Passengers departing from airports in Hawai'i accounted for more than a third of the fireworks seizures in the Federal Aviation Administration's Western-Pacific Region during the past fiscal year.

Of the region's 48 cases in which fireworks were found illegally stashed in checked and carry-on baggage, 17 involved passengers leaving Hawai'i, according to the FAA.

Fireworks "are incredibly popular" in Hawai'i and some Mainland-bound passengers are tempted to stash some of the hazardous items in their baggage on their way home or to visit family and friends, said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the FAA's Western-Pacific Region, which covers California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawai'i and the Pacific islands.

"I think you have situations where people buy fireworks in Hawai'i for New Year's and they think it would be neat to take what they have left over home," Gregor said.

The number and percentage of fireworks cases involving departing Hawai'i passengers is down from previous years. But Gregor said Hawai'i still accounts for a disproportionally high percentage of cases, considering that commercial flights in Hawai'i make up a small fraction of the region's overall air traffic.

He also said the numbers show only the fireworks that are discovered by screeners at airports. "Many others are slipping through undetected and the fact that we haven't had a catastrophic event doesn't mean it's safe to do this type of thing," Gregor said.

The FAA issues the warning about flying with fireworks during the New Year's and Fourth of July holidays, the two times a year when Hawai'i consumers can legally buy fireworks.

Fireworks of all shapes and sizes, from sparklers and poppers to cherry bombs and rockets, are banned from carry-on and checked bags.

"Even the most seemingly innocuous items like sparklers can pose incredibly serious safety risks," Gregor said. "Sparklers can ignite from friction and if you have them in the cargo bay and they rub together and ignite, it could be absolutely catastrophic."

Information on the number of Hawai'i cases that resulted in civil or criminal penalties was not available, but the FAA's Western-Pacific Region Office of Security and Hazardous Materials proposed more than $2 million in fines for hazardous materials violations in fiscal year 2008.

Civil penalties range up to $50,000 per violation, with a minimum fine of $250. Criminal convictions can result in prison sentences of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations.