>>Chair Okimoto: aloha and
good afternoon.
It is 1:50 P.M.
JUNE 27, 2024.
I calm -- call the committee on
public safety to order.
I would like to welcome
committee vice chair
councilmember tulba and
councilmember dos santos-tam.
Councilmember tupola is excused
from today's meeting.
Also joining us today is
councilmember say.
Pursuant to section 92-3.7,
hawai'I revised statutes, this
meeting will be conducted as
a remote meeting by interactive
conference technology, with the
following procedures in
effect for the meeting.
Members of the public will be
allowed to provide oral
testimony on all items on the
agenda in the following order.
In-person in the council
communication and remotely.
In person and remote oral
testimony will be allowed when
each item is taken up.
Before testifying, each person
shall state their name for the
record.
Each speaker will be limited to
a one-minute presentation on
each item.
All persons who have registered
to testify in person will be
called upon first.
When your name is called,
proceed to the podium.
When the timer goes off,
conclude promptly.
Persons who have not registered
will be given an opportunity to
testify before the registered
testifiers.
I will proceed to remote
testimony via videoconference or
phone.
When your name is called please
monitor your screen and activate
your audio feed when profited.
Those joining us by phone, I
will identify you by the last
three digits of your number.
Unmute and press star 6.
Persons who are have not
registered to testify remotely
will be give me an opportunity
to speak.
Some friendly reminders and
tips.
Videoconference from a quiet
location, if possible.
If you're watching the
proceedings on olelo, please
mute your television at the time
you're called to testify.
When the timer on screen reaches
zero, conclude promptly.
Hrs 92-3.7 requires all votes at
remote meetings be conducted by
roll call unless unanimous.
Therefore I will first call for
objections, if there are any, I
will call for a roll call vote.
When testimonies including the
testifiers' address, e-mail and
phone number --
written testimonies, including
the testifier's address, e-mail
address and phone number will be
available to the public as
described on the posts agenda.
As a courtesy, please turn off
all cell phones for the duration
of this meeting.
Item one.
Resolution 24-127.
Confirming the appointment of
arnold wong to serve on the fire
commission of the city and
county of honolulu.
With us, I believe we have the
apointee.
MR. Arnold wong.
If you will introduce yourself.
>> thank you.
My name is arnold wong.
I'm very honored to be here
today.
Being the nominated for the fire
commission.
Just a brief, I said if council
that I'm here to serve the
community.
Because the men that helped my
parents, my friends and family,
I can't say much more than they
helped them in the time of need.
And I want to help them to get
all the resources available so
they can do their services for
rt people.
That's all.
Thank you.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you,
MR. Wong.
Members, any questions for MR.
Wong?
I have a quick question.
And thank you for the
opportunity to meet in my
office.
And I shared with you and I'll
be probably asking you in the
setting, maybe the public MAY
not know.
You had the opportunity to serve
previously on the commission,
and you're having this
opportunity.
I wanted to ask you what do you
think you could bring from then
and what other than what you've
ahead to return to the
commission?
Because it a voluntary act of
service.
>> interesting part is when I
first volunteered, there was no
rules for the fire commission
itself.
Not the fire department but
commission, so I assisted in of
drafting and processing the
rules to allow the commission to
move smoothly and to work better
for the departments and members
of the public.
Additionally, I'm going to use
the word tasked by the
commission to work on the
budget.
At that time, no one was working
on the budget, and that's part
of the charter that the
commission needs to review the
budget and provide it to the
mayor and council with the fire
department's approval.
To we showed that there were
some knees there, -- needs there.
I'm hoping that this information
I bring will assist the
department and the community,
council to assist in sighing, --
saying this is the transparency
we need for the budget and what
they're doing.
This is the word transparency
that's being used now days.
And without that, it's going to
be questionable.
Are they reallyllysing t the
municipa money
r w what they're doing?We
we wanto show proof thahe
panipass -- money is being usedprop
proper
.
>>Chair Okimotok thank yo
so
much.
Members, further questions?
Thank you.
We'll proce with in-person
st
testimony.
Clerks, any registered or
nonregistered in person
testifiers?
>>Clerk: chair, there are
none.
>>Chair Okimoto: remote
testimony.
Do we have registered or
nonregister remote testifiers?
>>Clerk: chair, there are
none.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Members,e we areow now in
sc
siscussion.
Any discussion?
Thank you, MR. Wong, for the
opportunity to meet withou you and
comingay.
We look forward to continuing
the journ for for you.
I want thank you for what you're
doing.
The departmentil will benefit from
working together with the
commission.
I appreciate what you stated on
your desire to make sure that
the community is getting the
best resources and however the
department can do that, you're
willing to support.
So thank you so much.
Okay.
Seeing no further discussions,
the chair recommends that
resolution 24-127 be reported
out for adoption.
Any discussion?
Objections or reservations?
Hearing none, so ordered.
Agenda item number two.
Resolution 24-161.
Accepts gift to the city valued
at $50,000 from othram inc., for
dna testing to identify five
human remains under the
jurisdiction of the department
of the medical examiner.
With is today, I believe we we we
have our medical examiner.
Aloha.
Director kobayashi.
>> thank you very much.
My again is masahiko kobayashi,
the medical examiner.
On JANUARY 3, advanced dna
testing on five sets of
identified remains our
department has.
So we have actually documented
58 identified remains since
1966.
All cases have been cremated,
but we still have dna samples or
skeletons from 38 cases.
Othram collected from grant and
also donations and offered this
testing to many law enforcement
agencies, medical examiner
offices and cor ner's offices
nationwide.
09 ot09 -- othram helped them solve
many cold cases.
They have selected five of our
cases from the data base.
Found between 2000 and 2015, and
the testing will be performed by
othram.
And they use forensic genetic
genealogy testing which can be a
better tool.
So we hope we can find relatives
of these cases, and eventually
make identification on them.
And circumstances surrounding
their death are not really
clear.
So we hope this identification
MAY lead to additionaller new
information and we can have more
clear understanding of these
cases.
Forensic jeanologyjeanology tests
about $10,000 a case.
