A sign nearby reminded the Kaimuki electrical contractor that he would have to get a permit from the city to buy 5,000 firecrackers for New Year's Eve.

At $25, the permit costs more than the firecrackers, which were selling for $20.77.

"Sure I'm going to get a permit," said Tomita, owner of Pineapple Electric. "It's cultural. We've been lighting firecrackers at New Year's ever since I can remember.

"But I'm not going to get as many as I used to. It just costs too much."

Tomita's dilemma was being repeated across O'ahu yesterday amid forecasts that firecracker sales will be down sharply again this year because of the new permit system, now in its second year.

About 146 permits were sold on O'ahu yesterday, bringing the total to 273. By this time last year, more than 1,432 permits had been sold, a good portion of the 6,427 permits sold by year's end.

"We are way down at this point in the game," said Carol Costa, spokesperson for the mayor's office.

Scott Tomita of Kaimuki checks out a box of 5,000 firecrackers on sale at Daiei. He planned to spring for the required $25 permit. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

However, Costa noted that history shows that many people, like Tomita, will wait until the last few days to buy their permits.

Plus, many people opt for novelty fireworks available in stores and booths that do not require a permit. And fire officials warn those novelty items can be as dangerous as firecrackers.

Fire department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada warned they are not toys and people need to be careful when using them.

"It is not so much the explosive dangers, but they are a fire hazard because they emit showers and sparks," Tejada said. "On those you really want to make sure there is nothing combustible around."

Tejada said people buy novelty fireworks because they want to participate in the holiday celebrations, but really have no idea what items shaped like volcanos or motorcycles really do after lighting the fuse.

"They use the catch all term, 'Emits showers and sparks,' and you don't know what it does," he said. "They use the same kind of powder in firecrackers, so the smoke can be just as dangerous."

A non-aerial novelty firework is any device that shoots sparks no more than 12 feet in any direction. Anything higher than that is considered an aerial device and is illegal without the proper permits. Some residents buy aerials illegally and set them off in crowded neighborhoods, Tejada said. Last year a Palolo woman was killed when an illegal aerial set fire to her home.

The permit system was created in reaction to complaints that firecrackers on New Year's Eve had overrun the city with smoke and noise, creating health problems.

The year before the law was passed, the misuse of fireworks on New Year's Eve was believed responsible for the death of one man and the injury of at least one teenager.

Under the new law, permits can be obtained on O'ahu from city hall and satellite city halls through Monday.

Firecrackers can be purchased from licensed sellers until 9 p.m. New Year's Eve, and ignited only between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.

The number of licenses issued for fireworks sellers dropped this year by nearly half from last year, and major retailers have indicated they will carry a smaller inventory, the Honolulu Fire Department said.

Only 123 permits have been issued to O'ahu fireworks businesses, compared with 237 last year, said Tejada. Of those, 98 have been issued to retailers, seven to importers, nine to storage businesses and nine to wholesalers, with some holding licenses in more than one category, Tejada said.