[0:04] >>Chair Okimoto: aloha and

[0:05] good afternoon.

[0:07] It is 1:50 P.M.

[0:08] JUNE 27, 2024.

[0:12] I calm -- call the committee on

[0:14] public safety to order.

[0:16] I would like to welcome

[0:17] committee vice chair

[0:20] councilmember tulba and

[0:21] councilmember dos santos-tam.

[0:23] Councilmember tupola is excused

[0:24] from today's meeting.

[0:26] Also joining us today is

[0:30] councilmember say.

[0:31] Pursuant to section 92-3.7,

[0:32] hawai'I revised statutes, this

[0:33] meeting will be conducted as

[0:34] a remote meeting by interactive

[0:35] conference technology, with the

[0:36] following procedures in

[0:39] effect for the meeting.

[0:40] Members of the public will be

[0:41] allowed to provide oral

[0:43] testimony on all items on the

[0:46] agenda in the following order.

[0:46] In-person in the council

[0:48] communication and remotely.

[0:50] In person and remote oral

[0:52] testimony will be allowed when

[0:54] each item is taken up.

[0:55] Before testifying, each person

[0:57] shall state their name for the

[0:57] record.

[0:59] Each speaker will be limited to

[1:00] a one-minute presentation on

[1:04] each item.

[1:05] All persons who have registered

[1:05] to testify in person will be

[1:07] called upon first.

[1:08] When your name is called,

[1:09] proceed to the podium.

[1:12] When the timer goes off,

[1:13] conclude promptly.

[1:14] Persons who have not registered

[1:16] will be given an opportunity to

[1:19] testify before the registered

[1:19] testifiers.

[1:21] I will proceed to remote

[1:23] testimony via videoconference or

[1:24] phone.

[1:25] When your name is called please

[1:29] monitor your screen and activate

[1:32] your audio feed when profited.

[1:35] Those joining us by phone, I

[1:36] will identify you by the last

[1:38] three digits of your number.

[1:42] Unmute and press star 6.

[1:46] Persons who are have not

[1:48] registered to testify remotely

[1:51] will be give me an opportunity

[1:52] to speak.

[1:54] Some friendly reminders and

[1:55] tips.

[1:56] Videoconference from a quiet

[1:57] location, if possible.

[1:59] If you're watching the

[2:01] proceedings on olelo, please

[2:02] mute your television at the time

[2:03] you're called to testify.

[2:08] When the timer on screen reaches

[2:11] zero, conclude promptly.

[2:12] Hrs 92-3.7 requires all votes at

[2:13] remote meetings be conducted by

[2:15] roll call unless unanimous.

[2:17] Therefore I will first call for

[2:19] objections, if there are any, I

[2:22] will call for a roll call vote.

[2:23] When testimonies including the

[2:25] testifiers' address, e-mail and

[2:28] phone number --

[2:33] written testimonies, including

[2:33] the testifier's address, e-mail

[2:34] address and phone number will be

[2:37] available to the public as

[2:41] described on the posts agenda.

[2:42] As a courtesy, please turn off

[2:43] all cell phones for the duration

[2:45] of this meeting.

[2:48] Item one.

[2:49] Resolution 24-127.

[2:50] Confirming the appointment of

[2:50] arnold wong to serve on the fire

[2:51] commission of the city and

[2:52] county of honolulu.

[2:57] With us, I believe we have the

[2:59] apointee.

[3:01] MR. Arnold wong.

[3:03] If you will introduce yourself.

[3:06] >> thank you.

[3:07] My name is arnold wong.

[3:08] I'm very honored to be here

[3:09] today.

[3:11] Being the nominated for the fire

[3:13] commission.

[3:16] Just a brief, I said if council

[3:18] that I'm here to serve the

[3:19] community.

[3:22] Because the men that helped my

[3:24] parents, my friends and family,

[3:26] I can't say much more than they

[3:28] helped them in the time of need.