Our department cannot afford.
This is a really, really great
opportunity, and we respectfully
request your approval of this
gift.
Thank you.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much, medical examiner
kobayashi.
Members, any questions for DR.
Kobayashi?
>>Councilmember Dos
santos-tam: I e-mailed you
about how many sets of remains
unidentified remains are there
in your custody overall?
>> we have 38.
38 cases, but actually many of
them are cremated.
We only have dna samples but
skeleton cases, it's easier keep
so we have several skeleton
cases.
>>Chair Okimoto: okay.
Thank you, councilmember dos
santos-tam.
Members, any further questions?
No questions.
Okay.
Thank you, DR. Kobayashi.
We'll proceed with in-person
testimony.
Clerks, any registered or
nonregistered in-person
testifiers?
>>Clerk: chair, will are none.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Clerks, any registered or
nonregister remote testifiers?
>>Clerk: there are none.
>>Chair Okimoto: members,
we're in discussion.
Okay.
DR. Kobayashi, thank you once
again.
We know that you just had an
article in civil beat with you
and hearing about the depth and
breathe and what you're
responsible for, it's not an
easy task.
Thank you for what you're doing.
And I know that the work you're
doing is very important.
Not just for the city but for
the individual families whose
members might have been a part
of the remains that you're
identifying.
Anything that we in council can
do to support you, thankful for
this opportunity to have this
gift received on your behalf.
>> thank thank you very much.
Thank you.
>>Chair Okimoto: chair
recommends that 4-161 be
reported for adoption.
Anyobjections or reservations?
Hawai'I.
Resolution 24-144.
Accepts a gift to the city
valued at $3,000 from spike'
s k9
fund for custom fitted k9
ballistic vests for use by the
honolulu police department'
s
specialized services division'
s
canine unit.
With is today, major han from
the honolulu police department.
Aloha, major.
>> hi.
Good afternoon.
I'm hunter alu with the special
specialized service division.
Here to accept the gift for our
k9.
>>Chair Okimoto: members, any
questions?
None.
We'll p wceed with in-person
testimony.
Clerks do we have any registered
or nonregistered in-person
testifiers?
>>Clerk: chair, we have one
standing by.
>>Chair Okimoto: aloha.
Angela.
If you could state your name.
>>Testifier: angela melody
young testifying on behalf of
cares.
In strong support.
So the resolution is to provide
for the canine unit, which is
part of an entire team made up
of the specialized services
division, which performs
diversion functions which
requires unique skills.
And so the entire team include
S.W.A.T., bomb squad, canine
unit and helicopter section.
So, of course, with the
resolution, it does support one
part of the team, and however,
in a division, each section
functions better together when
the group can cooperate.
And foundation under diverse
function, right.
Suchs a marijuana eradication,
arrests and warrants and working
with federal agencies to provide
protection for national and
international diplomats.
And with the special focus on
the canine unit, officers and
puppies are could upon to search
prisoner, and felony suspects
and explosive detection.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
>>Clerk:s, do we -- any other
in-person?
>>Clerk: there are none.
>>Chair Okimoto: registered or
nonregistered remote testifiers?
>>Clerk: there are none.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Members, we're in discussion.
Seeing no further discussion,
the chair recommends that
resolution 24-144 be reported
out for adoption.
Any discussion, objections or
reservations?
Seeing none, so ordered.
Moving to agenda item number 4.
Resolution 24-146.
Accepts a gift to the city
valued at $10,000 from vested
interest in k9s, inc., for k9
ballistic vests k9 first-aid
kits, and k9 narcan kits for use
by the honolulu police
department'
s specialized
services division and
narcotic/vice division canine
units.
Withwith is again we have major
hunter.
>> good afternoon.
I'm here on behalf of honolulu
police department to accept a
gift valuedt at $10,000 to
further provide for our
specialized service division.
>>Councilmember Dos
santos-tam: has hpd had to use
those yet?
Have the dogs been exposed to
phenomenal or open yets in the
course of their duties?
>> I apologize.
I'm new to the unit.
Not familiar with any narcan
being used for our canine.
>>Chair Okimoto: in-person
testimony.
Any registered or nonregistered?
>>Clerk: we have one standing
by.
>>Chair Okimoto: aloha,
angela.
>>Testifier: aloha.
Angela melody young testifying
on behalf of cares in strong
support of the resolution.
So we're in support because
puppies are medically valuable
and it's very valuable to public
safety matters.
For example, puppies can get
trained to go to certification
class to detect high blood
pressure, and it's very helpful
for investigative matters.
Thank you.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much, angela.
Ksclerks, any further in-person
testifiers?
>>Clerk: there are are none.
>>Chair Okimoto: any
registered or nonregistered
remote testifiers.
>>Clerk: chair, there are
none.
>>Chair Okimoto: before we go
to discuss, I would like to
welcome to the chamber council
chair waters.
Thank you for joining us.
Seeing no further testifiers,
we're in discussion.
With no further discussion, the
chair recommends that resolution
24-146 be reported out for
adoption.
Any further discussion,
objections or reservations?
Hearing none, so ordered.
Moving to agenda item number 5.
Resolution 24-143.
Establishing a task force on
gambling rooms.
Members, we have distribute a
hand carried cd one verse of the
resolution.
Ocs 2024-0641.
Hand-carried cd1 makes the
following amendments.
A, in the second be it further
resolved clause, places blank
space of 90 days to the task
force to submit a written
support of findings and
recommend lags.
B, make technical, miscellaneous
and non-substantive
we have
and dawn from department of
permitting and planning.
Major mike lambburt?
We have director apuna.
Aloha.
>> aloha, chair, vice chair and
council chair, members.
Committee.
Dawn.
Thank you for this opportunity
to speak on this resolution.
I think it's a good idea.
There's a lot that's already
going on with hpd and dpp and
hfd under some of the operation
that hpd has conduct the, and
they've been very successful.
this might be the
opportunity to
lay out how we can continue in a
more official manner in order to
make sure we can have this carry
out throughout the island.
