Maui July 4th Fireworks Display planned on Front Street

By Wendy Osher 

Officiails with the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety are reminding the public to be especially careful this Fourth of July because of the hot, dry and windy weather.  Anyone who plans on using fireworks or supervising children using fireworks should avoid use near dry brush, near fields or around homes.  

File image.

There are no firecracker permits available on Maui because no vendors are bringing in firecrackers to sell.  Sales of Novelty fireworks however, start on Tuesday, June 29^th.  

So far, the only show that has filed for a permit to conduct a public fireworks display, has proposed use of a barge outside of Front Street in Lahaina beginning at 8 p.m. on July 4^th.  Front Street in Lahaina will be closed to all vehicular traffic from Baker Street to Hotel Street 4:00-9:00 PM Sunday, July 4, 2010 to accommodate the Tenth Annual Fireworks Celebration. If you are parked in a lot that only exits onto Front Street, you won’t be able to leave during the road closure.  Front Street will be a TOW AWAY ZONE starting at 3pm. No bikes or mopeds. No fireworks, open burning, alcohol or coolers. Fireworks will begin at 8:00 pm, sponsored by the Maui Chamber of Commerce.  The 10^th Annual Fireworks Celebration put on by the Maui Chamber of Commerce is funded by Maui businesses and individuals. 

Governor Linda Lingle signed a bill into law this week that gives individual counties the authority to limit or ban fireworks.  Act 170 allows counties to enact ordiances that are more stringent than what the state already has in place.  

The new law also establishes a task force to make recommendations to prevent the illegal importation of fireworks into the state. 

Retail locations in Maui County selling novelty fireworks include:  Costco Wholesale in Kahului; Foodland stores in Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina, and Pukalani; Kmart in Kahului; Malama Market in Lahaina; Misaki on Molokai; Pine Isle Market on Lanai; Sac n Save in Wailuku; Safeway stores in Kahului, Kihei and Lahaina; Take’s Variety on Molokai; Times Supermarket in Kihei and Lahaina; and Walgreens stores in Kahului and Lahaina.