Safety issues look resolved for Kailua fireworks show

The Coast Guard is "confident" that the Kailua Fourth of July fireworks show will go on as scheduled today.

Fireworks by Grucci, a fireworks company that is setting off the fireworks in Kailua tonight, faced cancellation of the Kailua show because its vessel for launching the aerials was not certified for fireworks.

The Coast Guard sent the company scrambling after it announced that the vessel lacked federal safety requirements for a fireworks show and that the operational plan had flaws.

"There are just far too many safety concerns for the Coast Guard to overlook," said Capt. Barry Compagnoni, the port captain for Honolulu, in a news release yesterday explaining the possible cancellation of the show.

The Coast Guard said the vendor was using a former military vessel that has no record of Coast Guard inspections, no commercial history and no record of prior safe operation. Also lacking was information on the vessel's specific position during the show.

Coast Guard spokesman Lt. John Titchen said the agency had been working with the vendor for months to help it meet federal requirements, but it still had not complied. But last night the company was complying.

"We have had good cooperation from the vendor, and they have come up with an alternative plan," he said. Grucci will still use the same vessel but will set off the fireworks remotely, satisfying one safety requirement.

"We are confident that the plan they've submitted will be able to be approved first thing in the morning," Titchen said.