No sales to help keep pop out of fireworks July 4

There will be less pop this Fourth of July, as Maui County retailers apparently will not be selling firecrackers in their stores.

Novelty fireworks, such as fountains and sparklers, will still be sold. Fire Department officials, who reported earlier this week that there would be no firecracker sales, noted that fireworks sales in the islands have traditionally been slower for the Fourth of July than for the New Year's holiday. Sales have also been declining since customers had to start getting a $25 county permit to buy firecrackers. Each permit allows 5,000 firecrackers, and there is no limit to the number of permits a customer can get.

Vendors were not surprised there would be no firecrackers this year.

"In reality, most of the locals want to play fireworks in the New Year," said Kevin Misaki, manager of Misaki's on Molokai.

On Lanai, Pine Isle Market has not sold July Fourth firecrackers for several years.

Kerry Honda said that when he had firecrackers in stock, they didn't sell well during the summer holiday.

Now that they're gone, he said his customers didn't miss them.

"Already they don't like that $25 permit," he added.

Both Misaki and Honda said the fireworks they sell are determined by their vendor, TNT Fireworks, and not by the store.

TNT is one of several fireworks distributors in the state.

Chad Cloutier, a director of sales at TNT's branch in Tacoma, Wash., said slow Fourth of July firecracker sales in the past was the reason why they weren't being sold on Maui this year, although some would be sold on Oahu.

"It's not as traditional as the New Year's, people are occupied with the parties they have," he said.

Cloutier said larger stores such as Star Market and Foodland used to carry firecrackers for the July holiday, but TNT was seeing more and more of them being shipped back without being sold.

He added that the "paperless crackers" that were introduced several years ago have largely taken the place of the firecracker for the Fourth of July.

The paperless crackers are similar to firecrackers but do not need a permit and leave less debris.

Fire officials also believe the paperless crackers have led to a decline in firecracker permit sales over New Year's.

Although there will be no firecrackers this Fourth of July, Capt. Val Martin of the Maui County Fire Prevention Bureau is cautioning the public about fireworks use, especially during this dry season.

"I think the big thing this year is our lack of water resources. We are going to use a lot of water if a fire occurs," Martin said.

"It's very important that people take into consideration the dangers, and only purchase enough fireworks that are going to be used that night or that afternoon or evening."

Fireworks can be legally set off from 1 to 9 p.m. on July 4.

"We don't want people storing them, and the kids setting them off, the unused ones, when mom and dad are both at work the following week," Martin said.

According to a county water use report released last week, west Molokai is in severe drought status, while water flows in the Upcountry water system are approaching historic lows.

The U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that all of the islands have been abnormally dry since March. Central Maui and portions of Upcountry were listed in moderate drought last month.

Martin said the same areas as usual are "dry and tinder" this year, including vacant lands in South Maui from Kilohana Drive toward Wailea along Piilani Highway.

On a recent trip to Molokai, Martin also noticed areas in Hoolehua were dry.

With the closure of Molokai Ranch, Martin said the fire department no longer has ranch staff on hand with expertise and equipment to help fight fires that occur on ranch land.

But Martin said there are groups on Molokai that cut firebreaks and perform other brush fire prevention measures on the island.

Maui Fire Department Capt. Travis Tancayo has also been leading groups to perform prevention measures, Martin said.

But Martin added that just having dry brush is not illegal as long as it is maintained according to code.

Martin said people should also cut firebreaks near their homes and make sure combustible items, such as leaves and recycled newspapers, are not next to their homes.

"Anything that can burn readily during a fire should not be put up against the home," he said.

Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.