UXO 3Rs Training Sheet-20191016 Waikoloa 3Rs Trifold.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- B27000130
- Issued by
- Hawaii County, Hawaii
About this file
This document is a public safety educational material prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in coordination with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands regarding unexploded ordnance (UXO) hazards in South Kohala, Hawaii. The material addresses the Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area (FWMA), a 160-square-mile region on the Island of Hawaii that was used by the Navy from 1943 to 1946 for artillery training and maneuvers with live ammunition. Although munitions removal actions have been conducted since the land's return to Parker Ranch in 1946, artillery shells, fuzes, mines, rockets, grenades, and mortars remain present and pose significant safety risks to residents and the public. The document emphasizes that munitions become increasingly unpredictable with age and can detonate from minimal contact, and instructs the public to learn and follow the "3Rs of Explosive Safety": Recognize, Retreat, and Report.
The safety guide provides detailed guidance on identifying potential munitions encounters on land or in water, noting that ordnance may appear in various sizes, shapes, and colors, ranging from obvious bomb-like objects to items resembling pipes, cans, or automotive parts. The document explicitly instructs individuals to avoid approaching, touching, moving, or disturbing suspected munitions and to immediately vacate the area by retracing their entry path. Residents are directed to report suspected munitions to 911 on land or via Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) at sea, providing detailed location and description information to facilitate response by explosive ordnance disposal personnel. Emergency contact information includes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Office in Honolulu and the Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library, with references to the Army's Explosive Safety Education website at 3Rs.mil for additional information.
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Text version
Background The 160 square mile Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area (FWMA) is in South Kohala on the Island of Hawaii. FWMA includes Ouli, Waikoloa Village, and Waimea.
The Navy established FWMA on Parker Ranch in 1943 through an agreement with Parker Ranch. Training included artillery firing with live ammunition and troop maneuvers. In 1946, the land was returned to Parker Ranch.
Although several munitions removal actions have been conducted, munitions including artillery shells, fuzes, mines, rockets, grenades and mortars are still present. Although these munitions have been in the environment for nearly 70 years, they remain dangerous.
Some munitions become more sensitive with age and can detonate with the slightest touch.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is removing munitions from areas easily accessible to the public, but this will take many years to complete. Even though munitions are rarely encountered, people living and playing near the FWMA should be aware of the potential hazard munitions pose. As such, being wary of any of old metal objects they come across in the area.
Help protect yourself, your family, and community from the potential explosive hazards present by learning and following the 3Rs of Explosive Safety (Recognize, Retreat, Report).
Emergency Contacts
• On land: Call 911
• At sea: Use Channel 16 (156.800 MHz)
An area containing printed information on the Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area is located at:
Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library Phone: (808) 887-6067
Contact US Army Corps of Engineers:
Public Affairs Office - Honolulu District
Phone: (808) 835-4004 CEPOH-PA@usace.army.mil
WMABoundaryExpansion@usace.army.mil
Project website:
www.poh.usace.army.mil/Missions/
Environmental/FUDS/Waikoloa.aspx for additional information.
Learn and follow the
3Rs of Explosives Safety
Visit the US Army’s Explosive Safety Education website:
3Rs.mil
October 2019
Waikoloa Information 3Rs Safety Guide ecognize etreat eport ecognize etreat eport
3Rs.mil
Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area mailto:CEPOH-PA@usace.army.mil mailto:WMABoundaryExpansion@usace.army.mil
Recognize when you may have encountered a munition and that munitions are dangerous.
Recognizing when you may have encountered a munition and that munitions are dangerous are the most important steps in reducing the risk of injury or death. Munitions may be encountered on land or in the water. They may be easy or hard to identify.
To avoid the risk of injury or death, follow the 3Rs of explosives safety and remember:
Munitions may be encountered on land or in the water. They may be easy or hard to identify.
Be aware that munitions are dangerous and they do not become safer with age
Do not be tempted to take or keep a munition as a souvenir.
Munitions come in many sizes, shapes and colors. Some may look like bullets or bombs while others look like pipes, small cans or even a car muffler. Whether whole or in parts, new or old, shiny or rusty, munitions can still explode. The easiest way to avoid injury or death is to stay out of areas marked with warning signs or charted as restricted.
Immediately notify the police if on land, or the U.S. Coast Guard, if on navigable waters.
Protect yourself, your family, your friends and your community by immediately reporting munitions or suspected munitions to the police.
Help us by providing as much information as you can remember about what you saw and where you saw it. This will help the police and military or civilian explosive ordnance disposal personnel find, evaluate and address the situation.
If you believe you may have encountered a munition, call 911 and report:
The area where you encountered it.
Its general description. Remember, do not approach touch, move or disturb it.
When possible, provide:
• Its estimated size
• Its shape
• Any visible markings, including coloring
Do not approach, touch, move or disturb it, but carefully leave the area.
When you encounter or think you have encountered a munition, avoid death or injury by retreating from the area.
If you encounter or suspect you have encountered a munition:
Do not approach, touch, move or disturb it.
Immediately and carefully leave the area;
retrace your steps out of the area by the same path which you entered.
Once safely away from the munition, mark the path (e.g., with a piece of clothing) so response personnel can find the munition.
ecognize etreat eport
| Background |
| Follow |
| the 3Rs |
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