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By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Jack Krensrew, left, and Ben Krensrew look over the
Fourth of July displays at Pacific Fireworks on Nimitz
Highway. The store sells strands of up to 20,000
firecrackers for those who want to celebrate the
holiday with a multiple big bang.

Fireworks
aficionados
buy up to
beat $25 fee

The new law that goes into
effect Wednesday limits holders
of the $25 permits to 5,000 firecrackers

By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin

A Haleiwa man and his friend shopping for fireworks yesterday were looking beyond the Fourth of July as they filled their 20-foot shipping container.

"We're stocking up for New Year's," said the man, who would identify himself only as Sam Jr.

He anticipates a black market after the new $25 permit law goes into effect.

The law, which will go into effect Wednesday, limits permit holders to 5,000 firecrackers.

Sam and his friend, "Monsta," had spent "a few grand" as of yesterday.

By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Pacific Fireworks encourages customers to stock
up before the new law takes effect, and some
were buying by the case.

They already have accumulated 80 strings of 100,000 firecrackers and several strands of 16,000.

"We got enough for two or three more New Years," Monsta said. The two men will blow off lots of firecrackers tomorrow at Sam's Haleiwa farm, but save most of it for New Year celebrations.

Fireworks sales at Mililani Wal-Mart picked up on the last weekend before the holiday since the slow beginning Tuesday, the first day of sales, but is down from last year.

Store manager Bryan Wall said people might be thinking the new law has already gone into effect.

"We've not sold through the first shipment yet," Wall said yesterday afternoon. Last year at this time, his store had sold three shipments.

"I've heard rumors of people hoarding, but we haven't seen any people buying huge amounts," Wall said.

Some individuals purchased cases this weekend at Pacific Fireworks' location on Nimitz, which sells fireworks as large as 20,000-firecracker strings.

Gary Canite of Aiea had no intention of hoarding.

He just stopped by the Nimitz store to browse after brunch and walked out with $131.50 worth of fireworks, filling his car trunk and forcing his two sons to sit on boxes of firecrackers.

Many bought just enough yesterday to celebrate the holiday with family, but balked at having to pay the $25 permit fee for New Year's Eve fireworks.

Health precautions For Fourth of July, the Department of Health advises the public, especially asthma, bronchitis or emphysema sufferers, to take the following precautions: Do not smoke. Avoid secondhand smoke. Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid people with colds or lung infections. Stay indoors and use an air conditioner. Otherwise, use fans. Place a moist towel in spaces under doors where smoke can enter. Have an adequate amount of medications available in a convenient place. Contact a physician as soon as any problem develops. A paper, gauze or dust mask moistened with a baking soda and water solution may help. For your pets The Hawaiian Humane Society recommends: Make sure pets wear identification. Keep pets indoors. Stay with pets if possible. If pets need sedatives, call your veterinarian ahead of time. If you find a lost animal, call the Humane Society at 946-2187, ext. 285, or bring the animal to the shelter, which is open 24 hours, as well as on holidays.