are asking that the public stay away from this area for the next several hours.

Police are taking this opportunity to remind Hawai‘i Island residents who may find explosives to leave them alone and immediately call the Hawaii Police Department at 911 or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.