News Releases

Waikoloa Gardens / Jack Hall area evacuation

Published Oct. 12, 2018
Recognize, retreat and report are key actions to take if you encounter any items that look like munitions.

Recognize, retreat and report are key actions to take if you encounter any items that look like munitions.

This is a public notification and informational handout concerning planned and ongoing investigation and cleanup of unexploded ordnance (UXO) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for work being conducted on Pua Melina Street in the Waikoloa Gardens / Jack Hall Memorial housing development of Waikoloa Village (Area P).

 

Beginning Oct. 22, 2018, contractors conducting UXO detection and investigations will be in the Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area (WMA) an area left behind after U.S. Marine Corps training during wartime in the 1940s. The Former WMA is identified as a Defense Environmental Restoration Program, Formerly Used Defense Site (DERP/FUDS) property. The process is scheduled to begin Oct. 22, 2018 and is expected to be completed on Oct. 26, 2018. Depending on the number of items needed to be excavated, operations and evacuations may extend through Oct. 31, 2018. Work hours will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional coordination with evacuees will be made in the coming weeks.

 

Several UXO including artillery projectiles, mortars, rockets, and rifle grenades that did not explode when it was originally fired during World War II training were found previously in adjacent areas. While UXO items can still pose a danger decades after being left behind, the professionals working in the areas listed above are skilled experts in UXO detection and remediation. During the course of the operations, UXO teams will be using hand-held metal detectors and digging equipment to locate and investigate any potential buried UXO. For the protection of personnel and property if a potential UXO is detected, all appropriate safety measures will be taken prior to UXO personnel investigating any suspect UXO. This includes evacuating non-UXO personnel from within a predetermined standoff distance.

 

Please communicate and help spread the information to family members and friends of the upcoming operation and caution them to avoid approaching the UXO teams and interrupting their work. All efforts minimize impacts to the residents of the areas listed above are being made. We greatly appreciate the public’s cooperation. If an item is discovered appearing to be UXO, do not touch the item and immediately call the County of Hawaii Police Department at 911 or 935-3311. They will contact the appropriate agency to identify and destroy the item if necessary. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the planned clearance activities, please contact:

 

Steven Jones: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (808) 835-4016

Paul Chong: State Dept. of Health (808) 586-4256

 

 

Notification w/ Attachment

 

 

 

 

 


Contact
Steven Jones
(808) 835-4016
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
or
Paul Chong
(808) 586-4256
State Dept. of Health

Release no. 18-046