Hawai‘i Police Department
South Hilo Patrol Division
Captain Reed K. Mahuna
Phone: (808) 961-2214
Report No.: 20-096085
Media Release
Around 1:20 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2020, police responded to a call about the discovery of a possible military round at a location on Lawai Road in Hilo. A plumbing contractor called the police after finding what looked like a “large bullet”, 10.5 inches long and 3.5 inches in diameter, while clearing a piece of property.
Responding officers determined that the projectile was indeed a military round and upon conferring with the U.S. Army 303rd EOD Battalion, determined that an evacuation was not needed. Police officers remained at the scene overnight pending U.S. Army response.
Just after 12:00 p.m. today, members of the Hawaii Police Department and the U.S. Army 303rd EOD battalion transported the projectile safely to Pohakuloa Training Area for disposal.
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. The police, in turn, will contact a U.S. Army Explosive Ordinance Detachment to dispose of the explosives.