[3:31] And I want to help them to get

[3:32] all the resources available so

[3:34] they can do their services for

[3:35] rt people.

[3:36] That's all.

[3:36] Thank you.

[3:37] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you,

[3:39] MR. Wong.

[3:42] Members, any questions for MR.

[3:42] Wong?

[3:44] I have a quick question.

[3:45] And thank you for the

[3:45] opportunity to meet in my

[3:46] office.

[3:48] And I shared with you and I'll

[3:51] be probably asking you in the

[3:51] setting, maybe the public MAY

[3:53] not know.

[3:55] You had the opportunity to serve

[3:56] previously on the commission,

[3:58] and you're having this

[3:59] opportunity.

[4:02] I wanted to ask you what do you

[4:04] think you could bring from then

[4:06] and what other than what you've

[4:07] ahead to return to the

[4:08] commission?

[4:12] Because it a voluntary act of

[4:13] service.

[4:15] >> interesting part is when I

[4:17] first volunteered, there was no

[4:18] rules for the fire commission

[4:18] itself.

[4:20] Not the fire department but

[4:23] commission, so I assisted in of

[4:25] drafting and processing the

[4:27] rules to allow the commission to

[4:30] move smoothly and to work better

[4:32] for the departments and members

[4:35] of the public.

[4:38] Additionally, I'm going to use

[4:39] the word tasked by the

[4:40] commission to work on the

[4:41] budget.

[4:43] At that time, no one was working

[4:44] on the budget, and that's part

[4:47] of the charter that the

[4:49] commission needs to review the

[4:50] budget and provide it to the

[4:54] mayor and council with the fire

[4:56] department's approval.

[4:58] To we showed that there were

[5:02] some knees there, -- needs there.

[5:03] I'm hoping that this information

[5:05] I bring will assist the

[5:08] department and the community,

[5:11] council to assist in sighing, --

[5:14] saying this is the transparency

[5:15] we need for the budget and what

[5:17] they're doing.

[5:19] This is the word transparency

[5:21] that's being used now days.

[5:24] And without that, it's going to

[5:27] be questionable.

[5:28] Are they reallyllysing t the

[5:30] municipa money

[5:32] r w what they're doing?We

[5:33] we wanto show proof thahe

[5:38] panipass -- money is being usedprop

[5:38] proper

[5:38] .

[5:38] >>Chair Okimotok thank yo

[5:39] so

[5:39] much.

[5:41] Members, further questions?

[5:42] Thank you.

[5:44] We'll proce with in-person

[5:44] st

[5:45] testimony.

[5:47] Clerks, any registered or

[5:48] nonregistered in person

[5:49] testifiers?

[5:50] >>Clerk: chair, there are

[5:50] none.

[5:51] >>Chair Okimoto: remote

[5:52] testimony.

[5:54] Do we have registered or

[5:56] nonregister remote testifiers?

[5:58] >>Clerk: chair, there are

[5:58] none.

[5:59] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[6:00] Members,e we areow now in

[6:00] sc

[6:00] siscussion.

[6:02] Any discussion?

[6:04] Thank you, MR. Wong, for the

[6:05] opportunity to meet withou you and

[6:07] comingay.

[6:09] We look forward to continuing

[6:10] the journ for for you.

[6:12] I want thank you for what you're

[6:12] doing.

[6:15] The departmentil will benefit from

[6:16] working together with the

[6:17] commission.

[6:20] I appreciate what you stated on

[6:22] your desire to make sure that

[6:23] the community is getting the

[6:25] best resources and however the

[6:27] department can do that, you're

[6:29] willing to support.

[6:32] So thank you so much.

[6:33] Okay.

[6:34] Seeing no further discussions,

[6:36] the chair recommends that

[6:38] resolution 24-127 be reported

[6:39] out for adoption.

[6:41] Any discussion?

[6:43] Objections or reservations?

[6:48] Hearing none, so ordered.

[6:50] Agenda item number two.

[6:53] Resolution 24-161.

