Silent Night, Holy Night? Not in Maui.

It feels and sounds like a war zone or terrorist attack in Central Maui.

Maui residents and visitors are experiencing nightly (and occasionally during afternoon hours) jarring booms from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other illegal fireworks.

An IED is a homemade bomb or destructive device used to cause damage, injury, or death. The majority of these IED explosions have been known to occur in the Central Maui area.

This started early in November, although they have escalated since December. It is not unusual to hear 15 of these explosions in one hour. According to a Nextdoor community online forum, many people have called the Maui Police non-emergency number to report these illegal fireworks.

It is deeply troubling that this issue has not garnered more media attention, especially given the serious safety risks and mental health impact of our community. The only media coverage was the recent reports of arrests by the Maui Police Department and FBI of two Maui men in possession of IEDs involving destruction to a property and a car.

Do we have to wait for a death, injury, fires or a surge of missing pets to occur? New Year’s Eve is a few days away. It is expected that these IED’s and other illegal fireworks will increase in severity and frequency.

Our community should not be subjected to the further suffering and threat to our public health including mental health and public safety from these repeated explosions occurring in our community.

Please Maui Police Department, please make it a priority.

Ann Pitcaithley

Wailuku