HONOLULU (KHON2) — In a new report released by the Honolulu Police Department, officials saw fewer fireworks citations and made fewer arrests in 2024 compared to previous years over the holiday season.
From Dec. 1, 2024, to Jan. 2, Honolulu police officers arrested one adult and two juveniles for fireworks violations.
Four adult citations and one juvenile citation were also issued between that time frame.
These numbers compare to six arrests and nine citations in 2023. In 2020, the numbers were even higher, with four arrests and 66 citations issued to adults and juveniles.
HPD provided the following breakdown of the number of fireworks arrests and citations between Dec. 1 and Jan. 2 within the last five years.
| Adult | Adult | Juvenile | Juvenile | |
| Arrest | Citation | Arrest | Citation | |
| 2020 | 4 | 61 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 | 52 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
According to police, hundreds of 911 calls have been made over the past couple of months to report illegal fireworks.
Following a deadly explosion in the Salt Lake area on New Year’s Eve, law enforcement and elected officials are reassessing how illegal fireworks laws are enforced and what needs to change.
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Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Governor Josh Green are working with federal and state officials to create tougher penalties for distributors.