Suspicious Device at King Kamehameha Mall Assessed

UPDATE: Dec. 12, noon

With help from personnel from the U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, Hawaiʻi Island police determined that a suspicious device found in Kona on Friday, Dec. 9, was non-explosive.

At 7:23 a.m. Friday, police received a call about a suspicious device in front of a business at the King Kamehameha Mall in Kailua-Kona.

Police evacuated the mall and formed a perimeter around the area. As a result, Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Kaiwi Street was closed to traffic until 5:05 p.m. Friday, when EOD determined that the device was not a threat.

Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section are continuing to investigate the incident as a first-degree terroristic threatening case.

Police thank the public for their patience and understanding for the inconvenience caused by the closures.

UPDATE: Dec. 9, 12:41 p.m.

The HPD has closed a shopping mall and part of a road in Kona because of a suspicious device.

At 7:23 a.m., police received a call about a suspicious device in front of a business at the King Kamehameha Mall in Kailua-Kona. Police evacuated the mall and formed a perimeter around the area.

Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Kaiwi Street, is expected to remain closed to traffic through the afternoon.

Personnel from the U.S. Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) are responding.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area. Police thank the public for their cooperation.

ORIGINAL POST: Dec. 9, 9:42 a.m.

A suspicious device found at King Kamehameha Mall has caused the temporary closure of Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Kaiwi Street, in Kailua-Kona.

The expected closure time is approximately 8 hours.

The Hawai’i Police Department thanks the public for their cooperation, patience and understanding regarding this matter.