HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Thursday was the day after Christmas — which also meant it was the first day for people on Oahu to line up to start the new year with a bang.
Last year, the Honolulu Fire Department sold nearly 14,000 fireworks permits at $25 each.
On Thursday, Pacific Fireworks opened a pop-up shop at Kapalama Shopping Center, where each permit is good for 5,000 firecrackers.
“Sales are up,” said Pacific Fireworks owner Dino Alexakaos. “I think permit sales are up for the year, but it’s been pretty good today.”
“Primarily just firecrackers,” said Kalihi resident Kerry Ugale, who described himself as his family’s “pyro guy” and buys the firecrackers every year.
“I got eight permits, so just trying to max that out,” he said.
MORE: Ready to ring in the new year with some firecrackers? Here’s how to get a permit
But only firecrackers are allowed on Oahu. Everything else has been illegal for the past 14 years.
Two months ago, a few city council members tried to overturn the ban, but the mayor vetoed it.
“People come in looking for smoke bombs and Morning Glory’s — and then I tell them they’e not legal,” said Alexakaos. “Nobody knows. It’s just weird.”
“Like sparklers, ground blooms, all that kind of stuff, the fountains,” said Ugale. ”I feel like ever since they took that stuff away, everyone kinda resorted to the big stuff that you hear now.”
That big stuff includes the illegal aerials that make up the astonishing pyrotechnic displays over virtually every neighborhood on Oahu.’
“It’s very difficult for us to chase down one firework at a time all over the place,” said Honolulu Police Department Maj. Randy Platt.
To make an arrest, Honolulu police still have to witness a violation, or have a witness who’s willing to go on the record.
“It is a challenge. If you see illegal aerials going off, make the call to 911. We’ll service the call as manpower allows,” said Platt. “We expect it to be busy New Year’s Eve, especially. But again, we’ll do what we can.”
The state Department of Law Enforcement is trying to help, seizing more than 187,000 pounds of fireworks in the past year.
“They’ve actually acquired new technology,” said state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, who’s been spearheading an Illegal Fireworks Task Force.
“They actually scan quite a bit of cargo coming in, and as time goes on and technologies get better, they’re going to be able to confiscate even more.”
A new state law this year gives police and fire officials more inspection powers. And Dela Cruz says people can leave anonymous tips on the SaferWatch app or by calling 808-517-2182.
However some say the real solution is letting people have their sparklers and fountains again.
“Maybe if they bring that back, maybe that will minimize that so that they’ll save all that big stuff for ‘the day’ and they’ll pop all the small stuff,” said Ugale.
On Oahu, legal fireworks can be ignited between 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve and 1 a.m. New Year’s Day.
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