UXO Site selected: Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area, HI
General Area: Kamuela, HI

Site Type/Program: FUDS

Location: The Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area is about 91,000 acres in size and located on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii, in Kamuela. The maneuver area rests on a slope surrounded by three of the five shield volcanoes that compose the Island of Hawaii. On the north is Kohala Mountains, the oldest volcanic features on the island. On the southwest is the Hualalai Cone and crater, and on the east is Mauna Kea. Coastal land bounds the maneuver area on the west.

Brief History: In December 1943, approximately 91,000 acres were acquired by the U.S. Navy through a licensing agreement with Richard Smart of the Parker Ranch, as a world War II military training camp and live fire range. Portions of the 91,000 acre were used as an artillery firing range, and others for troop maneuvers. The entire Waikoloa Maneuver Area was in constant use, as the Marine infantry reviewed every phase of training from individual fighting to combat team exercises. Intensive live-fire training was conducted in forested areas, cane fields, and around the cinder hills, in particular Puu Pa, and Holoholoku. Artillerymen learned how to load and unload howitzers from large amphibian trucks, and practiced with hand grenades, 37 mm, 75 mm, 105 mm, and 155 mm high explosive shells, 4.2 inch mortar rounds, and test-fired packages of Japanese language surrender leaflets.
Range / Site Description:

Associated Munitions:

Activities Completed: Draft EE/CA report

Issues: Several sweeps of the Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area have been conducted. The first occurred in 1946 by the 1522nd MIDPAC Engineers Operation Search Dud Team. The sweep took place over 2-1/2 months, and was focused on impact areas used for artillery and bombing practice. A large detail of personnel criss-crossed the range at arm’s length distance searching for OE. At completion, the officer in charge declared that the area had been thoroughly policed for dud shells. However, he added that certain areas were impossible to search (i.e., around large cactuses) and OE could still be present. In 1954, following the death of two Parker Ranch employees, a team of 50 men from Ordnance disposal units from Fort Shafter and Hickam Air Force Base searched 1100 acres, and identified and disposed of thousands of munitions.

Other Information: Removal Action
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