WAILUKU -- Residents were evacuated Wednesday afternoon from 21 houses at the end of Mokuhau Road in Happy Valley, as police investigated a suspicious package at a residence.
Along with police, the Fire Department's hazardous materials team responded to the residence after 1:30 p.m. after a resident called police to report what was reported to be a possible homemade bomb. Officials established a 100-yard perimeter around the house, which is set back from the road on the Wailuku side of the street. Police officers evacuated 36 residents from houses on Mokuhau Road between its intersection with Hanalei Place and the end of the road.
"It's pretty gnarly," said Tahj Orine, who walked her dog Bruza from a friend's house after the evacuation was ordered.
With additional residents expected to be displaced as they returned home from work later in the day, a temporary shelter was set up at the old Wailuku gym Wednesday afternoon.
A military Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit from Oahu was expected to arrive Wednesday evening to examine and dispose of the suspicious package.
