FAA says cremated The white substance that fell on Papakolea homes last month was cremated human remains dropped from an airplane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
remains fell onto
homes in Papakolea
The report confirms residents' suspicions
By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.comThat confirms the suspicions of Keopua Street residents who reported hearing a low-flying plane on Feb. 23, then something falling on their roofs. They described the substance as white, bone-like particles.
A Honolulu Fire Department HazMat Unit tested the substance and determined that it was not hazardous but could not identify it, said Capt. Richard Soo, HFD spokesman.
The FAA had no problem identifying which airplane was responsible for dropping the remains, said Tweet Coleman, FAA Pacific Representative. The aircraft was on radar when the FAA received a report from someone who saw an airplane leave a cloud of white smoke or powder, Coleman said.
"We counseled the pilot to drop cremated remains over the ocean instead of over land," she said. Coleman said it is common to scatter ashes from an airplane at sea.
Police were not aware of any laws prohibiting the scattering of cremated human remains in neighborhoods.
Coleman said the remains were of a hiker who wished to have his ashes spread over the valley.