Police Chief Louis Kealoha warned Friday that juveniles will be arrested without exception if they are caught setting off firecrackers this holiday season.
At a wide-ranging press conference on public safety, city officials also urged residents to be careful on roadways and to turn off Christmas lights when they leave home or go to sleep.
And they offered a reminder that the last day to buy fireworks permits at satellite city halls is Wednesday.
MONITOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
The holidays are a time for letting loose and celebrating, but they can also be stressful and a source of anxiety and depression, public safety officials acknowledge.
For those feeling down or who know someone who is, the state Department of Health has a mental health line at 832-3100 on Oahu and 800-753-6879 from the neighbor islands.
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Under a city ordinance passed in September 2010, the $25 permits to set off firecrackers — the only fireworks not banned by the ordinance — must be purchased no later than 10 days before a fireworks-permitted holiday, in this case New Year’s Eve.
As of 2 p.m. on Friday, 1,917 permits had been sold. But the city hasn’t seen numbers skyrocket in the last few days of sale like usual: In past years, between 1,000 and 2,500 permits have been sold per day in the final four days, said Capt. Terry Seelig, a Fire Department spokesman.
"It picks up the sales quite a bit, so if people don’t pay attention and go (on) Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we won’t see as many sold," Seelig said.
Fireworks will be on sale between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31, and it is legal to set them off between 9 p.m., Dec. 31, and 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, Fire Chief Kenneth Silva said.
The ordinance also makes it illegal for anyone under 18 years old to set off fireworks, and Kealoha said the department will be strict with its enforcement.
"Juveniles found in violation of this law will be arrested," he said, adding that citations will not be handed out before arrests are made.
Seelig said that if people wait until fireworks appear on store shelves, it may be too late to get a permit.
"People tend to wait to the last minute … (but) the last minute has been moved up," Seelig said. "We don’t want people to be disappointed, and especially we want them to be responsible."
That responsibility extends to the kitchen.
"If you do leave your kitchen, even for a short amount of time, please turn off the stove," Silva said.
The roadways are another concern.
There have been 49 traffic fatalities so far this year — down from 62 at this time last year, but "the majority of our fatalities were speed-related," said Dr. James Ireland, director of the city Department of Emergency Services.
Other safety tips:
» Don’t drink and drive; call a taxi or use a designated driver. Drive slowly and plan for heavy holiday traffic. Prepare for drunken-driving checkpoints across the island.
» Invest in smoke detectors if you don’t have any and make sure they are properly installed and functioning.
» At the beach, check with lifeguards for surf information and other safety updates before swimming.
» Be conscious of flash flood advisories, watches and warnings; take necessary measures to protect your property, and be prepared to evacuate your home if necessary.
Melvin Kaku, director of the Department of Emergency Management, warned motorists not to try to drive through flooded areas.
"Please turn around and be safe," he said. "We don’t want any drownings."
» National Weather Service: www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl
» Public safety message registration: www.nixle.com
