Elected officials look to curb illegal fireworks on Maui
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State and county lawmakers along with Gov. Josh Green are looking at ways to reduce illegal fireworks in light of four dead and more than 20 injured in a fireworks explosion on Oahu as well as dozens of fires statewide on New Year's Eve.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the governor's office said Green is looking at ways to strengthen the enforcement of current state laws and at possible amendments to stiffen penalties on those who knowingly violate them.
From 6 p.m. New Year's Eve to 6 a.m. Jan. 1, there were 22 fires on Maui alone, though there were no reports of injuries or major property damage. According to Honolulu Fire officials, Oahu had 30 fireworks-related fires.
The explosions and aerial fireworks on Maui prompted some people to remember the damage that occurred during the 2023 wildfires in Kula and particularly Lahaina, where 102 people died and more than 2,200 structures were destroyed.
State Rep. Della Au Belatti of Oahu said she's open to considering raising the fines for large distributors of illegal fireworks, increasing the criminal penalties and stepping up enforcement of state fireworks laws.
Under Hawaii state law, possession of more than 25 pounds of illegal fireworks is a Class C felony with imprisonment of up to five years and a fine up to $10,000.
State Rep. Elle Cochran also said she is willing to look at ways to curb illegal fireworks after this New Year's Eve when parts of aerial fireworks were dropping into her Lahaina yard.
"It was landing all over the place," she said.
Cochran said she got in her truck with her dogs, left her subdivision and found a place to park and sleep.
"My dogs were still trembling even though we were miles away," Cochran said.
She said she herself went through her own trauma with memories of the Lahaina wildfire. Cochran said neighborhoods might reduce fireworks by designating fireworks areas and improving neighborhood street enforcement.
"There probably needs to be more police patrols," she said.
Maui County Council Vice Chair Yuki Sugimura said she could see sporadic fireworks and smoke rising in the Kahului-Wailuku area from her home in Kula.
"I could see the smoke and what was happening," she said. "We've got to do more because it's not stopping residents."
Sugimura said fireworks also have different effects on people and can be traumatic for some war veterans such as her brother, who served in Vietnam.
Maui Humane Society spokesperson Victoria Ivankic said the number of reports of lost and found pets increased to 33 close to New Year's Eve and Jan. 1.
"Cats and dogs are scared and run away," she said.
Ivankic said it would be helpful for pet owners to know when the fireworks are going to take place so that they can plan ahead, but she said on Monday that she was still hearing fireworks exploding in her neighborhood.
Aerial fireworks are illegal unless a permit is issued by the county. The import, transfer, sale or use of aerial fireworks without a permit is a Class C felony, according to county officials.
In Maui County, the sale of consumer fireworks was permitted starting Dec. 27 and ending at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1.
A fireworks permit is not required during designated times for consumer fireworks such as sparklers, snakes and cylindrical or cone fountains that emit effects not higher than 12 feet off the ground.
However, a firecracker permit is required for firecrackers, which were sold at designated locations including eight stores on Maui and two each on Molokai and Lanai.
Each firecracker permit cost $25, and each permit allowed a purchase of up to 5,000 pieces of firecrackers. There was no limit to the number of permits issued to each person.