It's mostly in kalihi.
So I'm available for any
questions.
Thank you.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you,
director apuna.
Members, any questions?
Councilmember say.
>>Councilmember Say: yes,
director apuna 8, would you be
open to corporation counsel for
their legal advice?
>> yes.
I think that would be a good
idea.
>>Councilmember Say: you have
five members on the task force.
Three from the prosecutor's
office.
Police department and dpp.
And two councilmembers.
So if you want to do six,
aferred -- add
on corporation corporation counsel for legal
intertakes of the laws.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Members, any further questions?
Thank you, director apunana.
Anyperson testimony.
Clerks, any registered or
nonregistered?
>>Clerk: we have one standing
by.
>>Chair Okimoto: aloha,
angela.
>>Testifier: aloha.
I want to testify in strong
support.
I think I talked about a po
tension idea for a collaboration
with these specific officers.
So I think it's a good idea to
work with the city's prosecuting
attorney and also the honolulu
police department and dpp to
collaborate as well as with
corporation counsel.
Yeah.
Because each office has special
focuses.
So when they contribute to the
planning, it's more effective in
the results.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you,
angela.
Clerks, any other in-person
testifiers?
>>Clerk: chair, there are
none.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
We'll proceed with remote
testimony.
Clerks, any registered or
nonregistered remote testifiers?
>>Clerk: chair, there are
none.
>>Chair Okimoto: seeing no
further testifiers, members,
we're in discussion.
No discussion.
Okay.
Judge at 132, we call the
committee on public safety back
into order.
Thank you, members.
Just to recap where we're at.
We finished discussion and so
we're moving on to
recommendation.
The chair recommends that
resolution 24-143 be amended to
the hand-carried cd1 as
identified as ocs 2024-0641.
Any further discussion?
Objections or reservations?
Hearing none the resolution has
been amended to a cd1.
The chair recommendings that
resolution 24-143 cd1 be
reportedly out for adoption with
the attention to incorporated
councilmember say's verbal
recommendation and will be
requesting an fd1.
any objection or reservations?
Hearing none, so ordered.
Yes, councilmember say?
>>Councilmember Say: the
reason why for the request is
that in most cases, as
violations go through the
department of planning and
permitting, the enforcement
comes into play, which is
corporation counsel.
That's the reason why I tried to
interject maybe the corporation
counsel should be part of the
task force.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you,
councilmember say, for
clarifying.
I failed to mention that during
discussion.
Was to add a member of the task
force to be from corp
counselleling he. Corp counsel.
Thank you.
Clerks, we're okay in thank?
Thank you.
Item number 6,
bill 22, 2024.
Relates to fire code.
Fire chief sheldon and battalion
chief with us.
Aloha chief hao.
>> aloha.
Good afternoon, chair okimoto,
viceir chair tulba,
councilmembers.
Good afternoon and thank you for
this opportunity to testify on
this bill.
First off, hfd strongly opposes
bill 22.
I wanted to share -- ome -- excuse
me.
Some history behind the bill.
So we have a power point up
there.
Back in 2010 bill 22 was passed
and put a ban.
Then it was legalized.
From my understanding it was
deferred because of possible
lack of statistics.
We're here in 2024 with bill 22.
So I wanted to share some
statistics that we had from
medical statistics that we got
from the state department of
health, injury prevention
section.
We only have data from 2017 to
2019.
So I wanted to take a look, if
you can see the chart and graph,
it's color-coded.
You can see that line coming
down.
That's where the ban took
effect.
You can visually see the
reduction injuries.
And again, these are injuries
that required medical attention
at the emergency department
throughout the hospitals.
Each of these is countywide.
Red is countywide.
If you look at the individual
barrings for oahu county, it's
white.
Has the highest.
To the left we have a claret.
If I look at the four years
preceding the ban, average is
about 83 per year incidents or
injuries.
And the years after the ban,
average of 23.
For a reduction of 72% in
injuries.
So quite substantial.
And if you just wanted to look
at more recent data, last four
years, the average would have
been 28 injuries for
approximately a 66% reduction.
Moving on to the next slide,
another look at our fire related
calls.
Data that the honolulu fire
department collects.
include wildland rubbish and
structure fires.
You can see the before and after
the four years preceding, the
average is 35 incidents.
And the years after, average of
eight incidents, all the way to
2023 for a 78% reduction.
If we look at the last four
years, the average comes out to
9.75, for a 72% reduction.
From our standpoint, bill 34 was
successful in reducing or
creating a safer, healthier
environment for our community.
Next, I wanted to touch on
what's been kind of hot topic
within our state with the maui
wild land fires, our community
has been very sensitive to
fires.
Especially wild land fires.
On many of our neighborhood
board meetings that we've
attended, almost every
neighborhood board have concerns
about wild land.
Recently in this year, we had a
lot of heavy rains in MAY.
From the national weather
service, we have a big green up.
Moving into the summer, we're
going to have a la nina effect.
For this fire season, it's
expected to be very high.
Also, I wanted to bring to your
attention heco's public safety
power shutouts.
If the program starts on JULY 1,
and heco will shut down power in
certain areas.
Identified as high-risk in
forecast of high winds and dry
conditions.
The intent is to keep the
community safe by reducing
possible ignitions.
And again, I say that because if
you go back to the data, in our
opinion, bill 34 is successful
in rediesessing ig -- ig ignitions.
To manipulatize any type of
ignitions that could start any
wildfires in critical areas.
Dle formed an illegal fireworks
task force in JUNE 2023.
Led by the state and comprised
of city, state and federal
partners.
To date, they seized over
200 pounds of illegal fireworks.
Our position is we strongly
oppose it for those following
reasons.
And we hope that you would vote
no for bill 22.
Any questions?
>>Chair Okimoto: thank y,
chief hao.
Before I turn it over to
questions, I did have some.
I failed to allow some time for
the introducer of the measure.
Councilmember say, did you want
to say anything?
I apologize.
>>Councilmember Say: at this
time, I did state, for the
record, when we had our first
meeting and second reading, this
is going to be the second
reading, firstly, consumer
fireworks are fireworks that
deals with sparklers and
fountains and spinners.
