KEN SAKAMOTO / KSAKAMOTO@ STARBULLETIN.COM
Rick Roslof, 12, worked on drawings of the fireworks
preparation yesterday near the beach at Magic Island.
It is the second year in a row that Roslof has sketched
the pre-show activities. The Ala Moana Center's
fireworks display will begin at 8:30 p.m. and is
expected to be the biggest ever.

Ala Moana plans
fireworks show

Festivities begin at 5 p.m. today
with a family-focused concert

See Also: Firecracker permits fizzle

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By Kelliann Shimote
kshimote@starbulletin.com

For the second year now, Rick Roslof sits outside the yellow tape that seals off the construction for the fireworks show at Magic Island. Since June 30, the 12-year-old, who is accompanied by his mother and brother, has been sketching the preparation of Ala Moana Center's fireworks.

"I usually stay here for an hour or two," Roslof said.

"I like drawing the process that sets up the fireworks."

Roslof's mother Cindy Knight said: "It is fun to watch them working hard and putting it all together.

"Then watching the show is like, 'wow.'"

This year's fireworks show is bigger compared to last years, according to Sherry Souza of Pyro Spectacular. Instead of 5 10-inch and 3 12-inch shells, this year there will be 20 12-inch and 19 10-inch shells.

Tiffany Horvath, spokeswoman for Pyro Spectacular, said 12-inch shells explode to a diameter of 1,200 feet and the 10-inch shells explode to 1,000 feet in diameter.

The theme of this year's pre-fireworks concert centers around family and will be hosted by Kimo Kahoano and Carole Kai. The preconcert show begins at 5 p.m. The main show featuring musical guests Henry Kapono, Robi Kahakalau, Kalapana, Loyal Garner and Colon runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m.

KHON TV will broadcast live coverage of the event from 7 to 9 p.m.