Posted on: Sunday, December 26, 2004

Firework permit sales up, signaling a noisy New Year's Eve

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer

Early sales of fireworks permits in Honolulu have surged this year, prompting some officials to fear it could be a noisier, and more dangerous, New Year's Eve than in the recent past.

With sales of fireworks set to begin today, more than 2,700 permits had been issued by Thursday. At the same point last year, only 599 permits had been issued, said Dennis Taga, chief of the satellite city halls, where the permits are sold.

Fireworks-related problems in Honolulu have generally been trending downward under a four-year-old system that requires residents to get a $25 permit to buy 5,000 firecrackers. Fires and air pollution problems declined last New Year's Eve, and injuries were about the same as the previous year.

"Partly that's because of the permit sales, but partly it's because of the weather. It could be different this year," said Capt. Kenison Tejada, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department.

Officials aren't sure if this year's early permit buying spree will actually translate into more fireworks sales, Taga said.

Last year, most of the 8,330 permits issued were bought in the week after Christmas, he said.

"It could be that people are just getting the word to buy them earlier, or it could be that we're going to have a lot more total sales," he said.

More people — 137 — are also licensed to sell fireworks in Honolulu this year, Tejada said.

The permit system was established by the state Legislature in 2000 after a particularly raucous and pollution-filled New Year's celebration. Over the two-day holiday period that year, police reported receiving more than 2,595 fireworks-related complaints and responding to a fireworks injury or health problem every 30 minutes. Air pollution in Honolulu that New Year's Eve was reported to be 10 times the accepted federal standard.

Since then, however, the celebrations have gradually become quieter, and the acrimonious debate between fireworks lovers and haters has abated.

"I think most people don't want to put up with the hassle of getting a permit," said Paul Calicdan, a worker from Kalihi. "It's a shame really, because it was a tradition."

"I don't care anymore," agreed Maurice Ikeda, a 65-year-old Kapahulu resident who says his family always bought a small amount of firecrackers in the past. "The bureaucracy went and ruined everything with its regulations. Now, I'd rather spend the money on my grandchildren."

"You can see there's been less and less smoke in the last few years," said Jim Bousman, a Mo'ili'ili resident who said he likes to go to the top of his high-rise each New Year's Eve to see the fireworks from the surrounding neighborhood. "I understand why they changed things, but I admit I sort of enjoyed it the old way."

A soft, steady rain dampened many private New Year's celebrations last year. That translated into a number of good signs from a public health standpoint, officials said.

• Only six fireworks-related fires were reported during the New Year's celebration last year. That compared to more than 50 the previous year.

• The amount of fireworks smoke in the air in Honolulu and Kapolei at the peak of last year's celebration was less than half of what it was the previous year. Most other sites sampled by the state Health Department showed more modest declines.

• The 72 fireworks-related injuries throughout the state were up slightly over the previous year, but still less than the 80 reported in the 2001-2002 holiday period.

The most common injuries were from "flowers," "sparklers," and other fireworks classified as novelties, which can be purchased without a permit. Almost two-thirds of the injuries were to children 14 or younger, said Dan Galanis, a Health Department epidemiologist.

"While it's good there was less smoke in the air, we do find that most of the people who go to hospital emergency departments are kids, and that's a big concern," Galanis said. "It suggests that they are too young to be using fireworks."

Fire Department officials also note that the sparklers often used by children can reach temperatures of more than 1,300 degrees.

The drop in problems last year was particularly surprising because retailers reported a three-fold increase in the number of fireworks they imported and most sold out, leaving many people who had purchased the non-refundable permits unable to buy their legal limit.

The Straub Hospital and the American Lung Association Hawai'i chapter are again offering to give free filter masks to those who have respiratory problems.

Dr. Jeffrey Kam, Straub Hospital and Clinic's allergist and asthma specialist, said fireworks pollutants are a major cause of life-threatening breathing attacks. People with respiratory disorders should stay indoors with air conditioning if possible, he said.

Honolulu fire officials are particularly concerned this year because 2004 already has been the deadliest fire year in more than 20 years. At least 13 people have died in structure fires on O'ahu so far in 2004.

"With the amount of fire deaths we've had this year, it just shows you can never be too careful. More than careful, you have to be vigilant," he said.

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.