KAILUA-KONA >> The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning to study parts of the Big Island to determine the extent of munitions and explosives remaining from military training on more than 3 square miles near the Kohala Mountains.

West Hawaii Today reports that the corps will study land within the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area, which covers 192 square miles on Hawaii island’s northwest side and served as a military camp and artillery range for thousands of troops between 1943 and 1945.

In the coming months the corps’ crews will evaluate the extent of explosives and munitions of concern remaining on a specific area.

To date, more than 100 types of munitions have been found within the Waikoloa Maneuver Area, including mortar rounds, projectiles, hand grenades, rockets, land mines and Japanese ordnance.

Hawaiian links Kona, Lihue with their first direct flight

Hawaiian Airlines on Sunday began daily nonstop service between Lihue and Kona.

The inaugural flight marked the first time the two cities have been connected without a stop in between. The 263-mile flight, about an hour each way, is now Hawaiian’s longest neighbor island route, 60 miles longer than between Honolulu and Hilo.

Hawaiian Flight 599 leaves Kona at 9:38 a.m., and Flight 500 leaves Lihue at 3:44 p.m.

Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines said Thursday it will begin daily nonstop service between San Francisco and Kona beginning Dec. 14.

The Seattle-based carrier, which in December finalized its acquisition of Virgin America, will depart San Francisco at 11 a.m. and arrive in Kona at 2:30 p.m. The return leg leaves Kona at 3:30 p.m. and arrives in San Francisco at 10:35 p.m.

Alaska Airlines will use an Airbus A320 on the route.