INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAIʻI:
COMBATTING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS

Thurs., Mar. 17, 7:30 pm

The illegal aerial fireworks that dominate Hawaiʻi skies each New Year’s Eve have become a constant. In some areas, the booms start around Halloween and last through Chinese New Year. Thousands of complaints are filed every year, but what more, if anything, can lawmakers and police do to combat the growing illegal fireworks problem?

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On this Wednesday’s episode of our audio podcast WHAT SCHOOL YOU WENT?, we look at how the aloha shirt came to embody the spirit of the Islands with Kūhaʻo Zane, creative director of Sig Zane Designs, and how the medium of design can transcend economic value to build a respect for our home and cultural perspectives.

Listen on pbshawaii.org or anywhere you get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify.

LIVE FROM THE EMPTY PALACE (Wed., Mar. 16, 7:30 pm) showcases more talent from Hawaiʻi island on stage at the historic Hilo Palace Theater. Performers include Ben Witmer, OK2Change, Kailee Spark, Kolea (pictured, right), Hope Medford and Tofu Jack.

FRONTLINE (Tues., Mar. 15, 9:00 pm) reports the inside story of what led to Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine. Learn about events that shaped the Russian leader, the grievances that drive him and how a growing conflict with the West exploded into war in Europe.

The series premiere of EXPEDITION WITH STEVE BACKSHALL: UNPACKED (Wed., Mar. 16, 10:00 pm) takes you up close to the action and drama of explorer Steve Backshall’s epic adventures. Meet the experts behind the cameras and learn about their teamwork and passion for exploration.

Learn more about these shows, and all of our upcoming programming on our Schedule page.

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Final thought… I have always believed in the old adage, “Anything is possible, if you believe.”

However, when it comes to finding a solution to Hawaiʻi’s illegal fireworks issue, I’m just not sure anything is possible no matter how much you believe a solution can be found.

In 2000, lawmakers banned aerial fireworks in Hawaiʻi except for professionally contracted, public displays. However, if you looked into the sky this past New Year’s Eve, and the four previous ones, you would never know it.

Since December 1, 2017, HPD arrested only 16 people on Oʻahu for violating fireworks laws. Yes, 16. There were five arrests from December 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018; three arrests from December 1, 2018 to January 2, 2019; three arrests from December 1, 2019 to January 2, 2020; four arrests from November 28, 2020 to January 4, 2021; and one arrest from December 31, 2021 to January 1, 2022.

Despite those numbers, this is not an HPD issue. This is about supply and demand. Demand is high and supply is even higher. Enforcing existing statewide and county statutes is unrealistic… no matter how much you believe. What do you believe?