That was nutz.  Unfortunate but some people go way overboard with fireworks.

I wonder if the proliferation of fireworks and accidents have to do with the ban.  Theres no regulations, no safety training, and no limits on what you can get (basically since everything is illegal, you get the biggest thing and most you can).  If fireworks were legalized, to include smaller aerials, then I surmise it could be safer.  People would rather stay legal than buy illegal fireworks.  The legal fireworks would be with a permit giving the county additional income while limiting the amount of fireworks bought and only allowing for the sale of safer ones.  City could do public service announcements, safety messages, and clinics on the safe use of fireworks.

At least 4 dead, multiple injured after ‘massive’ fireworks explosion at Salt Lake home
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/01/01/least-2-dead-22-injured-fireworks-related-incident-salt-lake/

imma doctor paints the pciture

Gov. Green surveyed the scene Wednesday morning, and spoke to first responders and residents about what happened.

“The truth is that people had traumatic injuries so badly that brain material was across the sidewalk from the ferocity of this explosion, and we want people to hear that because that is what is really possible with these explosive fireworks,” he said. “Some of the deceased had injuries that were that tragic, that traumatic. We’re talking about the worst possible war zone injuries that took their lives.

“And in the next couple of days, it’s highly likely that some of the people that didn’t even look that bad will die because their lungs were burned out,” Green added. “And that’s what you happen to see when explosions happen right in front of you.”

https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/office-of-the-governor-statement-gov-green-issues-statement-on-salt-lake-fireworks-tragedy/

Because combating illegal fireworks has been a priority, we established the
Illegal Fireworks Task Force in 2023 to identify and disrupt supply chains. It
has seized 227,000 pounds of illegal fireworks to date, but incidents like this
remind us of the ongoing challenges we face.

I guess they need to start going after the people who make homemade fireworks.  It shouldn't be that hard to find them.  Just drive around the houses where aerials are being launched, and start arresting them.  At a minimum, station cop cars in those areas to intimidate law breakers from setting illegal fireworks off.

A little police presence can go a long way.

I think they (city/state/news) should show blood and body parts to the public.
Let everybody see the actual injuries.

The explosion occurred just after midnight,while there was still a large cache of fire works left
in the garage. It's hard to imagine but it could have been worse if it happened earlier.

There is an HNN story just posted with interviews with some neighbors. One of the neighbors said, "nice boom"

This goes to show you where the mentality of the neighborhood is.
SMH.

From a 'let's prevent this from happening again" viewpoint -- not 'they deserve what they get" -- I think insurance companies would be justified in denying claims of damage, death and injury when the results were caused by illegal behavior.

If someone is building pipe bombs for nefarious and malicious purposes, any insurance claims would be denied because of willful illegal conduct that facilitated the death, injury, etc, to the bomb maker and anyone involved who was hurt/killed.  I see no difference here other than intent. 

They made decisions, and the results are consequences.  They shouldn't be allowed to get insurance payments.  Maybe if that fact was made very public and constantly used as a reminder around each holiday, people might get the message that this is serious.

From a 'let's prevent this from happening again" viewpoint -- not 'they deserve what they get" -- I think insurance companies would be justified in denying claims of damage, death and injury when the results were caused by illegal behavior.

If someone is building pipe bombs for nefarious and malicious purposes, any insurance claims would be denied because of willful illegal conduct that facilitated the death, injury, etc, to the bomb maker and anyone involved who was hurt/killed.  I see no difference here other than intent. 

They made decisions, and the results are consequences.  They shouldn't be allowed to get insurance payments.  Maybe if that fact was made very public and constantly used as a reminder around each holiday, people might get the message that this is serious.

Besides the home itself, liability coverage may also be denied due to knowing doing illegal activity.  I'm sure the owners of the home and of the fireworks will get sued by all those injured. 

Another thing to consider is they don't have insurance.

Besides the home itself, liability coverage may also be denied due to knowing doing illegal activity.  I'm sure the owners of the home and of the fireworks will get sued by all those injured. 

Another thing to consider is they don't have insurance.

If they have a mortgage, they have to have homeowner's insurance which almost always includes liability coverage, like if someone sues you for a fall on a broken sidewalk or stairs.

if they don't have insurance, then they bear the cost of their own home's damage, the deaths and injuries they caused including medical and ambulance expenses, plus whatever they get sued for.

If they set up a GoFundme or other crowd sourced fundraiser, it should be taken down as supporting a criminal whose unlawful actions caused the losses they are asking people to cover.

People find ways of dodging accountability, so i don't expect every incident to be a lesson to them all.  But enough examples may teach everyone that a few hours of setting off car alarms with explosions, terrorizing pets, and spewing massive clouds of smoke is just too risky.

Happy New Year!!