To allude that we're going to
create that wildfire is like
throwing out a cigarette butt on
the freeway and letting it go.
At this point in time, I thought
it would be a great idea to have
this idea resurface.
Another redirection of money
spent by consumers on what is
legit and what is illegal.
The stats that the chief shows
is correct from the department
of health.
And what I'm saying is that we
don't have it.
so we cannot include these two
type of items or three items as
contributing to this particular
incidents of mortality or
whatever it MAY be.
And I just introduced it to see
if we could have the discussion
to help retailers and making it
legit that they have to go
through the retailer.
As it worked in regards to what
we discussed earlier as one of
the hearings, even getting that
permit for $25 and going to cvs
to buy your 500 pack fireworks
and other things, we never
stopped the illegals, aerials,
the bombs.
That's why I thought this would
be another smaller way of
saying, hey, hey I don't believe it's
going to impact us that greatly.
At this point, that's the reason
it was introduced.
I truly believe that let's
continue on with our cultural
reurresources that we're a part of,
having my grandchild having to
play the sparklers but not roman
candle, not bottle rockets.
Not aerials, et cetera.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much.
Chief hao, and members, if you
could allow me at this time to
ask questions.
And I'll turn it over to the
rest of the body.
I want to go back to your graph
here.
I think it's on page two.
I appreciate -- I'm a visual
learner.
I appreciate the statistics.
When the ban was passed into
law, I believe in 2010, you see
that big drop initially.
Since then, you see an increase,
and in 2017 went up.
We don't have -- now it's 2024.
those of us who experience the
every day or every year
celebrations it has seem like
it's increased.
I wanted to know if you have
seen this increase.
This graph ends in 2019.
Do you have statistics past
that?
From here as if it were
increasing injuries statewide.
Majority happening on oahu.
>> I think ian santi from ems
might have some recent data that
they collected for the medical
side.
>>Chair Okimoto: this is from
your department or this is from
ems?
>> the first slide that is up is
from the department of health.
The injury prevention section.
We didn't have any data after
2019.
>>Chair Okimoto: after 2019.
>> we stopped collecting data
after 2021, if I'm not mistaken.
>>Chair Okimoto: director
santi, did you want to expound?
I have further questions for hfd
but I was for the presentation
that was started today.
>> no problem.
Ian san continue, emergency
services department.
I have very specific data that I
wanted to share in regards to
fireworks related injuries for
this calendar year as well as
actually more recently last
weekend.
I'm not sure if anybody here is
aware that last weekend, there
was a firework explosion in
central oahu.
Involved total of four people
transported to the hospital.
Two minors and two were elderly
people.
Both were in stable condition.
however, as chief pointed out
fireworks, any type of firework
or any type of injury, be it
illegal or legal at that matter
does cause injury.
For last calendar year from the
period of DECEMBER 31 through
6:00 in the morning on new
year's day ems responded to
almost 300 911 calls.
And seven were directly related
to fireworks.
Three of them were minors and
three were over the age of 60.
And one was under the age of 20.
And responded to eight assaults
and nine difficulty breathing.
From a medical standpoint, more
fireworks, it does cause more
medical problems.
>>Chair Okimoto: since the
ban, injuries have increased?
You mentioned it doesn't matter
the type of if irfirsts.
What types of fireworks are
being used when these injuries
and disemghtsdz accidents are happening?
>> a lot are self-made.
Or people find fireworks that
are illegal like a rocket and
doesn't go off.
They bend off and try to salt
lake it and it goes off in their
face.
>>Chair Okimoto: the graph
also shows the neighbor island
counties, which don't have bans
their numbers are fairly low.
Zero some years.
I understand they're different
counties.
They're smaller.
It sounds likes even with the
ban, the injuries have not gone
down.
That's what I'm hearing from
your account.
Injuries are still elevating
still happenin as of last week.
>> he don't have the last trend.
this is from the department of
health.
We can try and look at what our
trend is.
I do know a lot of fatalities
that hammed -- happened on new
year's day and eve resulting
from fireworks.
I don't think it makes a
difference whether it's gone up
or down.
It's the exposure and medical.
Because of fires and smoke
causes a lot of difficulty
breathing problems.
Communities do special things to
keep people indoors.
Smoke really makes a big
difference.
>>Chair Okimoto: completely
understand.
When we bring statistics that
show things are better, but I'm
hearing maybe naz that's not the
case.
I want to make sure numbers are
accurate and that representing
the things.
A lot of testimony were towards
everything is so much better
after the ban but I'm hearing
that might not be the case.
Thank you so much.
Chief hao, if I could, I have a
couple of questions.
And a know that these statistics -- injuries are based
on health record.
For the fires you're addressing,
what types of fireworks are
causing the fires?
>> it's not really not
identifiable.
We looked at all of our
incidents.
And we have our incident
commander say it's fireworks
related.
Some are apparent it was
possibly aerials that caused
either the fire and/or injury,
but it doesn't have that much
details.
All it captured the is it's from
fireworks.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
And department stated that after
the initial ban in 2010, a
recrease, I think last record is
86%.
Today --
>> I think it was 86.
They only look at that one
instance in time.
We want to the look at it from a
longer duration to show pre and
post ban.
You look at the data and you say
there's an increase.
When I look at the entirety, it
goes up and down.
It's pretty much constant, in my
opinion.
It's very obvious from pre and
post, the firework related
incidents we respond to.
We feel that reintroducing
consumer fireworks is going to
make things go back up to the
pre-ban.
>>Chair Okimoto: so I'm sure,
86%, that was for medical
emergencies, not for wildfires
or fires?
>> I can get back to you.
I'm not exactly sure exactly
what he was looking at.
It was more at the transitio
>>Chair Okimoto: this is just
combining.
Does hfd have data or other
information to prove the
causation that you spoke about
during the first reading of this
bill?
During the first reading you
spoke on 86%.
You have any other data?
>> might be off the same data.
I wanted to look at not the
transition point but its
entirety.
