Discovery of WWII-era bomb at Bellows highlights ongoing risk of unexploded ordnance

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Another decades-old bomb was unearthed recently in a recreation area at Bellows Air Force Station.

In the 1930s, the portion of the base in the area of the Menehune Campground was used as a bombing range. Nearly a century later, it’s become a popular vacation destination for service members and their families.

For almost two months, the base has been mostly off-limits to visitors as part of a massive effort to scour the 24-acre site in search of more hidden hazards. The work was prompted by the discovery of a 25-pound Cooper bomb at a campsite two years ago.

Bellows Air Force Station Commander Maj. Dalin Chhen said, “Just out of precaution, we decided to put the signs up.”

The signage is posted across the recreation area warning all ground disturbing activities are prohibited. That means no staked tents, no beach umbrellas, officials even caution against building sand castles.

RELATED: Despite cleanup, threat of unexploded ordnance on Hawaii Island remains high

“The big risk is that if you encounter one of these munitions, and you disturb it, you could set it off,” said State Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office Voluntary Clean-up Specialist Sven Lindstrom. “They are still potentially as dangerous as they were on the day they were fired.”

Officials say most of what’s been found dates back to the 1930s, when the base was used as a bombing range.

But there have been some surprises.

The military said the bomb that was found most recently was a 37mm round — dropped by the Japanese on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked during World War II.

HNN Investigates

Chhen said, “Bellows was one of the targets at well.”

Records show two United States airmen were killed in the bombing.

More than 80 years later, crews found the explosive buried a little more than 2 1/2-feet deep in a grassy area just north of the Menehune Campground between the Turtle Cove building and Waimanalo Bay.

Shortly after the relic was found, it was safely detonated by experts.

As of Apr. 6, crews also recovered a total of 208 pounds of munitions debris.

HNN Investigates asked Maj. Chhen, “When the clean-up is complete how certain are we that the area will be safe, and there will be no more explosives left?”

He responded, “We’re looking at as many areas as possible. They did their due diligence and used the latest equipment. We’re confident that we’re finding as many as they can.”

But not necessarily everything.

While the technicians surveying Bellows are equipped with the most advanced technology Lindstrom says, “There’s still limitations to the detection depths. So the smaller the item is, the harder it is to detect if it’s deeper in the ground.”

There’s also no way to know what’s under parking lots and buildings. That’s not an issue now. But could be in the future in the event there’s any construction down the road.

The state says the recreation site isn’t the only area of concern.

A 140-acre plot of land located at the southern most point of the base was once at the center of an urban warfare training camp.

Today, the area is often frequented by hikers, the homeless and those who like to go off-roading.

Despite clean-up efforts that started decades ago officials believe there are likely still more bombs out there. Explosives like mortars and grenades.

Lindstrom says the biggest concern about that area is, “Just making sure that people are aware of the potential hazards out there. We really don’t want people going on that property at all. If they do we don’t want them digging around or exploring.”

He added, there’s also a chance some of the old explosives are in Waimanalo Bay.

Officials say if you stumble across one don’t touch it. Carefully back away and immediately report it by calling 911.

The clean-up at the Bellows recreation area will continue through the end of the month. HNN Investigates will let you know if technicians find any additional bombs.

Meanwhile, Bellows Air Force Station is expected to reopen to visitors May 1.

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