HONOLULU – A fireworks amnesty event at Aloha Stadium on Saturday, January 11, led to the collection of an impressive 1,374 pounds of unused fireworks. Organized by the Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) and its partners, the event aimed to reduce the risks associated with storing and using fireworks.

Governor Josh Green, M.D., expressed his satisfaction with the community’s response. “The fireworks collected Saturday represent a small fraction of what is typically used on New Year’s Eve in Hawai‘i,” he noted. “While I’m proud of our people coming together to turn in nearly three times more illegal fireworks this year than last year, we are going to have to pull back from using aerials in our communities. We are going to have to do that as a society, and people are going to have to make the decision to not buy these illegal fireworks.”

DLE Director Jordan Lowe echoed the governor’s sentiments, emphasizing the safety benefits of the event. “We are extremely grateful to everyone who took the opportunity to dispose of their fireworks safely,” he said. “People from 121 households brought fireworks to the amnesty event. Their families are safer, and their homes are more secure without fireworks being stored in carports or closets. We are taking an inventory of everything we collected, and we will eventually dispose of it in a safe manner.”

The event’s success was bolstered by the collaboration of several agencies, including the Honolulu Police Department, Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Emergency Services Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Together, they ensured that the event was conducted safely and efficiently.

The initiative highlights the ongoing efforts to mitigate the dangers associated with illegal fireworks, promoting a safer community environment.