We can get back to you on how we
got that 86%.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Will the department be opposed
to this measure if committee
were to amend it in some form?
>> I would have to discuss what
the possible amendments would
be.
>>Chair Okimoto: I'm trying to
see how we could find some
compromise.
And maybe we can meet offline
later.
I would like to know if the
department would have some form
of this measure that the
department would be able to
su
ort.
>> we'll be open to discuss.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Thank you, chief hao.
I did have is question for c chief
logan.
I see him there for hpd.
Aloha, chief logan.
>> aloha.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you,
chief logan.
One question.
Do you have any statistics or
numbers on how many arrests for
firework violations in the paths
year?
>> yes.
For 2020, we had four arrests,
and we gave out 66 citations.
2021, we gave out 53 citations
and four individuals were
arrested.
In 2022, 17 citations and three
adults were arrested.
And in 2023, we gave out ten
citations and five adults were
arrested.
What I'd also like to cover, in
2020, we had about 2800
responses for officers for calls
regarding fireworks.
In 2021, there were over 3100
calls on law enforcement for
fireworks, in 2022, it went down
to 2400.
And then in 2023, it was 2200.
There is trend going down.
You asked earlier the fire
department calls for service
have decreased.
Where I live, I've noticed a
substance decrease in the amount
of fireworks expend the in
nonfourth of JULY new year's eve
time period.
Significant drop in the number
of calls related to fireworks.
>>Chair Okimoto: could you
repeat that?
What year was it?
>> in 2020, little over 2800
calls that we responded to.
In 2021, a little over 3500.
In 2022, a little over 2400.
And in 2023, there were a little
over 2200.
>>Chair Okimoto: can you
explain the -- there were
citations and arrested.
Most years, more citations.
That's gone down.
Arrests are about the same.
Where's theif difference between a
citation and arift.
>> depends on the officer when
they're on the scene what is
going on and what is happening.
What are the observations?
Can he see an individual
lighting fireworks?
He can make an aroast arrest based on
that.
Some are juveniles, some adults.
Maybe we have information after
the fact that an incident has
occurred and citations issued.
Not necessarily an on-scene
observation where an arrest was
made.
>>Chair Okimoto: these are
people caught using illegal
fireworks.
>> correct.
Unpermited and they're firing
off fireworks.
Not supposed to have.
>>Chair Okimoto: okay.
Members, if you could be
patient.
A couple more questions.
Is prosecutor am alm here?
If not, admin.
Thanks, chief.
You MAY get called back again.
I'll open it to members of the
committee.
>> hello, chair, vice chair,
councilmembers.
Andy, mayor's chief of staff.
>>Chair Okimoto: aloha.
Thank you for being here with
us.
I had a question.
Would the administration being
opposed to form of this bill
that would b modified in any
form?
>> I think we're going to take
our lead from our first
responders.
I know chief hao mentioned they
would be open to discussions.
So based on their conversations
with you and subsequent
conversations we would have with
the fire department and first
firsts and councilmembers we
would take our lead from that.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you for
being open.
I do plan to meet with the
department.
What I was thinking and maybe I
should ask, maybe -- we've done
with this other measures.
A pilot program.
One to two years.
You'll wait for us to have a
discussion?
>> I will defer to that.
as I said, the mayor's office
and the administration stands
firmly with our first responders
in opposition to the bill as it
stands now.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much.
Members, thank you so much for
letting me ask those questions.
I will turn it over to the rest
of you.
Questions for any of those
departments reat are here?
Councilmember say?
And in dos santos-tam.
>>Councilmember Say: let me
ask chief hao.
Do you feel that sparklers,
fountains, spinners would be
considered prohibit the now but
it's one of the safer type of
fireworks to to play with or to
burn.
Compared to what we have
es
presently in the laws.
The firecrackers.
>> again, way I'm interpreting,
consumer fireworks in general
defind no higher than 12 feet
above and around.
Reintroducing that back into the
mix, younger children are going
to be playing with these things.
Some of the things say you're
supposed to place it on the
ground, but that never happens.
We feel the data is showing, and
we believe that reintroducing
consumer fireworks such as
sparklers would, we will see an
increase in the numbers.
The reason why we stand
officially is if we look back at
climate change and everything
that happened in lahaina and
wildfires are created by 99% by
humans.
So this is just another means to
create ignitions.
our standpoint has to again, the
way it's written, we strongly
feel we're not going to move in
our position.
Because we feel again,
reintroing it, these numbers
will go back up.
MAY not be the full 60% or 70%
but we feel very strongly it
will increase.
>>Councilmember Say: having
it, a, permitted, it makes it
more easier monitor.
It's going to be retailer
selling it.
Cvs, don quixotes.
Printrpresently it's the black mar market
and we don't have any control.
Chief.
>> I think you're going to have
more people using it.
If you look at the testimony
submitted by the department of
law enforcement, they feel it's
going to be more manpower to
help manage.
Even working with the retailers,
we're going to have an increase
on that end.
It's going to take a lot more
resources to manage.
>>Councilmember Say: okay.
Right now, do you feel it
successful thank you got to go
to hfd to go to $25 to get a
permit and go to cvs and buy a
500 pack firecracker?
I'd rather have commercial
products, which is much more
safer than illegals.
A relation of spending money or
the black mar kes rather than
going to legitimate store.
>>Councilmember Dos
santos-tam: more of an
enforcement question.
It's clear to everyone that we
struggle with enforcing this
existing law, aerials go off all
the time.
much to the chagrin of all our
constituents.
If we were to repermit
sparklers, eth easts.
People would still shoot off
aerials.
In your estimation, chief, if
you were to show up to a house
where 350e678 people were doing
sparklers and also doing
aerials.
I'm concerned people will say we
have a bunch of sparklers and
fountains.
I make it harder it makes it
harder to do enforcement against
the bad guy.
>> councilmember, you make a
good point.
You can use the legal fireworks
as a facade behind the illegal
operations.
To go back with councilmember
say's earlier comment about the
black market, like the legalize
issue of marijuana, most of the
mainland agencies sawen increase
in the black market even though
they tried to legalizing lies
marijuana.
