Police say that shortly before noon on Saturday, a Hilo resident arrived at the Hilo Police Station Receiving Desk to turn in what appeared to be an unexploded grenade they had discovered at a vacant home in Hilo.
Officers immediately isolated the object, closed off the surrounding area, and ensured that all vehicles and pedestrian traffic were diverted from the area, calling a halt to operations at the main police station.
The Hawaii Island Bomb Squad used a robot to remotely move the grenade into a reinforced bomb disposal chamber away from the building and away from public access. An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team recovered the grenade for disposal and determined it was not a threat.
The Hilo Police Station Receiving Desk resumed operations around 9 p.m.
Police remind the public that anyone who finds unexploded ordnance should leave it in place, leave the property, and call 911 or the police department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311.