Fresh-tree bill is now law despite mayor’s concern

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has allowed a City Council bill permitting live Christmas trees in Honolulu Hale to become law without his signature, but said he will ask city departments to continue using artificial trees during Honolulu City Lights, citing safety concerns.

The Council unanimously approved Bill 2 last month, despite opposition from the Honolulu Fire Department. The bill amends the Fire Code to allow freshly cut trees in Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale, provided that there is approved fire watch monitoring while the trees are on display.

The city departments would likely fulfill Caldwell’s request to use artificial trees during Honolulu City Lights, said city spokesman Andrew Pereira.

But Councilman Ikaika Anderson, who introduced the bill, said Monday that he will continue to push for live Christmas trees, adding that he would try to work on getting a freshly cut tree for the Council’s display, even if it means paying for it out of pocket.

When the Council passed the bill, Anderson had said, “it’s just not Christmas without real, fresh-cut Christmas trees,” adding that fire watch monitoring would be more than enough protection. He said he had heard from several residents who would like to see freshly cut trees during Honolulu City Lights instead of artificial ones, noting that there have not been past problems with live Christmas trees in Honolulu Hale.

“Obviously by the (unanimous) vote, my colleagues are excited by the possibility of having real Christmas trees,” Anderson said Monday. “I would hope that the city would return to the 30-some-odd-year custom of featuring real Christmas trees for the annual Honolulu City Lights. I will see what I can do.”

But HFD had testified that live Christmas trees pose an “unacceptable risk” and that a fire watch would not be enough to ensure safety. Honolulu Hale does not have an automatic fire sprinkler system. Artificial trees have been used in Kapolei Hale even though the building has a sprinkler system, according to HFD. Artificial Christmas trees, which have been used in Honolulu Hale since 2013, are less combustible than live ones, the department said.

There were at least 64 fires involving live Christmas trees from 2006 to 2016, none of which were in Honolulu Hale, according to HFD.

Caldwell, in a letter sent to the Council on Friday, said the bill is “problematic,” referencing similar concerns raised by HFD.

“When (live Christmas trees are) displayed in an area that attracts thousands of people daily, with limited egress, the Honolulu Fire Department considers this a ‘perfect storm’ of conditions for a potential disaster,” Caldwell said. “Everyone loves the holiday aroma of natural cut Christmas trees. However, with the number of individuals, families and children visiting the displays at Honolulu Hale, public safety is a serious concern and remains our number one priority.”