City Council
to hear resolution
on fireworks

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

City Council members are joining the call for curtailing the holiday use of fireworks.

Council Chairman Mufi Hannemann and Vice Chairman John Henry Felix have introduced a resolution urging the state Legislature to authorize the counties to adopt more stringent fireworks laws, impose a statewide ban on fireworks or ban fireworks on Oahu.

The resolution comes on the heels of calls by Gov. Ben Cayetano, police and fire officials, and others urging a ban on fireworks following the latest, smoky New Year's Eve.

The Council's Policy Committee is scheduled to hear the resolution Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Felix said he's had similar resolutions passed by the Council in 1995 and 1997, only to be thwarted at the Legislature.

A sampling of Council members shows that -- while not all favor a ban on Oahu -- there is support for returning authority over fireworks to the counties.

The counties passed their own fireworks laws until 1994, when the Legislature took back the authority.

Councilwoman Rene Mansho said the Oahu situation got worse after that and that she doesn't favor a ban but is "for some controls."

Mansho said the city had authority, including for some time a process that limited purchases, until the state took over.

Councilman Jon Yoshimura agreed.

"Ostensibly, the statewide law was passed to control aerial fireworks," he said. "My opinion is that it's gotten worse."

Yoshimura believes a ban would be "unrealistic" but thinks "some additional controls need to be put in place."

Hannemann feels a ban may be excessive.

Any regulations would need to "take into account religious, cultural and special holiday celebrations," he said.

"But based on my own personal experience, I don't think we can go through another year and not do anything," Hannemann said. "The status quo won't do."

Councilman Steve Holmes supports a ban but will settle for less.

"I think at the very least, if they give the counties back the authority to regulate, we could do something," he said.