The economy is supposed to be hurting right? Everything costs more now? People are struggling with expenses?
You wouldn't know it from the extremely expensive illegal fireworks we saw all around us from our window.From what friends and relatives were texting us from around the island, they were all shocked at the amount of ILLEGAL, extremely loud fireworks we were seeing everywhere. This is the worst (or most amazing) display we've seen in the 15 years we've been living in Hawaii.
My teacher buddy, Judy texted the following picture which I loved.
Happy New Year, everybody!
I'm hoping 2023 will be healthier, safer and more peaceful here and around the world.
According to the Star Advertiser this morning the amount of illegal fireworks this year was MUCH worse than previous years.
We all thought it would be safer this year because unlike the LEGAL 20,000 firecracker permits that were issued last year, only 13,679 were bought this year.
But it WAS worse, much worse. EMTs were called out because of people who couldn't breathe due to the ILLEGAL fireworks smoke.
A friend of mine said they were outside their house watching the fireworks around the neighborhood and she woke up the following morning with a runny nose and irritated eyes. We'd shut all our windows on New Year's Eve anticipating the bad air because the weather forecast had warned of diminishing trade winds.
One fellow in Wahiawa was in critical condition because the fireworks blew up in this face. A 12 year old girl was in serious condition from facial injuries. Fellow in Ewa Beach had fireworks exploding near his face. He was in serious condition due to loss of vision, bruising and lacerations. A woman had fireworks exploding and hitting her in the neck. And so on and so forth.
The Honolulu Fire Department Captain, Malcolm Medrano said, "I've never been anywhere in my life that had this concentration of aerials. I just feel really sorry for the people that were hurt by them. There were permanent life-altering injuries."
It's insane! What a way to start the year!
New Years Eve was a real blast, eh? 🤓
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Kay and Art!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see everyone again this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Is the street mess from the same neighbors who gifted your Mom some treats for always keeping the area swept? I think you had more fireworks because so many are trying to break free from covid restrictions. Hope some winds come blow the smoke away. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWe noticed today that the neighbor who blew off the fireworks cleaned off the road (and evidence) the next day. However, another neighbor complained that the fireworks guy cleaned off his debris, BUT the wind had blown that garbage onto all the neighbors' yards and down the street. I did see fireworks debris down the street from the perpetrator because he only cleaned off what was in front of his house. And no, the fireworks culprits are definitely not the same people who gave mom the treats or the broom.
DeleteLin Floyd says living in a retirement community, we headed to bed at 10 pm to the sound of early fireworks-missed any midnight ones...
ReplyDeleteWow, what a mess they leave! Fireworks are beautiful but they do leave a lot of nasty smoke if the breeze isn't blowing. Here in OKC the news was reporting the police were advising not to call 911 to report illegal fireworks. I don't think there is much enforcement on that issue. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of fireworks. They are pretty... but a bit dangerous and they do scare the animal population. My daughter has a neighbor that gives a huge party with fireworks (right over daughter's pasture and barn) on New Year's and the 4th of July. My daughter has to stay with her horses in the barn to keep them calm until the fireworks stop. It's sad that people can't be more considerate. I love the pic your friend sent.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but wonder, if fireworks are illegal in Hawaii, how the heck are people obtaining them? I would guess they aren't supposed to be brought via airplane which leaves only boats but I would think those goods are searched as they enter port too. The only other thing I can think is that people might be making them from scratch but that seems a stretch too.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know. My young nephew did tell me that those concussion type bomb fireworks that set off car alarms and the aerials are hundreds and hundreds of dollars. They come in shipping containers that slip through the customs inspectors. But how do people know where to get them? I don't know.
DeleteWe had the same issues here; it's so easy to get them since we live near (on?) tribal lands. It was terrifying! My house was shaking.
ReplyDeleteI posted about the same thing! Glad you folks made it through and the air is clearing
ReplyDeleteWe stayed in and watched the London fireworks on TV, they were very good.
ReplyDelete... but sorry to read about what happened in Hawaii.
My good wishes to you and yours for a happy 2023.
All the best Jan
We have a lot of illegal fireworks on the 4th of July but not so much for New Years. We watched out fireworks on TV from the Space Needle. We could have used some trade winds to clear the smoke. It was hard to see the fireworks from the camera angle that was set up. I'll post a good photo from another angle.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a mess they made! We had a few fireworks on New Years Eve but for some reason, last night was worse. Really big ones just a couple houses away that went on and on. I just don’t “get” the excitement or satisfaction or whatever it is in making all that noise. Anyway, Happy New Year to you and Art!
ReplyDeleteI went to a New Years event for awhile, but went home by ten or so. I was still awake when the midnight hour struck. Somewhere in the distance someone set off fireworks.
ReplyDeleteMakes me happy to be an old lady in the middle of the countryl
ReplyDeleteI closed up my windows and went to sleep early. Thankfully our 14 year old Sheltie got even more deaf this year so the fireworks didn't affect him.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember fireworks being a thing for New Year's. Maybe growing up in Vermont where winter temperatures could be below zero had something to do with that because climate change does seem to have opened up that possibility in northern climes
ReplyDeleteMy neighborhood shot them a little but it wasn't super crazy. Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteHow awful! We had a few scofflaws, but nobody hurt, thankfully.
ReplyDelete