I don't see any difference here.
You try to legalize other
aspect.
People are going to do what the
black market is.
They don't want to pay taxes and
a higher fee.
Want to gets it illegally and
pay less.
Maybe they're paying more,
depending on who's selling.
Black market is not necessarily
going to chang because we can't
control what people want to do
illegally unless we have the
full force of the task force,
dle and our narcotics/vice
working together to stop it at
the source.
Once it gets onland and
delivered to the streets, it's
much harder to enforce.
>>Councilmember Dos
santos-tam: building upon that,
I appreciate that department of
law enforcement is stopping
things at the port, inspecting
things eth et cetera.
For your boot on the ground,
officers who get called about
some bomb goes off, this he show
up.
What tools would be more helpful
to go after people that are
abusing the illegal fireworks
right now?
They show up in somebody's
garage.
And nothing so see here.
>> by the time the fireworks
have gone off, evidence on the
the ground maybe moved away.
Officers shows up, and there's
nothing to see.
If a neighbor took a video and
released that to us and gave us
that, we can issue a citation
and/or make an arrest.
Depending.
Sometimes we knock on people's
door and talk story.
If they have illegal fireworks,
sometimes they will turn stuff
over and get rid of it.
There's different tools we can
use to help.
It's a community effort to take
back their community and say
we're not going to put up with
this.
We're going to take action.
Before we get on the scene and
use either ring video or camera
video.
I'm not wanting neighbors
attacking neighbors.
I'm a dog lover and dog owner.
Every time a firework goes off,
they're not happy and I have to
deal with that anxiety.
why are we putting average
citizens who want to live day to
day that now have animals in
this heightened state because of
illegal fireworks going on.
>>Councilmember Dos
santos-tam: lead to neighbor
effect.
If somebody's using, whether
it's permitted or not a
sparkler, fan fountain and something
happens and the neighbor's house
goes up in flames or their
bushes or whatever.
Who's at fault?
What does that look like?
How do we go after the people
who lit the fuse?
Is it the property owner?
Is it the six-year-old who light
it?
Who's responsible?
>> if we could prove the
six-year-old that lit it, it
would be the parents
responsible.
We would have to do a forensics
investigation.
Get witness state.
S, video evidence.
It would be a full-fledges
investigation of what happened what happened.
And take many application and --
police and hours to investigate
that.
>>Councilmember Dos
santos-tam: thank you.
>>Chair Okimoto: chair waters.
>>Chair Waters: chief hao.
I'm looking at ordinance
20-6.13, permit for the
firecrackers.
I don't recall when this
particular requirement was
passed.
Do you recall when it was
required to get a permit?
>> I do not.
I have my prevention chiefs
here.
maybe they would know.
>>Chair Waters: because I'm
wondering if the -- it could be
attributed to the ban, of
course, but it could also be
attributed to the fact that you
got to get a permit now.
So less people go out.
I grew up with the sanchez's
across the streets and kuumoos.
We all used to pop firecracker.
Now I got to get a permit.
I don't do it.
I'm wondering if that it a pos
pos effect on decreasing the
amount of injuries as well.
No problem.
>> it was in 2010.
>>Chair Waters: permit
requirement was the same time as
original ban.
What actually can you do with a
permit?
How much firecrackers are you
allowed to purchase?
>> I think 5,000 per permit.
>>Chair Waters: I see.
Since the ban, and I have no
statistics to back it up, but
since the ban, it seems like the
illegal aerials got worse.
So last couple of years, last
year I was in ewa.
The whole sky was lit up.
Year before that I was in
waimanalo.
Esther's district.
Whole sky was lit up.
My house from kaimuki
overlooking kahala, it was no
different.
It was beautiful and amazing,
but that's got to be dangerous.
Right.
I'm wondering if there's a
correlation between the ban and
the illegals.
And I don't know, I want your
thoughts on that.
>> I mean, they could be.
going to stick to our data, and
my perspective is again, we took
the consumer fireworks out of
the equation.
If you look at the years
preceding, right after the ban,
it went straight down already.
If you're saying that 2011, '12,
'13, there wasn't that many
aerials, it diddy crease during
that -- did decrease from that
time.
We're going to go back on the
cause based on the intertaste of
the data.
Largely due to consumer
fireworks.
>>Chair Waters: it makes
sense.
The less fireworks there are,
the less likelihood of injury or
fire.
Makes complete sense.
I'm wondering that if you don't
give people some outlet, they
are going to turn to the
illegals.
I'm not convinced that's a per
baseballive argument.
If you give people some
opportunity they won't use
illegals.
If this ordinance, we are
allowing people to pop with the
permit and illegals are still
on.
Really tough one.
Thank you.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you,
chair waters.
Members, any further questions?
Thank you so much, hfd and chief
logan was here as well.
As well andy.
Thank you for answers our
questions.
Seeing no further questions
we'll proceed with in-person
testimony.
Clerks, any registered or
nonregistered testifiers?
>>Clerk: we have some standing
by.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
I'd like to welcome chu lan
shuberth kwak.
>>Testifier: thank you.
And good afternoon,
councilmembers.
This is good.
I want to support part of the
bill because I would not support
having sparklers or fountains.
Usually they go to kids, and
they can't control how to use
it.
I'm supportive of retailers
taking the permit for legal
fireworks for cultural reasons.
That people can for chinese new
year and other cultural needs.
I also would like to propose
that the city or fire department
designate an area like a park in
like countries in singapore,
where you have predominantly
chinese people, they don't allow
fireworks in residential area.
You're allowed to purchase the
number to go to a designated
place that is set up to let off
firecrackers.
Maybe pray to your ancestors
with a make-do stage.
I think that might work to allow
for some outlet to do the
fireworks for cultural reasons
and provide safety.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you
very much.
>>Testifier: and less call to
police and fire department.
>>Chair Okimoto: any questions
for the testifier?
Seeing none, I'd like to welcome
tina yamaki.
Aloha.
>>Testifier: aloha and good
afternoon.
