Take Two: Kona Fireworks Rescheduled After Technical Issues

A redo on a Kailua-Kona fireworks show that never was has been scheduled for tonight.

One year after all Independence Day celebrations were shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Hawai´i County Department of Parks and Recreation said issues with the motherboard first delayed the fireworks display set for Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area on Sunday, July 4, before resulting in the postponement of the show.

Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina told Big Island Now Monday morning that technical difficulties were sorted out by 10 pm. However, due to the late hour, Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth made the decision to try the celebration again the next evening.

Hawaiʻi County issued the following statement on Monday morning concerning the nature of events:

“(The) Fourth of July fireworks show planned for Kailua-Kona has been rescheduled for tonight, July 5, due to a technical issue. The initial show was slated to begin at 8 pm last night, July 4, and proceed for approximately 10 minutes. Tonight’s show will begin at 8:30 pm from the north end of the old runway at (Old Kona Airport Park).”

The mood of those in attendance at the park Sunday night was one of disappointment, missing out on the festivities after the coronavirus had shut down more or less all public gatherings for over a year. Everyone is encouraged to extend their Fourth of July holiday an extra 24 hours and return for the do-over fireworks display tonight.