Olomana considers fireworks experiment

Residents of the Olomana subdivision have had it "up to here" with fireworks, and are thinking about taking matters into their own hands.

It’s just too early to say where their initiative might lead. It’s not even clear that a majority of Olomana residents favors a ban on fireworks.

But several residents have begun to talk about going where the state and counties have feared to tread — instituting a neighborhood-wide ban on fireworks.

It may be the first time in Hawai‘i that homeowners outside of private communities have tried to ban fireworks.

Would it involve hiring police or security guards or acting themselves as vigilantes to enforce their ban?

It’s too soon to say.

In fact, a neighborhood probably doesn’t have the power to impose a ban that would have the force of law.

But that doesn’t stop law enforcement officers from saying they support whatever Olomana is up to.

Assistant Police Chief Boisse Correa, who once pubicly said his department is unwilling to enforce fireworks laws because they’re unpopular, said he’d back Olomana’s move to community consensus. "It’s better than any law we could pass through the Legislature," he said.

Mary Moore, president of the community association, thinks the ban would have to be voluntary, because, after all, some fireworks are legal.

We’re not sure what Olomana will come up with on the fireworks issue, but we’re watching closely.

It’s pretty clear by now that we need viable answers.

[back to top]