OCCC inmates continued their clean-up efforts in Waimanalo Saturday, helping to pick up trash and debris along the beaches.
But they came across some potentially dangerous devices.
It did cause quite a scene because members of the Navy were called out to help, along with police and firefighters.
It started as just another typical day for these inmates, cleaning up the beaches in Waimanalo along with community members.
But about two hours into their clean-up effort, five canisters washed ashore off Kalanianaole Highway near the pier.
"It was shocking, we didn't know, we just were hauling some stuff from the beach," said Andy Jamila, Jr., with the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board.
"We found a Navy canister containing phosphorus and use it for training with the Navy," said Honolulu Police Department Sgt. Duane Samson.
An OCCC corrections officer made the discovery.
"He looked down and there was the cylinder about two feet long, was marked explosives," said Jamila.
As a precaution, federal firefighters and the Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal team were called.
Police and firefighters blocked off an area near the highway.
"They brought it up not knowing what it was," said Samson.
The Navy team examined the canister, put it into an old ammunition container with sand to make sure any chemicals around the canister was contained.
Meanwhile, traffic along Kalanianaole Highway was stopped in both directions.
They determined the device is used as a water marker that's launched into the ocean from the air.
"There was no threat to the beach once it was up here, we coned off the area, you can see behind us and the beach is open," said Samson.
"I'm happy we found it and got it off the beach so no innocent kid could either possibly get hurt or maybe some of its contents burn their skin," said Jamila.
Navy officials say the device was taken to their Westloch storage facility where they will detonate it after getting the proper permits.
