Almost anyone who’s lived here for any length of time must find it almost surreal that just a single merchant has a legal permit to sell firecrackers for the Fourth of July celebrations this year.

Bo Wah Trading Co. on Maunakea Street also reports that it’s likely to run short of the noisemakers.

It appears that several years of consumer fireworks bans are having some effect on the willingness of merchants to take the trouble.

Yes, it’s an all-American holiday, but considering the things were invented in China, it makes some sense that a Chinatown merchant would be the last one standing.

Nice turf; now what about the traffic?

The installation of new turf at Aloha Stadium, at a cost of $1.2 million, seems like a case of too little, too late.

The thought seems to be that a better field might lure the NFL to bring back its Pro Bowl game, which was played here for most of its modern existence, but will be in Orlando for the next two years, at least.

Of course, it wasn’t even the NFL that complained about the turf; it was the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, which in December cancelled matches here as a result.

The NFL actually had said the old turf “passed inspection.” What was probably more on its mind was the horrendous traffic jam that prevented many fans from getting to the latest Pro Bowl here on time, or even at all.

Until that issue is addressed, good luck getting the Pro Bowl back anytime soon.