Tina yamakakki.
we're in strong support.
City and county of honolulu is
the only county that has banned
commercial fireworks.
And this bill would reverse
that.
We're talking about the pop, pop
firecrackers most of us grew up
with.
We're not talking about the
aerials and bombs.
Firecrackers hold a profound
cultural significance with not
just chinese and japanese and
filipinos.
Especially celebrations like new
years and other festivities.
It brings people together.
Sale in consumer fireworks
contribute to the local economy.
Prior to the ban, retailers were
all to sell these and it helped
with their businesses.
Now all the sales are going to
illegal and black market.
Those on the black market,
they're not regulated.
So thank you.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much.
Members, any questions?
Thank you, tina.
Clerks, any further in-person
tossers?
>>Clerk: there are none.
>>Chair Okimoto: we'll proceed
with remote testimony.
Any registered or nonregistered
remote testifiers?
>>Clerk: we have some standing
by.
Thank you.
Those of you waiting patiently
online.
Whenwhen I call your name or last
three digits of your number,
state your name for the record.
First, daniel from phantom
fireworks.
>>Clerk: he has not logged on.
>>Chair Okimoto: tad from tnt
fireworks.
>>Testifier: aloha, chair,
vice clair and members of the
committee and councilmembers.
My name is tad trout, a partner
with tnt fireworks in strong
support of bill 22.
Thank you for the opportunity to
testify today.
Over the past few days a handful
of letters opposing bill 22 have
been filed.
Most raised the concerns of
illegal aerial and explosives
that are being sold in the black
market and used throughout
honolulu.
They have included state
approved novelties.
They are part of the solutions.
These do not exceed 12 feet in
height and sold throughout the
other counties.
Offeringal legal consumer
fireworks will offer a -- as I
previously testified, a
three-prong approach that
include one, safe alternative
that bill 22 provides.
Two, stepped up enforcement
effort and three, safety and
education.
They'll make a huge difference
in the illegal black market
trade.
Plews support -- plea please support the bill.
>>Chair Okimoto: any
questions?
Next, valley from co.P.D.
Coalition.
>>Testifier: can you hear me?
I'm valley from hawai'I copd
coalition representing 45,000
people in hawai'I that have been
diagnosed with copd.
We have a really, really hard
time when there are things in
the air like pollutants from
fireworks and par particular particulate
matter.
It doesn't matter ifs lyle or
illegal.
When there's stuff from
fountains to sparklers those
emit things and it's really hard
for those of us who have
challenges breathing.
Thank you very much.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much.
Members, any questions for the
testifier?
None.
Clerks any further online or
remote testifiers?
>>Clerk: we do.
>>Chair Okimoto: if you
could -- I see natalie iwasa.
We'll go with you first.
I'm sorry.
I got an update.
Next, stephanie kendrick.
>>Testifier: sorry.
It took me a minute to get
authorization to unmute.
Chair, vice chair, committee
members, stephanie with hawaiian
humane society.
I'll grateful for the
opportunity to testify.
You have our written testimony
in opposition.
I went to highlight a cowl
points.
We've been at the forefront of
arguing to get fireworks ot of
our mains for a very long time
because of the damage it does to
the mental health and safety of
animals as well as vulnerable
people.
2010 law, I think, has been a
missed opportunities because of
lack of enforcement that came
along with it.
We've seen in the last few
months more fireworks than in
the last 14 years.
I would urge the council to
defer this and give the illegal
firework task force a champs to --
chance to do its job before
complicating things with a huge
influx with consumer grade
fireworks.
Get the bombs out of our
neighborhoods.
Thank you for the opportunity to
tev.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Members, any questions?
Okay.
Next, jamie jamie johnston.
>>Testifier: hi.
Thank you.
My name is jamie johnston in
strong support of bill 22.
I grew up here all my life, and
it was so much fun.
I have fond memories playing
with sparklers with my family on
new year's and JULY.
I really want my children to
experience the same joy with
sparklers.
Thank you so much.
I appreciate the time.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much.
Members, any questions for the
testifier?
None.
Next.
Rus nakamura.
>>Clerk: testifiers has not
logged on.
>>Chair Okimoto: members, chad
sakagawawa.
>>Clerk: he's not logged on.
>>Chair Okimoto: natalie iwasa
iwasa.
>>Testifier: thank you.
Thank you also to the honolulu
fire department for providing
those statistics.
You know, we heard that a lot of
the firework problems were with
other days outside of JULY 4 and
new years and it's handmade.
those should be enforceed, but
as we saw in the 1920s,
prohibition didn't work.
My his has asthma.
My son has asthma and they both
support the fireworks.
Bill 22 is a reasonable way to
affair scheduler sumer consumer fireworks
without having the illegal
aerials and big bombs.
I would ask enforcement outside
of those certain fireworks be
enforced.
That would reduce the amount of
illegal aerials we see today.
Thank you for allowing me to
testify.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much.
Members, any questions?
None.
We'll go next to corren.
>>Testifier: hi.
I'm here in support of bill 22.
I followed what MS. Iwasa said.
Fireworks bring so much joy to
the community and cultural
purposes and value and allow us
to celebrate the new year and
fourth of JULY and helps the
local economy.
We could put some taxes from
these fireworks towards first
responder training and safety
and funding for emergency
services.
Please consider all those
things.
Thank you so much.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Members, first questions for the
testifier?
None.
One more person. Angela melody
young on behalf of cares.
We have extreme levels of
hazardous explosives and a safe
level where they can light it up
and it's not going to be a
public health and safety issue.
what you're trying to determine
is the distinguishing line of
extreme versus safe.
I'm curious what the vibe is
with cultural practices of
firecrackers.
Is it a slap on the wrist versus
a severe citation?
For example, firecrackers you
get a fine.
And smoking crack is like a
felony.
It is a good idea to clarify
that with the city's prosecuting
tosh.
Tosh -- attorney.
I like cultural displays.
An event space for scheduler
fireworks.
And I like to look at federal
data.
From the united states consumer
product safety commission which
regulate it's health reports.
