FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2020
Pine: Community hurting, please don’t use illegal fireworks
HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I – Noting the community’s high stress level and a large brush fire in the Wai‘anae Mountain Range, Councilmember Kym Pine asks people not to use illegal fireworks as the Independence Day holiday weekend approaches.
“We have been through so much hardship over the past few months and people continue to feel incredibly stressed. Illegal fireworks will heighten the serious problems people are already facing, including poverty, domestic violence, evictions, homelessness and starvation. Please skip setting off bombs this year, especially while people are sleeping,” Pine said.
“Only firecrackers are legal for use on O‘ahu but as we have seen over and over, illegal aerial fireworks light up the sky. The less-visible but even more deafening “aerial salutes” or bombs, shake houses, cause distress for veterans suffering from PTSD and terrify pets during fireworks holidays,” she said.
We join the Honolulu Fire Department in spreading the word against the use of illegal fireworks.
Honolulu Fire Department Fireworks Safety tips
Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One (ʻEwa, ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko ʻOlina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, Mākua) and is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.
Media contact:
Erika Engle
Communications Director
erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov