Safe fireworks use
urged for New Year’s
Daniel Lista held up his prosthetic arm, with steel hooks where his left hand used to be, and warned parents and children thinking about modifying fireworks.
"This is the result," he said yesterday.
Lista, 30, a Waipahu father of two, was maimed in November 2001 while trying to make "a bigger bomb" out of legal sparklers.
"Since I was a kid, that's like one tradition in Hawaii," he said. "To make loud booms."
Lista spoke at a news conference yesterday called by the U.S. Attorney's Office here to urge the safe use of fireworks to celebrate the New Year.
U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said there have been more than 150 fireworks-related injuries in Hawaii over the past two years.
"We need to remind the public that if you are celebrating this joyful holiday season by using legal fireworks, please be responsible and safe," Kubo said.
Honolulu police responded to 745 complaints about fireworks from Dec. 26, 2002, to Jan. 2, 2003. There were two arrests and 12 citations issued.
The number of complaints has been decreasing since a new law took effect in 2000 that requires permits for firecrackers and increased penalties for possession of illegal fireworks, said police Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu.
Police made two arrests and issued nine citations after responding to 1,122 fireworks-related calls from Dec. 26, 2000, through New Year's Day 2001, compared with 2,595 complaints, 10 arrests and 27 citations around the previous New Year holiday.
Putzulu encouraged citizens to call police if they see people setting off illegal fireworks, but noted that police usually have to witness the violation to make an arrest or issue citations.
He would not offer a prediction for illegal fireworks use this year, but said, "I'm hoping for rain."
According to the National Weather Service, the hopes of police and firefighters may be answered tonight.
Forecaster Hans Rosendal says there is a 50-50 chance of showers on New Year's Eve.
"It looks like a cloudy and humid evening," he said. Rosendal expects light, southwesterly winds.
If it rains, the smoke from the fireworks will wash into the ground. If it doesn't rain, it will likely start out a smoky New Year.