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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, January 24, 2003

Kailua fireworks show may lose out to Bayfest

Vote in our poll: Do you think the Kailua Fourth of July fireworks display should be discontinued?

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

KAILUA — The Kailua Chamber of Commerce is considering breaking with decades of tradition and discontinuing the annual Fourth of July fireworks display, but first it wants to hear from local residents.

A decision has to be made by Monday to lock in the reservation for a launching barge, said David Earles, chamber president. The question is, does the community want to continue the tradition?

"It's not that we're looking for financial support," said David Earles, chamber president. "We're looking to find the pulse of the people in Kailua."

The chamber has sponsored a July 4th parade and fireworks event for more than 25 years, and fireworks off Popoi'a (Flat) Island at Kailua Beach Park have been a tradition for 50 years. Every year, thousands of people turn out to watch the fireworks.

But this year, the nearby Kane'ohe Marine base has decided to host its annual Bayfest event — featuring entertainment, military displays, carnival rides and fireworks displays — on the Fourth of July weekend. In the past the event has been held in August and September.

That, coupled with the $20,000 cost of Kailua's fireworks, difficulty with financing and problems with the location in recent years has the business group pondering the future of its event.

Bayfest attracts 30,000 military personnel and civilians.

The base decided to hold the event on the Fourth of July to take advantage of the extra day off, said Jim Bocci, marketing director for Marine Corps Community Services, which organizes Bayfest.

"Since it is the Fourth of July and we are a military installation, the patriot angle seems a natural one for us," he said.

Earles said three of the five fireworks sponsors — each of which pays about $3,000 to help defray the cost of the show — question the wisdom of competing with Bayfest.

Auto dealer Mike McKenna said he sponsors both events and would continue to do so, especially the Kailua fireworks display.

"I always said, 'Whatever you need, I'll give you,' " McKenna said.

The other sponsors are Foodland, Kaneohe Ranch, Ameron Hawaii and Papa John's Pizza.

For several years the show has been plagued with financial and other troubles. In 2000 and 2002, a financial shortfall threatened to end the event until sponsors stepped forward and the community opened its pocketbook.

In 2000 an environmental group called for a federal investigation of the use of the Popoi'a Island bird sanctuary as a launch site, forcing the chamber to use a barge as a launching pad.

In 2001, the barge partially sank after the show, spilling spent shells, litter and debris on Kailua Beach.

Last year the Kailua show was canceled because of strong winds. Organizers were unable to get the barge across the reef because of heavy seas, and when they tried to launch the shells from the beach, strong winds blew the fireworks inland.

This year, if the event goes forward, the barge will be launched from the boat ramp.

Even though the show was canceled, the cost of the barge still had to be covered, so there was little money left over, Earles said.

The chamber has a $92,000 budget for 2003, he said, adding that justifying spending $20,000 for fireworks is difficult.

"We need a lot of support from the community, even just voice support so we can go to the sponsors and say it's important," Earles said. "If we really feel from the people that it is not important, then we're going to point our efforts in other directions."

What do you think?
• Call the Kailua Chamber of Commerce at 261-2676 to voice your opinion.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.