New Year’s Firework Permits Available Monday, Dec. 26

The Hawai‘i Fire Department has announced that Firework permits will be available for purchase beginning Monday, Dec. 26, at the following locations for the upcoming New Year’s celebration.

– Parker Ranch Shopping Center Food Court, Kamuela, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31.

Big Island Now stock photo. July 2016.

Firework permits will also be sold at the following Firecracker vending outlets:

– TNT Tent, Safeway parking lot; 381 E. Maka‘ala St., Hilo
– KTA Puainako; 50 E. Puainako St., Hilo
– KTA Kona; Kona Shopping Center; 74-5594 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona
– Long’s Drug Prince Kuhio Plaza, 111. E. Puainako St., Hilo
– Long’s Drug Kilauea, 555 Kilauea Av., Hilo
– Pacific Fireworks Kona, 74-5596 Pawai Pl. Unit K, Kailua-Kona
– J. Hara Store, 17-343 Volcano Hwy, Kurtistown
– Kadota Liquors, 194 Hualalai St., Hilo
– BJ Alan Tent Kona, 74-5586 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona
– BJ Alan Tent Kona, 74-5454 Makala Blvd., Kailua-Kona
– BJ Alan Tent, 75-1000 Henry St., Kailua-Kona
– BJ Alan Tent, 325 Maka‘ala St., Hilo
– BJ Alan Tent Hilo, 111. E. Puainako St., Hilo

Firework permits will also be available for purchase beginning Dec. 27 at the following locations:

– Fire Administration Office located at the Hilo County Building, 25 Aupuni St., Suite 2501, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 27, 28, 29, and 30.
– Kona Fire Prevention Office at West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bld. E second floor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 27, 28, 29 and 30.

Each permit costs $25 and will entitle the holder to purchase 5,000 individual firecrackers.

Multiple permit purchases are authorized.

Permits shall only be issued to persons 18 years of age or older and are non-transferable, and non-refundable.

Fireworks sales will begin on Dec. 26 and will end at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Permits are not required for the purchase of novelties and paperless firecrackers.

HPD would like to remind the public that setting off fireworks for the New Year’s celebration is allowed between 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day and that permits should be visibly displayed at the site of use during the time of the firing.

Fire Chief Darren Rosario would also like to remind the public that it is illegal for anyone to:

1. Remove the powder or pyrotechnic contents from any firework
2. Throw fireworks from, at, or into any vehicle
3. Set off fireworks at any time not within specified time periods, within 1,000 ft. of any hospital, Convalescent home, care home for the elderly, zoo, animal shelter or hospital, or church where services are held. Also, not within 1,000 ft. of any school property without authorization from the said school official or on any public way such as a highway, alley, street, sidewalk or park.
4. Offer for sale, sell or give any fireworks to minors; or for any minor to possess, purchase, sell or set off, ignite, or otherwise cause to explode any fireworks, except under the immediate supervision of an adult
5. Set off any aerial luminary devices, commonly called Sky Lanterns or Hawai‘i Lanterns, or any other aerial devices, such as bottle rockets, sky rockets, roman candles, cakes, mortars or shells.

The Hawai‘i Fire Department asks everyone to please Kōkua in helping to prevent fires and also avoid any unnecessary injuries caused by fireworks each year.

HFD asks to:

– Use extreme care when setting off fireworks. Children playing with fireworks should be under an adult’s close supervision at all times. Even the smallest of fireworks can cause severe injuries that will quickly ruin the Holidays.
– Fireworks should be set off in an area well away from dry grass or flammable materials.
– Be sure fireworks are completely extinguished before being disposed of
– Have a fire extinguisher and/or water hose ready to use in the event of an unplanned or unexpected fire. Be sure the water hose(s) can reach all areas of where firework activities are being conducted, especially around the entire house. It’s also a good idea to wet down any dry, grassy area before and after setting off fireworks. Doing it before will also let you know the capability of your water source.

For more information on the purchasing of Fireworks permits, or the use of Fireworks, please call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 932-2911 (Hilo) or 323-4760 (Kona).