If they have a mortgage, they have to have homeowner's insurance which almost always includes liability coverage, like if someone sues you for a fall on a broken sidewalk or stairs.

if they don't have insurance, then they bear the cost of their own home's damage, the deaths and injuries they caused including medical and ambulance expenses, plus whatever they get sued for.

If they set up a GoFundme or other crowd sourced fundraiser, it should be taken down as supporting a criminal whose unlawful actions caused the losses they are asking people to cover.

People find ways of dodging accountability, so i don't expect every incident to be a lesson to them all.  But enough examples may teach everyone that a few hours of setting off car alarms with explosions, terrorizing pets, and spewing massive clouds of smoke is just too risky.

Happy New Year!!

SSH FB page stated that no GFM will be for the owner of the home. Just for confirmed victims. And they also mentioned in the same post about lawsuits.  Which I've never seen in a GFM SSH post.

Thought there were cracks on the 2nd floor column of the home, would've had to be and incredible explosion to cause that that doesn't match the surroundings.  Looks like strings of cristmas lights in other pics now.

That was nutz.  Unfortunate but some people go way overboard with fireworks.

I wonder if the proliferation of fireworks and accidents have to do with the ban.  Theres no regulations, no safety training, and no limits on what you can get (basically since everything is illegal, you get the biggest thing and most you can).  If fireworks were legalized, to include smaller aerials, then I surmise it could be safer.  People would rather stay legal than buy illegal fireworks.  The legal fireworks would be with a permit giving the county additional income while limiting the amount of fireworks bought and only allowing for the sale of safer ones.  City could do public service announcements, safety messages, and clinics on the safe use of fireworks.

At least 4 dead, multiple injured after ‘massive’ fireworks explosion at Salt Lake home
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/01/01/least-2-dead-22-injured-fireworks-related-incident-salt-lake/

Talk. Talk. Talk.  We will see if this time there is Walk.  Walk.  Walk.

In Hawaii, somebody gotta die before they pass or enforce laws.

Just like in Building codes and Electrical codes.  Before they impose more codes and standards somebody gotta die.

We used to always say that when I was working.

My solution:

1.  Legalize small amounts of fireworks by permit to include fountains, sparklers, and small aerials bought at approved stores.
2.  Aerials must fire straight up and shells no larger than 1" (or whatever is reasonably safe)
3.  Can possess up to 25 lbs of fireworks (or whatever is deemed reasonable)
4.  Take a short online training course and quiz when buying a permit
5.  Must have a fire extinguisher onsite
6.  Cannot be impaired while playing
7.  Open large areas (aloha stadium, mall parking lots, etc) safe for fireworks use.

My solution:

1.  Legalize small amounts of fireworks by permit to include fountains, sparklers, and small aerials bought at approved stores.
2.  Aerials must fire straight up and shells no larger than 1" (or whatever is reasonably safe)
3.  Can possess up to 25 lbs of fireworks (or whatever is deemed reasonable)
4.  Take a short online training course and quiz when buying a permit
5.  Must have a fire extinguisher onsite
6.  Cannot be impaired while playing
7.  Open large areas (aloha stadium, mall parking lots, etc) safe for fireworks use.

Mall parking lots and the Aloha Stadium create insurance, liability and cleanup issues.

Aloha Stadium is also condemned and may not be a suitable location for pyrotechnics.

A December 17, 2020, announcement by the Aloha Stadium Authority stated
that the stadium would be ceasing fan-attended operations indefinitely. The
closure was related to financial issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The stadium, built in 1975, was also plagued by maintenance issues in recent
years.

A 2019 story from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser noted that the stadium needed
$30 million in repairs. KHON-TV reported that the stadium would be condemned
and was deemed unsafe to hold any crowds at all.[8][33] The scheduling of new
events was also halted.[34]

In January 2021, the University of Hawaii announced that the Rainbow Warriors
football team would play their home games on campus "for at least the next
three years".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Stadium

The problem with allowing any aerials at all, no matterwhat size, is you will have a tough time identifying those that exceed permitted limits plus you can't prevent someone from setting off multiple aerials of a permitted size in a bundle or simultaneously.

i think any fireworks should be limited to non-aerial.  Anything that resembles a projectile should be illegal.  That includes Roman Candles, fountains, etc. 

If "tradition" is the argument, then a string of firecrackers is sufficient.  Otherwise, it's becomes an exercise in examining and classifying every single type of firework that's imported into the state.

The problem with allowing any aerials at all, no matterwhat size, is you will have a tough time identifying those that exceed permitted limits plus you can't prevent someone from setting off multiple aerials of a permitted size in a bundle or simultaneously.
i think any fireworks should be limited to non-aerial.  Anything that resembles a projectile should be illegal.  That includes Roman Candles, fountains, etc. 
If "tradition" is the argument, then a string of firecrackers is sufficient.  Otherwise, it's becomes an exercise in examining and classifying every single type of firework that's imported into the state.

