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Threat level low, but two sites on Maui might merit further cleanup

By CHRIS HAMILTON, Staff Writer
POSTED: May 8, 2008

Article Photos


While the Allies were vanquishing the Nazis and America focused on the Pacific War, the Hawaiian Islands became a major staging area and training ground for thousands of Army and Marine amphibious units and naval aviators.

According to new draft reports by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an undetermined amount of unexploded munitions from practice bombing runs and target exercises remain in Maui County.

Draft reports for four former target zones say a safety risk remains more than 60 years later, although the potential harm to the public appears to be fairly minimal.

Four zones were examined since last fall by an independent team of private contractors: Kamaole Beach in Kihei, Kanahena Point at Keoneoio, Kanounou Point at Honokohau and Manele Bay on Lanai.

The Corps of Engineers recommended further review of two areas after discovery of World War II-era practice bombs and bullets: Kanahena Point in the state Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve and Kanounou Point.

“The Army remains committed to ensuring the health and human safety of the local community and the environment and stresses that munitions encountered by the public should never be touched or handled,” said Joseph Bonfiglio, chief of public affairs for the Honolulu Engineer District at Fort Shafter.

“If you come across unexploded ordnance, remember to follow the Three R Rule. Recognize — you may have seen ammunition. Retreat — do not touch it. Report — tell the police or an adult.”

The reports comply with a 1986 Formerly Used Defense Sites Program. The U.S. Department of Defense compiled a list of 51 such sites across Hawaii. So far, none have been scratched off the list.

There are more than 9,900 similar areas nationwide. Cleanup projects are planned or under way at more than 3,000 sites, Bonfiglio said. The federal government has spent about $4 billion on the program to date and expects to spend nearly $19 billion to achieve its goal.

Parsons Corp., an engineering consulting firm with expertise with unexploded ordnance, conducted the inspections on Maui. The surveys included some soil sampling, but did not recommend any large-scale ordnance removal efforts.

However, when the team in November found a .50-caliber round and two 155 mm shrapnel projectiles at Kanahena, an Army ordnance disposal team was called in from Fort Shafter.

The point’s 989 acres were a bombing target and drill area for underwater mines from 1945 to 1946. The military practiced firing small arms, .50-caliber rounds, practice bombs and 6-inch explosive projectiles.

The report states that it is highly likely that more explosives remain in the cracks and crevices at Kanahena.

“Therefore, there is a risk of an explosive hazard at this MRS (munitions response site),” according to the Kanahena report.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has restricted access to parts of the Ahihi-Kinau reserve for two years to analyze the condition of the resources. The munitions discovery had nothing to do with the idea of closing the park, said reserve Ranger Matt Ramsey.

Old munitions have been found there for years. The study’s findings accentuate the need for visitors to stay on well-marked and traveled paths in the park, he said.

Also in 1945 and 1946, the Navy used 649 acres at Kanounou Point as a bombing range, about half on land. The inspection team found two target rings still intact. The members also detected “anomalies” under the ground. Fifty soil samples were taken but revealed no dangerous toxins or metals.

The next step is to set up a cleanup plan. Sites are ranked on a scale of 1 to 8 (1 is the highest and reserved for chemical warfare test sites), and the cleanup priority is based on ranking and available funding, Bonfiglio said.

Kanounou Point received a priority rank of 6. Kanahena Point was given a priority 2 ranking, Bonfiglio said.

Manele and Kamaole are listed as low risk, without listings on the threat scale.

Manele Bay was used as a 68-acre offshore exercise area for marine mines. The Navy placed mines, which resemble giant steel sea urchins, and then practiced locating them.

Kamaole was part of a Kihei training ground for Pacific invasions. The 2,042 acres of beaches and land were lined with replica Japanese shoreline defenses. Troops regularly conducted maneuvers and practiced underwater demolition off shore.

As the military prepared for the invasions of Japanese strongholds on Iwo Jima and Saipan, the troops outnumbered Maui residents 3-to-1, said Roslyn Lightfoot, executive director of the Maui Historical Society.

“We have photos where the ocean was filled with ships that held thousands and thousands of troops,” Lightfoot said. “And they all trained here.”

The military used 40 mm high incendiary explosive projectiles at Kamaole. But since there is no historical record of explosives discovered or of contamination, the report for Kamaole said: “There is no risk to human health or the environment from munitions.”

