Illegal fireworks crackdown intensifies across Hawaii

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Department of Law Enforcement’s Statewide Illegal Fireworks Task Force has released updates on recent enforcement actions aimed at curbing the use and distribution of illegal fireworks across Hawaii.

From January through June 2024, Task Force officers confiscated approximately 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks from various community sources.

Most recently, on July 2, officers seized about 200 pounds of illegal fireworks from a residence in Waipahu, including several illegal aerial fireworks.

An investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.

In an effort to bolster community engagement against illegal fireworks, the Department of Law Enforcement launched SaferWatch on Wednesday.

This new web and mobile-based security system allows the public to anonymously report instances of illegal fireworks. Over the Independence Day holiday, the system received 59 tips, which are now being reviewed for actionable information by the Task Force.

During the holiday, the Task Force conducted a covert operation in Waipahu, resulting in the issuance of criminal citations to six individuals for misdemeanor offenses related to the unauthorized use of aerial fireworks.

Surveillance efforts led to the confiscation of homemade mortar tubes capable of launching large aerial shells, as well as several classified illegal aerial mortar shells intended for professional display use only.

Additionally, the Task Force reported its first felony prosecutions stemming from incidents in December 2023.

A Waipahu man, 21, and Kapolei man, 51, were arrested following investigations into the illegal sale of aerial fireworks to an undercover officer.

Both individuals face charges under Hawaii’s fireworks control law, classified as Class-C felonies punishable by up to five years in prison.

The Department of the Attorney General is handling their cases, emphasizing that both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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For more information on SaferWatch and to download the app, visit www.saferwatchapp.com. The app is available free of charge on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, with plans to expand its coverage of additional crime categories in the near future.