More than 20,000 fireworks permits issued this year

More firecrackers will likely be popping this New Year’s Eve than in the past five years.

The Honolulu Fire Department on Friday reported that 20,951 firecracker permits were issued on Oahu this year, 3,800 more than last year.

Consumers are required to have a permit to purchase firecrackers on Oahu. The last day to purchase permits was Thursday.

Individuals with firecracker permits, however, are not necessarily guaranteed the availability of firecrackers for purchase from retailers and wholesalers.

The sale of firecrackers within the city and county of Honolulu is allowed only by licensed retailers no earlier than five days prior to use. Sales begin Tuesday, the day after Christmas, and end at midnight Dec. 31.

All other fireworks are illegal for consumer use on Oahu.

The number of firecracker permits issued has been steadily increasing, with 10,922 in 2013, 11,144 in 2014, 13,811 in 2015 and 17,151 in 2016.

Kauai

Health Department pulls plug on sanitation update program

LIHUE >> The state Department of Health withdrew a program aimed at helping Hanalei residents upgrade their sanitation systems.

The department pulled the plug on the program one day after Hanalei was identified as one of 14 priority areas where cesspool upgrades are critically needed to protect public health, the Garden Island reported Thursday.

Cesspools are an outdated means of disposing of sewage. Hawaii passed a law last year requiring the state’s 88,000 cesspools to be replaced by 2050. There are about 270 cesspools in the Hanalei area.

The program provided funds to the Hanalei Watershed Hui to cover half the cost of installing a septic tank or other modern treatment unit. But Michael Burke, program specialist with the department’s Clean Water Branch, said it’s been hard getting residents to participate.

“We understand that it’s been a challenge to find suitable candidates for cesspool upgrades,” Burke said. “However, Hanalei Watershed Hui committed to 15 upgrades and has yet to demonstrate that five property owners are willing to participate.”

Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana, executive director of Hanalei Watershed Hui, said she had a hunch that funding was going to be pulled. She sent a letter to Hanalei property owners Tuesday alerting them of the possible program snub.

The department and Ka‘aumoana agreed during program negotiations that five people needed to be signed onto the program by November. But as of Wednesday, Ka‘aumoana only had four letters of intent.

“Community participation in the current Hanalei cesspool swap program has been disappointing, and interest by homeowners in using the program has been significantly lower than expected,” department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said.

The department’s Polluted Runoff Control Program has an open request for proposals that targets Hanalei, and the entity is hoping that interested applicants will submit proposals designed to improve water quality in Hanalei and throughout the state.

Hawaii island

Car plows into 15 gravestones

About 15 grave sites were damaged when an automobile plowed into Alae Cemetery in Hilo, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced Friday.

Police are investigating the accident, which happened early Wednesday in Section B near the front of the cemetery.

Department of Parks and Recreation staff are attempting to contact the families of the damaged plots to notify them of the incident. The department is also asking families with plots in the area to visit the cemetery to see whether their plot is damaged.

The department asks anyone who witnessed the accident to call police at 935-3311. The parks department can be reached at 961-8311.