In an effort to curb the rampant use of illegal fireworks ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Department of Law Enforcement partnered with the Honolulu Police Department to host the final fireworks buyback event of the year. The event, which took place yesterday in Waipahu, provided residents a no-questions-asked opportunity to turn in illegal or unwanted fireworks, in exchange for grocery cards—a measure taken to increase community safety following the tragic Aliamanu fireworks explosion last year, as reported by KITV.
During the buyback at the HPD Training Academy, participants handed over items such as aerial devices, Roman candles, and mortars, receiving $5 per pound for illegal fireworks and $10 per pound for display fireworks, as noted by KITV. Reflecting on the offered rates, there was a maximum redemption limit of $500 in gift cards per turn-in. However, the buyback did not accept retail fireworks, homemade modified explosives, or guns and ammunition.
According to KHON2, an impressive number of over 700 pounds of fireworks have been collected during this event alone, totaling nearly $2,300 in distributed gift cards. “We have some commercial-grade things that were brought in, a few hundred pounds of aerials,” Lambert referenced the varied types of fireworks turned in. He noted that the buyback was a final grace period before stricter enforcement of fireworks regulations would be enacted…