Fortunately, officials say the device was determined non-explosive.
It all started around 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning when more than 200 visitors were told to evacuate Hanauma bay.
"We’ve been at the bay probably for about a hour and then we heard the speaker phone that the guys use and they said everyone out of the water," says Paula Dosanjh, visiting from San Francisco.
Once the ordnance was found, military officials advised a 300 foot diameter around it.
Police closed the beach, not allowing anyone into the bay.
"They sent hazmat down and they sent a fire truck down and there was about two to three cop cars down there and they just pulled everyone out of the water and evacuated the beach," says Tiffany Waardenburg, visiting from Canada.
"You guys with Kamaaina tours see the white vans right there all the way," says Matt Rabi, Hawaiian Adventure Tours.
Many visitors who booked tours had a hard time finding where to go.
"We’re supposed to have a lot of people today going there but because of this situation everybody came back so we lose big time," says Rabi.
Fire officials say a diver found the ordnance in an area called Witch’s Brew.
"iIt was determined that this wasn’t an explosive but it contained phosphorus it was what they call a white data marker and its used by the military to mark locations," says Honolulu Fire Captain Earle Kealoha.
Officials say the device is a canister about three feet in length and six inches in diameter.
"I was told again that the military does drill using these canisters and in the past they have found some of these washing up along bellows and other beaches along the windward side," says Captain Kealoha.
As for the visitors who had to leave Hanauma bay many will have to come back another day.
Park officials say Hanauma Bay will reopen tomorrow.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
