In Hawaii, fireworks aren’t just something we do for fun. They’re part of who we are. Every New Year’s, the skies light up, streets fill with smoke, and families come together to celebrate. It’s loud, exciting, and full of tradition. “It’s a cultural thing. I’ve grown up with it all my life,” Rodelle Butay said. Freddie Degala states, “It’s a big part of our culture here in Hawaii. We want to share it with the younger ones too. We want them to keep it going, to an extent”.
But after the recent fireworks accident in Aliamanu, people have started thinking more about how they celebrate and whether it’s really worth the risk.
Jack Ka‘awai remembered the moment everything changed. “Before New Year’s Eve, we had fireworks every day. After the accident, there wasn’t a single firework sound in Aliamanu,” he said. Even though it was a tragedy, it brought people closer. “Neighbors who barely talked before were suddenly helping each other clean up and checking in on each other,” said Ka‘awai.
Fireworks still mean a lot to people here, but now more are realizing how dangerous they can be. Degala, who has experience in law enforcement, said it is difficult to stop illegal fireworks. “Detection is probably the biggest problem for law enforcement,” he said. He thinks better rules and more education about fireworks could help keep people safe. “I believe it opened people’s eyes to the dangers of fireworks, especially the illegal ones.” Now, more people are willing to report things when they see them.
Moving forward, getting the community involved and spreading awareness will be key. “I would like to see more community involvement, like neighborhood watches or people coming together to help each other stay safe,” Degala said.
Fireworks will always be a part of Hawaii’s culture, but after what happened in Aliamanu, people know now that they need to be handled with more care. Even with more awareness, safety is still a big concern. “Fireworks are fun, but they’re dangerous too,” Butay said. Ka‘awai adds, “Don’t take it lightly. It’s not worth losing a life over a few minutes of celebration.”
