By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
John Koga of Honolulu heads for the checkout
counter with a stack of fireworks at Taniguchi Store
on South Beretania Street. The shelves were being
emptied yesterday as residents prepared for New
Year's celebrations.

---

Fire Dept.
lays down the
fireworks law

Star-Bulletin

The countdown begins -- all that's left now is the partying.

But in welcoming 1999, the Honolulu Fire Department reminds people that the period for legally igniting fireworks is from 9 p.m. tonight through 1 a.m. tomorrow.

Also, it is against the law to:

Remove or extract pyrotechnic contents from any fireworks.

Throw any ignited fireworks from a moving vehicle.

Set off fireworks on public ways, in parks, within 50 feet of cane fields or within 1,000 feet of any building used for public worship when services are held.

Set off fireworks within 1,000 feet of hospitals, convalescent homes, homes for the elderly or animal hospitals.

Set off fireworks within 500 feet of any hotel.

Offer to sell or give any fireworks to minors. Minors can only possess or set off fireworks under adult supervision.

Call the Honolulu Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau at 831-7744 for any last-minute questions about fireworks use.