'Enough is enough': Hawaii leaders pledge change after deadly illegal fireworks explosion
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii officials say illegal fireworks have gotten out of control, and vow to crack down on their pipeline into the state.
Their statements come after a New Year’s celebration took a tragic turn when illegal fireworks triggered a massive explosion, killing three people and injuring dozens more in Aliamanu.
Many had critical injuries with burns over much of their bodies and are fighting for their lives, officials said.
Honolulu’s police chief said the explosion was caused by what’s called a “cake” with roughly 50 illegal aerial rockets in it. It tipped over and fired into a carport that set off more fireworks inside.
“Here’s an individual that’s not a professional to the best of my knowledge, unprofessional at fireworks, and here we have a tragic loss into a community,” said Chief of Police Joe Logan. “Neighbors, families and friends are now either deceased or in hospitals because of just what appears to be careless acts.”
Most of the 20-plus patients transported to hospitals were critically injured with burns over much of their bodies, according to Dr. Jim Ireland, Honolulu Emergency Services Department director. Three children were among those transported, including a 3-year-old boy with extensive burns, according to EMS.
Ireland said an additional 10 to 15 people suffered what were considered “minor” injuries and did not necessarily require ambulance transport to the hospital, including “a 12-year-old girl with burns on her leg and some shrapnel.”
LEARN MORE: 3 dead, dozens injured in massive illegal fireworks explosion in Aliamanu
In a press conference Wednesday, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said “enough is enough” and vowed renewed action to combat Hawaii’s systemic problem of illegal fireworks.
“We’re angry, frustrated and deeply sad and at this unnecessary loss of life,” he said. “This situation is out of control and it cannot be allowed to continue.”
Blangiardi said his administration is committed to taking decisive action.
“We will coordinate with federal and state agencies to strengthen law enforcement, impose tough penalties, explore new technologies because they exist, and implement a united effort to stop the import of illegal fireworks into our harbors and airports,” he said. “Our communities deserve better. People deserve better.”
The governor agreed with the change, but stopped short of promising an all-out ban of fireworks.
“If that’s what’s necessary to save lives, we’ll pursue that,” Gov. Josh Green said. “Right now, our initial thought is anything over 50 pounds, which would be enough to cause an accident like this, possession of that would be a class C felony, five years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines. So hopefully no one would be willing to put themselves behind bars like that while risking other people’s lives.”
Green added, “These are not just fireworks. These are actually bombs.”
Watch the full press conference:
Honolulu police say ground enforcement is difficult, because “we’d have to be in the right place at the right time for a lot of this to happen.”
Chief Logan explained, “To enforce fireworks by individuals, the officer either needs to see the violation happen, and that means the person lighting the illegal firework and then we can make the arrest or write the citation, or we need the witness, either with photographs or a statement from the neighbor saying that I saw so-and-so, my neighbor who I know, light off this firework and here’s what happened.
“That’s the kind of information that we need to take that to the prosecutor’s office to provide that information for further action within the criminal justice system,” he said. “That’s a lot to ask from neighbors.”
Officials said the problem requires a much bigger solution.
Gov. Green said, “There’s really heavy pushback against any change in laws to make it a bigger offense. Usually it takes something tragic like this to get the entirety of society move to a place like enough is enough. No one is supporting fentanyl in the streets.”
Mayor Blangiardi said he is looking at “other ports of authority that implement technology and some of things were really interested in” but would not elaborate.
“Obviously this is a very sophisticated business, highly illegal, highly profitable, will not go away. I’d rather defer anything that we’re about to do,” he said.
Regarding the Aliamanu incident, Logan said a preliminary investigation is underway and “we’re in conversations with the prosecutor’s office. If there is an incident that would lead us to the facts and circumstances providing a criminal act, then yes, we could lead to prosecution.”
Police are asking anyone with video leading up to, during, or following the explosion to reach out to the department.
RELATED STORY: Man, 19, dies from severe injuries following fireworks blast in Kalihi
Meanwhile, Honolulu EMS also responded to multiple calls for fireworks-related injuries overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
- Just before 10 p.m., a 14-year-old boy was taken to the hospital in serious condition after a firework apparently exploded in his hand in Kalihi.
- At 11:04 p.m. on Lukela Lane in Kalihi, a 19-year-old man suffered multiple injuries, including a severe arm injury, from a suspected firework blast. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died.
- At 11:27 p.m., a 34-year-old man suffered a traumatic injury to his hand from a suspected firework blast . He was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
- At midnight, a 25-year-old man in Kalihi suffered an extensive hand injury from an apparent firework explosion. Paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital in serious condition.
- Around the same time, a 72-year-old man and 59-year-old woman suffered burn injuries to their leg from a firework in the Ewa Beach area. They were taken to a nearby hospital in minor condition.
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