Ask the Mayor: Why Wasn’t the Grenade Area Evacuated?

Maui Now stock photo. Jan. 2017

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the questions submitted to his staff.

Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at [email protected], 270-7855 or mail them to 200 S. High Street, 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

Hi Mayor,

Q: I was shopping at VIP on Monday when someone said police found a grenade nearby. Shouldn’t we have been evacuated from the area? Seems like there should have been precautions taken.

A: Maui police did take precautions by closing down Amala Place from Kanaha Beach Park to Ka‘a Street in both directions.

According to the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists, it was an older model grenade that they recovered and destroyed.

Had police felt there was any danger posed to residents or businesses beyond the perimeter they had established, they would have evacuated anyone nearby.

This was not the case here and I believe they acted appropriately by cordoning off the area and contacting Army EOD.