Illicit aerials prompt arrest
Marijuana is also allegedly found along with the fireworks in a Wahiawa home
Police arrested a 32-year-old Wahiawa man Tuesday for allegedly selling illegal aerial fireworks from his home and confiscated 140 pounds of aerial fireworks, three pounds of marijuana and an unregistered firearm.
The man was arrested at about 5:30 p.m. at his Whitmore Village home on Circle Makai Street.
He was later released without being charged, police said.
Wahiawa Capt. Ed Nishi said the man's arrest marked the first use of a new law that classifies the possession of 25 or more pounds of aerial fireworks without a valid permit as a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Less than 25 pounds is considered a misdemeanor.
Police launched an investigation about a week ago after a tip. It took about a week to get the search warrant, during which time the man might have sold off some of his cache, Nishi said.
Police found fireworks worth an estimated $3,650 on the street, comprising a $350 box with several tubes, 14 boxes worth about $150 to $175 each, and 16 smaller boxes worth about $75 each.
Police estimated the marijuana is worth $36,000.
No one answered the door of the man's home yesterday. However, a used box of apparently illegal fireworks remained on the front lawn of the blue house. Living across the street, 20-year-old Jeremy Hilo characterized the arrested man as a good neighbor.
"He's a good guy for this neighborhood," he said, "a very cool-headed guy."
Hilo said the 140 pounds of fireworks police confiscated is small compared with the illegal fireworks he saw in Nanakuli.
"That's nothing. I wouldn't even think he'd get busted for that kind. That can go in two hours. That's not much," he said.
Some neighbors said they had seen illegal fireworks in the area.
"I heard the swoosh and the bright lights. Couple weeks already the fireworks have been going on," said a woman living in an elderly home on the street, who declined to give her name. "I said, 'Wait a minute, this isn't even New Year's.' It lit up the whole place. It was nice but I knew it was wrong."
Two teenagers in the area said aerial fireworks in the area are set off every night.
"It's a problem but what can we do? They're going to do it anyway," said 17-year-old Robert Kamei. "It really doesn't matter (that one guy was arrested) because they're going to do it anyway."
Peter Kaaiawaawa said, "I look out my window and I see the aerial show." He added that the fireworks also leave behind rubbish and that it is good that police arrested someone.
"It's one less person popping fireworks."
