A massive boulder that had threatened homes of an East Oahu neighborhood has been broken up into smaller pieces so it can be taken away.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources said workers broke the boulder into smaller pieces on Monday. Throughout the week, workers will bag the pieces and prepare for them to be taken away by helicopter.

The boulder, estimated to weigh as much as 10 tons, was pulled away from the ridge over Niu Valley last week. About two dozen homes were evacuated while it perched on the hillside above.

Breaking apart and removing the pieces won’t require another evacuation, DLNR officials said.