Last year eight hundred injuries
calledded by firework and 700 by
sparklers.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
>>Testifier: and most --
>>Chair Okimoto: any questions
for the testifier?
Thank you so much.
Okay.
Members, no further testifiers
are here, we're now in
discussion.
Councilmember say.
And councilmember dos santos-tam
santos-tam.
>>Councilmember Say: chief hao
hao.
The question is, who makes up
the composition of your
fireworks task force?
Is it a start task force or
county task force?
>> it's a state led task force.
I'm sorry, I don't have
specifics.
>>Councilmember Say: the
composition.
>> there's a police
department -- I'm not certain.
>> I'm the fire inspector for
the fireworks.
It's roy, a retired hpd.
And jordan lowe, on top of him.
Roy runs the task force now.
>>Councilmember Say: and
composition made up of different
segmentings of our community?
>> no, just them.
But they reach out to border
patrol, coast guard, matson
lines.
Goes off to them.
>>Councilmember Say: none of
the vendors?
>> no.
>>Councilmember Say: okay.
Thank you.
>> so far, they confiscate the
189,000 pounds.
Six containers worth of illegal
aerials and fireworks since they
started JULY 1, 2023.
>>Councilmember Say: okay.
This is all off to the west
coast?
>> and china.
>>Councilmember Say: matson is
the supplier?
>> there's matson, young brother
and pasha.
>>Councilmember Say: pasha and
young brothers do not service to
china.
Matson services china direct.
>> yes.
But some of the stuff have come
from --
>>Councilmember Say: west
coast.
>> yeah.
>>Councilmember Say: that's
where the divvy -- difficulty occurs.
>> border patrol can search
everything that comes
international.
Things that come domestic, if
it's not somehow flagged, it
doesn't get checked.
Only way it guess checked if is
paperwork is wrong.
If something doesn't seem right.
International cargo are x-rayed
and economicked.
>>Councilmember Say: I would
say this.
Most are coming off the west
coast.
Why?
Because it's general
examination.
Here in honolulu it's intensive
when it comes from asia.
>> yes.
>>Councilmember Say: thank
you.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you.
Councilmember dos santos-tam.
>>Councilmember Dos
santos-tam: thank you.
I think overall, I have some
concerns about this, that
hopefully be can address.
I'm not quitable with moving
forward today.
Having a little more public
input would be helpful.
If we're going to legalize some
degree of commercial fireworks
we do it in a way that's not
right for abuse.
Allowing for the sale of any
type of sparkler, fountain, eth
et cetera without having an
understanding how those are
abused.
Not only do we have aerials we
have a lot of nuisance loud
bombs that people manufacture on
their own.
I'di'd like to make sure if we do
have a framework to permit these
I a it minimizes chance for
abuse.
We're really sensitive to that,
and also we minimize the chance
for injuries as well as fires
and other typings of
indepartment.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much.
Councilmember tulba.
>>Councilmember Tulba: thank
you.
I echo councilmember dos
santos-tam.
I think was a great
conversation.
Thank you so much for all the
stats.
We know 9 challenges, and I
would be okay with deferring and
having more discussion even
possibly adding more people to
this task force.
Now that councilmember say
making good points of who's
shipping.
Maybe having the retailers
involved.
Yeah.
I'll be okay with having more
discussion.
I do understand the value of
come tram -- cultural practices.
My family love and I grew up
with the fireworks.
I'mi'm not a big fan.
I do video every year.
Be sensitive to the people,
especially kupuna.
Our veterans, and as well people
who own pets.
It is a challenge, and
appreciate the stats.
And would be interesting to see
the stats even before 2019 when
we were growing up.
Thank you, councilmember say,
for bringing this discussion up.
I hope we can continue to have
great conversations and
hopefully come to some sort of
balance so we ken joy -- so our
children can enjoy the
sparklers, fountains and
firecrackers.
>>Chair Okimoto: thank you so
much vice chair tulba.
>>Councilmember Say: the idea
behind this, if we could stop
the black market.
These products are in the black
market.
People bringing it in maybe
increasing the price range.
30, 40, 100% what the retailers
are selling.
You are looking out for the
consumer who wants to play
sparkler, fountains eth et cetera.
I've never been a proponent for
fireworks and I agree with some
of the testifiers.
I have two dogs and mings -- MS. Ken
strict knows.
Topic and issue for me, as we,
as local residents getting
ripped off?
>>Chair Okimoto: I see no
further discussion.
I thank everyone for comingut out
today so we could discusses discuss
something that has been dear to
our communities but we want to
respected our departments
keeping our community safe.
I took in the testimony and I
could see the size of everyone's
points.
And I think as I walk in my
community, pet lovers shared how
their -- they understand the
respect win the fireworks were
allows.
Their dilemma and concerns were
when fireworks were going off
outside of those specified times
allotted.
We have to deal with enforcement
of things deemed illegal and
ones causing loud noise and
smoke.
Ones that go up in the air.
Thank you for the departments
for coming and answering our
questions.
we appreciate you guys.
I want thank the introducer of
this bill.
It's good to see someone
thinking outside of the box.
We grew up -- I grew up with the the
fireworks.
My dad was a firework.
Reinflicted 9 fear of setting
things off.
He taught us how to do things
sensibly and responsibly.
We want to find that balances on
respecting the cultures that
make our state so special.
This island is unique because of
all the cultures that are
brought here and we don't want
to ignore tradition but want to
be respectful and find a way to
keep our communities safe.
I really appreciate the
discussion.
And that being said, with the
discussion, I have taken into
consider age everybody's input
and chair will recommend that
action on this bill 22, 2024
will be postponed to a time and
date to be determining by chair.
And at that time, we can have
further insight, hoping to meet
with the departments and
administration as well as see
what we can do to find a happy
medium.
I'd like to find ways to do so.
Members, further discussion?
Any objections or reservations?
Hearing none, so ordered.
And at this time, this brings us
to the end of our agenda.
I want thank everyone for being
here and your participation.
>>ing there.
There being no further business, this
meeting is adjourned at 2:30.