HONOLULU -- Officials warned hundreds of Wilhelmina Rise residents to evacuate Thursday as chemical disposal experts converged on the neighborhood to remove a box of suspicious vials found three days ago.

For the first time in three days, residents who live near where the vials were found were let back in their homes.

Police, fire, hazardous materials, Civil Defense, paramedics, the health department and the National Guard's weapons of mass destruction team moved on a home on Paula Drive Thursday.

They were there for about 78 decades-old military vials. The National Guard's Adjutant Gen. Robert Lee believes the ampoules contain diluted chemical weapons.

Resident Kelly McArthur found the vials months ago when she was cleaning the home formerly owned by the late Col. Ernest Thomas. Thomas was a chemical engineer for the Army.

"I figured it was some type of chemical. I thought it might be Clorox. Somebody told me it might be water. In the old days, they used to put water in glasses like that," McArthur said.

She said she was exposed to the chemical about six weeks ago when some of the vials broke after a friend helped her move them.

"There had to be leakage and if there was, and it was really dangerous, I think I wouldn't be standing here right now," McArthur said.

However, crews were not taking any chances. Earlier in the day, before moving the vials, neighbors were told to evacuate or stay inside.

Department of Health workers canvassed the area, letting neighbors know what was going on. Residents were warned if they didn't leave, they should close windows and stay inside.

"I'm scared, very scary. (It) might have started to get corroded and start leaking out," neighbor Vera Kurima said.

Just after 1 p.m., a weapons of mass destruction team suited up in protective gear and reached the vials.

It took about 20 minutes to carefully package the 78 vials. Firefighters said none were broken.

"They picked it up vial by vial and then they put it into the packing material, which was essentially like a foam with holes," Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Kenison Tejada said.

The vials were taken to Wheeler Army Airfield, where an Army team from the mainland is expected to test the vials and then destroy them.