#illegal fireworks

Between 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, and 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, the Maui Police Department received 118 calls for service related to fireworks violations throughout the County of Maui. During this time, one citation was issued for an aerial fireworks violation, eight reports were generated for documentation purposes, and two arrests were made.

New, stricter state laws impose severe penalties for illegal fireworks use, particularly aerial fireworks and repeat offenses. Violations may result in heavy fines of up to $25,000 and prison sentences of up to 10 years.

If convicted, Goo and Tamura face imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to $250,000 per count, plus terms of supervised release, and Goo faces an additional 15 years of imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

A public aerial fireworks show for the Fourth of July will take place at 8 o’clock tonight (July 4), offshore of the Grand Wailea at 3850 Wailea Alanui Drive in Kīhei. The Grand Wailea has reported that the show will last approximately 15 minutes.

The passage of House Bills 1483 and 550, (Acts 243 and 244, respectively) is a decisive response to the growing concerns following the tragic Āliamanu fireworks incident that occurred on New Year’s Eve and the increased environmental worries following the Maui wildfires.

“These bills address some of the most urgent challenges we’re facing right now in our state,” said Elefante. “We’ve made real progress by passing key legislation on public health, safety in correctional facilities, funding for law enforcement, cracking down on illegal fireworks, improving fire prevention, and supporting our Department of Defense.” 

The Department of the Attorney General successfully prosecuted two men for selling illegal aerial fireworks in the community prior to the new year, following law enforcement sting operations to identify and arrest distributors of illegal fireworks. Wolfgang Clark pled no contest this week and was granted a deferred plea to two counts of felony fireworks […]

Through these legislative efforts, lawmakers aim to reduce the dangers posed by illegal fireworks and hold accountable those responsible for illegal activity.  

Video recordings made by unmanned airborne drones could be used to establish probable cause for law enforcement arrests in illegal fireworks cases under a bill introduced by 19 members of the state House of Representatives.

In his third State of the State address, Gov. Josh Green took aim this morning at Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living, affordable housing, accessible health care and Maui’s ongoing recovery from the August 2023 wildfires.

Maui County will host two public aerial firework displays this year—one at the Grand Wailea Resort and another at the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi—according to an announcement from the Maui Fire Department. Both displays begin at approximately 11:59 p.m. on New Yearʻs Eve, Dec. 31, 2024.

SB 2085 creates the Office of the State Fire Marshal within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to enhance fire safety and prevention across Hawaiʻi. The state fire marshal, appointed for a five-year term, will coordinate statewide fire protection efforts, propose fire code amendments and oversee fire safety training and certification.

Task Force officers confiscated approximately 200 pounds of illegal fireworks from a home in Waipahu on Tuesday. On Wednesday, DLE launched SaferWatch, a web and mobile-based security system that allows the public to anonymously report illegal fireworks in the community. Over the Independence Day holiday, 59 illegal fireworks tips were submitted to DLE using the new app.

With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, the Maui Police Department is reminding the public to be mindful of the dangers of fireworks and their surroundings, given the current hot and dry summer conditions. The Maui Police Department is seeking continued assistance from the community in reporting illegal fireworks violations.

A bill to help Hawaiʻi law enforcement officers crack down on illegal fireworks has made its way to the desk of Gov. Josh Green.

“The Illegal Fireworks Task Force is comprehensively examining the entire fireworks environment in Hawaiʻi, including both legitimate industry and the black market,” said DLE smith Deputy Director Jared Redulla.

The Illegal Fireworks Task Force seized approximately 17 tons (34,000 pounds) of illegal fireworks on Wednesday from a shipping container that falsely declared its contents as other items.

Approximately 16 tons of illegal fireworks were seized in a shipping container late last week in Honolulu as part of enforcement efforts conducted by the state’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force.

Since its inception in July, the Illegal Fireworks Task Force has seized over 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks. This includes 515 pounds of illegal and unwanted fireworks that were turned in over the weekend.

A 20-year-old Kailua-Kona man died following a July Fourth fireworks incident on Hawaiʻi Island, police said.