Mika Wilson, front, and Lisa Omokawa of Sukyo Mahikarai pick up trash at Magic Island the morning after Fourth of July celebrations there. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

The weather didn't prevent thousands of people from enjoying a fireworks spectacular off Ala Moana beach park. Those revelers left a hefty load of trash for city officials to contend with, however.

Wind gusting to 35 mph and rough surf yesterday forced the Kailua Chamber of Commerce to cancel the display, which has been held just offshore of Kailua Beach for more than 50 years, said Larry Lanning, coordinator of the show. He said the traditional 10-minute display drew about 10,000 people.

In previous years, the Kailua chamber used Popoi'a Island­ commonly known as Flat Island ­ as a base to launch the fireworks. But complaints about the harm it did to the island's bird sanctuary two years ago forced the chamber to launch the show from a barge.

The surf yesterday was too rough to safely bring the barge over the reef near the island, and when organizers tried instead to launch fireworks from Kailua Beach, the gusting winds could have taken the ashes too close to spectators, homes and vegetation, Lanning said.

"This could happen every year and the situation could be the same," Lanning said. "We really have to talk once more about using part of Flat Island. We just need a little kokua for a little side of the island. The birds have lasted there. We have been there for 50 years and the birds get bigger every year."

The island is "the perfect distance from shore," he said and suggested a small fenced area that would be used only to launch the fireworks.

The show would have cost $21,000, all donated from businesses and the community. What happens to that money will have to be negotiated, said Donald Pascual, sales and safety manager for Hawai'i Explosives and Pyrotechnics.

"Mother Nature prevailed," Pascual said. "We really extended ourselves and exhausted all the options before we made that call. We appreciate that the community understands this. I really didn't want to give up."

The weather did not prevent officials from launching a fireworks display from Magic Island last night.

Thousands of people gathered at Ala Moana Beach Park yesterday in anticipation of the show and turned the area into a small, barbecue-scented city. But like every community, the picnickers left a small mountain of rubbish.

Clean-up crews stayed until 10 p.m. yesterday. A second shift arrived at 2 a.m. today, and by 10 a.m. three-quarters of the trash was gone.

City spokesman Doug Woo said the amount of trash was no different than in previous years.