A lot of people like playing fireworks.  A lot of people like watching people play fireworks. A lot of people that don't play fireworks support people that play fireworks.  Possibly a majority of people.  And that's including aerials.  I'm sure there are police officers, firemen, government officials that play fireworks or go to parties where there are fireworks.  Using the term "tradition" has some merits, but it's an excuse for the most part.

All the politicians think the deaths and injuries are tragic and some oppose fireworks.  However majority of them, even some vocal opponents, like fireworks or support people playing fireworks but can't say it out loud.  Police and prosecutors don't want to arrest otherwise good moral adults and children and give them felonies.  Their neighbors, people from church, coworkers, the mom & pop store down the street, etc.  It's families and friends coming together for the holidays to play fireworks.  You can see the joy on kids faces playing.  I have fond cherished memories of playing fireworks as a child with my family, friends, and relatives.  I can still vividly remember those times.  Police could fill up all the jails but they just don't want to. 

Playing fireworks can be dangerous and there will be injuries and fires with my suggestion but it would be greatly reduced.  Safety isn't everything and people accept the risk.

Increasing penalties on users make it even harder to get arrests.  This is why I want to give people a safer alternative.  It's not perfect, but it's better.  A lot of people will go  the legal, safer, and cheaper way and have fun.  Police and prosecutors will find it  more difficult to sort through whats legal and illegal, but they'll have less personal objections going after the illegals.

The Salt Lake incident seems like an outlier with I'm guessing having a pallet of very powerful fireworks.  That is dangerous and should be illegal.

If you read this article, it helps to explain what I wrote.  https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/01/will-tragedy-change-how-hawai%ca%bbi-polices-illegal-fireworks/

A lot of people like playing fireworks.  A lot of people like watching people play fireworks. A lot of people that don't play fireworks support people that play fireworks.  Possibly a majority of people.  And that's including aerials.  I'm sure there are police officers, firemen, government officials that play fireworks or go to parties where there are fireworks.  Using the term "tradition" has some merits, but it's an excuse for the most part.

All the politicians think the deaths and injuries are tragic and some oppose fireworks.  However majority of them, even some vocal opponents, like fireworks or support people playing fireworks but can't say it out loud.  Police and prosecutors don't want to arrest otherwise good moral adults and children and give them felonies.  Their neighbors, people from church, coworkers, the mom & pop store down the street, etc.  It's families and friends coming together for the holidays to play fireworks.  You can see the joy on kids faces playing.  I have fond cherished memories of playing fireworks as a child with my family, friends, and relatives.  I can still vividly remember those times.  Police could fill up all the jails but they just don't want to. 

Playing fireworks can be dangerous and there will be injuries and fires with my suggestion but it would be greatly reduced.  Safety isn't everything and people accept the risk.

Increasing penalties on users make it even harder to get arrests.  This is why I want to give people a safer alternative.  It's not perfect, but it's better.  A lot of people will go  the legal, safer, and cheaper way and have fun.  Police and prosecutors will find it  more difficult to sort through whats legal and illegal, but they'll have less personal objections going after the illegals.

The Salt Lake incident seems like an outlier with I'm guessing having a pallet of very powerful fireworks.  That is dangerous and should be illegal.

If you read this article, it helps to explain what I wrote.  https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/01/will-tragedy-change-how-hawai%ca%bbi-polices-illegal-fireworks/

I think you're making it more dramatic than it needs to be.

Up to a certain infraction, it's a ticket that includes a fine.  It's a civil infraction, just like a traffic ticket.

Criminal penalties would be for possession/using certain categories of banned fireworks deemed dangerous or stored in large quantities.

As far as what some people like. what about those of us who don't like the noise for 3-4 months out of the year, the smoke, the fireworks at all hours, and the impact they have on pets?  Then there are people with medical issues the smoke and noises worsen.  It's impossible to mitigate or avoid those things when people ignore dates and times when fireworks are permitted.

When I was a kid in the late 50s and early 60s and gun laws were a lot less strict, you could say lenient,
there were no mass shooters and negligent discharges were rare.   Fireworks required no permits and
aerials of all kinds were legally available for sale.  Fireworks accidents were very few. Fast forward 40 years
from then and to the present and it almost proves Darwin’s theory of evolution.  People in general have grown stupider.

I remember when the State lifted the fireworks ban and FIRECRACKERS and SPARKLERS, along with stuff like butterflies and novelty things like ground fountains and such were available for sale at retail outlets.

Aerials, rockets, and other illegal fireworks were hardly seen in the skies over Oahu.

I remember when the State lifted the fireworks ban and FIRECRACKERS and SPARKLERS, along with stuff like butterflies and novelty things like ground fountains and such were available for sale at retail outlets.

Aerials, rockets, and other illegal fireworks were hardly seen in the skies over Oahu.

There's usually a period of compliance before the black market is set up and operating with impunity.