Navy team handles buoy flare found off Keawekapu Beach

A Navy explosive ordnance disposal team traveled Sunday from Oahu to Maui to remove a buoy flare that swimmers had brought to land the night before, a Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman said.

At about 6 p.m. Saturday, swimmers found an object floating in the water at the south end of Keawekapu Beach in Kihei, Deborah Ward, DLNR spokeswoman, said.

“It was still smoking, and they brought it in and put it on the beach,” Ward said.

The swimmers called police, who called DLNR.

DLNR officials cordoned off the device, which was determined to be a white phosphorous buoy flare about 2 feet long, and contacted the Navy’s EOD team.

Ward said the EOD team arrived on Maui before 10 a.m. Sunday and took the flare to Ukumehame firing range, where it was destroyed.

Ward said when a possible explosive ordnance is found, those who find it should recognize the device, retreat and report it to authorities.