HONOLULU (KHON2) — Consumer fireworks remains illegal on Oahu. That’s after the Honolulu City Council couldn’t get enough support to a bill that would’ve brought them back.
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“There are 4 aye’s, 4 no’s, 1 member is absent,” said the city clerk. “Thank you bill 22 has failed to receive the necessary 2/3rd vote of the entire membership of the council and shall be deemed finally lost,” said council chair Tommy Waters, during the hearing.
And with that, bill 22 dies in the Honolulu City Council. The bill would’ve lifted the city’s 14-year ban on consumer fireworks, like sparklers and fountains.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi vetoed it. The council was looking to override that veto.
“Conditions today are very different than they were before,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “We certainly wanna respect cultural aspects and that’s not what this has been about. This has been about public safety.”
“We are very grateful for the Mayor for vetoing,” said Battalion Chief Pao-Chi Hwang, of Honolulu Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau. “We’re very grateful to the city council working with us and supporting the Honolulu Fire Department in our position.”