HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
SOUTH HILO PATROL DIVISION
LIEUTENANT JAMES SANBORN
PHONE: 961-2350
JUNE 29, 2005
MEDIA RELEASE
The Hawaii Police Department is reminding residents that they must purchase a permit in order to set off fireworks on the Fourth of July holiday.
The use of fireworks for the Independence Day holiday is permitted only between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Monday, July 4, 2005, in accordance with Section 132D-3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Furthermore, County Ordinance allows for the use or possession of fireworks within County Parks only by written permission of the Director.
State law also prohibits the setting off fireworks in any public place. In the past, police have received numerous complaints about persons setting off fireworks in public places, such as the Hilo Bayfront area.
A permit for the purchase and use of non-aerial common fireworks is required. The $25 permit may be purchased from the Fire Department.
Non-aerial common fireworks include firecrackers, cylindrical fountains, cone fountains, wheels, illuminating torches and colored fire, dipped sticks, sparklers and salutes.
State law prohibits the use of aerial bombs and displays unless a special permit is obtained.
The law defines aerial fireworks essentially as any fireworks “which produces an audible or visible effect and which is designed to rise into the air and explode or detonate in the air or to fly about above the ground and which is prohibited for use by any person who does not have a display permit issued by a county.”
Prohibited aerial fireworks include jumping jacks, rockets, helicopters, satellites, Roman candles, mines and shells.
It’s also against the law to:
· Extract the gunpowder from any fireworks.
· Throw ignited fireworks from a moving vehicle.
· Set off fireworks in any school building or on any school grounds without authorization from school officials.
· Set off fireworks within 1,000 feet of any hospital, convalescent home, and home for the elderly or animal hospital.
· Set off fireworks within 500 feet of any hotel.
· Set off fireworks on any highway, alley, street, sidewalk or other public way, in any park, within 50 feet of a can field or within 1,000 feet of any building used for public worship during the periods when services are held.
Anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited from purchasing, possessing or igniting any fireworks unless they are under the immediate supervision and control of their parents or an authorized adult.
In addition, the State Department of Land & Natural Resources (DOCARE) will be prohibiting all boats and other watercraft from entering a 900 feet radius around Coconut Island on July 4th.
The use of fireworks and consumption of alcoholic beverages within the County and State jurisdictions within the Bayfront area will be prohibited.
We ask for the general public’s cooperation in making this year’s festivities a safe one for our communities.
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