Today, two slabs of concrete at the south end of Kamaole Beach Park I remain as evidence of the once-vast training grounds. A historical marker briefly tells the story.

• Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-16 | Post a comment
poholopu
05-11-08 6:18 AM
EndofEmpire...DU is already in our soil..hard to ban something that's been hanging around for decades now, no? But at least here on Hawaii Island DU should be a part of the Military's TOTAL clean-up regimen, okay?

As far as banning all cancer causing activities, I think you folks should do something about the burning cane. I mean that is so stupid. If you want to do BBQs that is your choice but seriously, plastic toxins and aspartame have no business in our food. People like Rep Josh Green who killed the aspartame bill in his committee are a threat to our health.

EndofEmpire
05-09-08 4:33 PM
poholopu: Since you are so concerned about the carcinogens in the environment, I guess you are for the following: Banning vehicles, planes and boats with motors on Maui; stopping cane burning; banning the use of any plastic product on Maui; and banning back yard bbqs of any meat product.

EndofEmpire
05-09-08 4:30 PM
Wow, we just have a lot of whiny, paranoid people here on Maui. It seems like every issue, no matter how innocuous, can be linked back to one of two bogeymen: Deplete uranium, and GMOs. The right wing has the UN, black helicopters, and the Amero. The left wing has GMOs, DU and "the environment." Both sides are equally irrational and blinkered.

poholopu
05-09-08 4:11 AM
Marinedad, if you are a dad of a marine, then perhaps the meaning of depleted uranium might be of more interest to you than to me. DU is DU because it is spent meaning that it is now contaminating the ground as a carcinogenic dust ready to be churned up and blown around with the next big wind storm. Long time activist, Jim Albertini would be glad to educate you on DU at his Malu Aina blog.

PAINTDOG
05-09-08 1:46 AM
whipped the ja ps tails...

JamesKWalsh
05-09-08 1:38 AM
Since some armored vehicles were known to have been driven into pits and buried, it seems reasonable to think that there may be quantities of munitions that were either buried or dumped at sea rather than returning them to the mainland. Military disposal sites should all be re-evaluated.

Bluefin
05-08-08 10:20 PM
>>They will trash any part of Hawaii when given a chance to.<<

Yeah....remember when they dropped all those bombs on Pearl Harbor?

marinedad
05-08-08 5:27 PM
Of course we were happy when Pres. Bush the 1st stopped it.

marinedad
05-08-08 5:26 PM
we thought it was cool at the time.

marinedad
05-08-08 5:25 PM
Poholopu, Please learn the meaning of the word DEPLETED. With all the activity happing at Kamaole the 60 years and nobody found anything is a good thing. True story, Long time ago I was fishing at big beach and a bomb landed about 200 yards off the beach in the w

marinedad
05-08-08 5:25 PM
Poholopu, Please learn the meaning of the word DEPLETED. With all the activity happing at Kamaole the 60 years and nobody found anything is a good thing. True story, Long time ago I was fishing at big beach and a bomb landed about 200 yards off the beach in the w

LilZeke
05-08-08 4:56 PM
Actually there was worse! Some of the DU controversy is over blown. Outside of small accountablity errors where tracking was definitely lacking!

Here why there was Cold War practice: Davy Crockett (nuclear device) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. You'll have access yourself; links seem to be disabled for 'Net security I assume.

Warnings to keiki are advised: Recognize, Retreat Don't touch , Report.

UncleB
05-08-08 3:09 PM
Yeah we shoulda let them Ja ps and Na zis come liberate us

dasnutz
05-08-08 3:01 PM
since wen duz da government lie?

poholopu
05-08-08 2:29 PM
"The military used 40 mm high incendiary explosive projectiles at Kamaole. But since there is no historical record of explosives discovered or of contamination, the report for Kamaole said: “There is no risk to human health or the environment from munitions.”

oh yeah, the military is famous for lying too.

poholopu
05-08-08 2:27 PM
Don't forget, the military needs to clean up all toxic Depleted Uranium. I remember too when the military used to use Kahoolawe for target practice and misfire and drop the bomb on Maui. What does that tell you about the military? Can't trust them. They will trash any part of Hawaii when given a chance to.

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