3 children allegedly blow up cluster of Oahu parcel boxes with fireworks

EWA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Ewa residents thought they heard a bomb this morning and were shocked to find some of their parcel boxes had apparently been blown up.

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Honolulu police said three minors have been arrested on suspicion of second-degree criminal property damage.

Ewa residents said they are used to fireworks on the Fourth of July, but not the fifth.

“11:30 this morning, yeah, it was like broad daylight that it happened,” a nearby neighbor said.

The neighbor closest to the cluster of parcel boxes did not want to go on camera, but said it was quite the shock.

“It was really loud, it was, sounded like a bomb,” she said. “We heard something, we saw it fall, and then it dropped in my yard. It was really loud, it looked like the top of the mailbox. Yeah, so from the picture, the top was gone.”

Honolulu police were on the scene within 10 minutes and officials said three juveniles were arrested.

“Somebody opened it, yup, and they just threw the firework, probably closed it back just like that, walked away,” said Pomai Tabilang, who lives across the street.

“Hopefully they’re old enough to understand now that they did something bad, they got caught and then now they’ve got to get the repercussions,” Tabilang said.

The U.S. Postal Inspector said destroying a mailbox can be a federal crime, but since HPD made quick arrests — and minors are not often federally charged — a decision will have to be made to file State charges.

Residents told KHON2 that they were surprised at the boldness of blowing up parcel boxes in broad daylight, but they are grateful for HPD’s quick response.

“I know once it happened, there were a lot of people in the neighborhood that ran out trying to find them, like driving their cars and stuff, but the cops were fast,” one neighbor said.

Ewa Rep. Diamond Garcia said it is great the alleged culprits were caught by police, but prosecutors following through with ramifications will be key as well.

“The fact is they damaged property, consequences need to be handed out, these kids need to know that there are penalties for breaking the law and whether it’s, you know, doing some community beautification or some kind of community service,” Rep. Garcia said, “a kid could have died from it. Who knows?”

The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office said they can not comment on cases involving juveniles, Honolulu police have not confirmed whether or not the juveniles were released pending investigation.