Rain and economy-driven thrift appear to have resulted in a relatively mild celebration of New Year's Eve in Hawaii. However, revelers throughout Oahu did not hesitate to brazenly launch illegal aerial fireworks, confident that they would not be arrested.

The number of fireworks permits issued by the city fell this year to less than 7,000, compared to more than 9,200 last year. That undoubtedly reflects belt-tightening created by the nation's economic crisis.

The Honolulu Fire Department reported only a few fireworks-related fires on New Year's Eve but no property or people were affected. That is not always the case; in the celebration ringing in 2001, an 80-year-old woman and two dogs were killed inside their Palolo home by a fire caused by a nearby celebration.

Honolulu police made a positive move early last week when an undercover officer bought $1,400 worth of illegal high-explosive aerial fireworks from a warehouse near Honolulu Airport and arrested two men, who were licensed to sell commercial-grade fireworks. More than $40,000 worth of aerial fireworks was confiscated.

The arrests appear to reflect a police policy of bringing charges against sellers of illegal fireworks but not against people who buy or use them. Residents who launch aerial fireworks have been assured by police inaction that their misbehavior will go unpunished. Police receive hundreds of complaints about such illegal activity in the days leading up to the New Year.