[6:58] Accepts gift to the city valued

[6:59] at $50,000 from othram inc., for

[7:00] dna testing to identify five

[7:02] human remains under the

[7:03] jurisdiction of the department

[7:05] of the medical examiner.

[7:09] With is today, I believe we we we

[7:12] have our medical examiner.

[7:12] Aloha.

[7:13] Director kobayashi.

[7:15] >> thank you very much.

[7:20] My again is masahiko kobayashi,

[7:21] the medical examiner.

[7:26] On JANUARY 3, advanced dna

[7:29] testing on five sets of

[7:30] identified remains our

[7:31] department has.

[7:34] So we have actually documented

[7:38] 58 identified remains since

[7:38] 1966.

[7:41] All cases have been cremated,

[7:47] but we still have dna samples or

[7:51] skeletons from 38 cases.

[7:54] Othram collected from grant and

[7:57] also donations and offered this

[8:00] testing to many law enforcement

[8:00] agencies, medical examiner

[8:03] offices and cor ner's offices

[8:04] nationwide.

[8:08] 09 ot09 -- othram helped them solve

[8:10] many cold cases.

[8:11] They have selected five of our

[8:15] cases from the data base.

[8:18] Found between 2000 and 2015, and

[8:22] the testing will be performed by

[8:23] othram.

[8:27] And they use forensic genetic

[8:30] genealogy testing which can be a

[8:33] better tool.

[8:35] So we hope we can find relatives

[8:38] of these cases, and eventually

[8:41] make identification on them.

[8:44] And circumstances surrounding

[8:45] their death are not really

[8:45] clear.

[8:50] So we hope this identification

[8:53] MAY lead to additionaller new

[8:55] information and we can have more

[8:59] clear understanding of these

[9:00] cases.

[9:07] Forensic jeanologyjeanology tests

[9:09] about $10,000 a case.

[9:10] Our department cannot afford.

[9:15] This is a really, really great

[9:16] opportunity, and we respectfully

[9:18] request your approval of this

[9:19] gift.

[9:19] Thank you.

[9:21] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[9:24] much, medical examiner

[9:25] kobayashi.

[9:28] Members, any questions for DR.

[9:28] Kobayashi?

[9:29] >>Councilmember Dos

[9:30] santos-tam: I e-mailed you

[9:33] about how many sets of remains

[9:35] unidentified remains are there

[9:37] in your custody overall?

[9:40] >> we have 38.

[9:43] 38 cases, but actually many of

[9:46] them are cremated.

[9:50] We only have dna samples but

[9:52] skeleton cases, it's easier keep

[9:56] so we have several skeleton

[9:58] cases.

[10:00] >>Chair Okimoto: okay.

[10:01] Thank you, councilmember dos

[10:02] santos-tam.

[10:04] Members, any further questions?

[10:05] No questions.

[10:05] Okay.

[10:07] Thank you, DR. Kobayashi.

[10:09] We'll proceed with in-person

[10:10] testimony.

[10:12] Clerks, any registered or

[10:13] nonregistered in-person

[10:14] testifiers?

[10:16] >>Clerk: chair, will are none.

[10:19] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[10:22] Clerks, any registered or

[10:24] nonregister remote testifiers?

[10:24] >>Clerk: there are none.

[10:25] >>Chair Okimoto: members,

[10:27] we're in discussion.

[10:28] Okay.

[10:31] DR. Kobayashi, thank you once

[10:32] again.

[10:34] We know that you just had an

[10:35] article in civil beat with you

[10:38] and hearing about the depth and

[10:40] breathe and what you're

[10:42] responsible for, it's not an

[10:43] easy task.

[10:45] Thank you for what you're doing.

[10:47] And I know that the work you're

[10:48] doing is very important.

[10:50] Not just for the city but for

[10:52] the individual families whose

[10:55] members might have been a part

[10:58] of the remains that you're

[10:59] identifying.

[11:03] Anything that we in council can

[11:07] do to support you, thankful for

[11:09] this opportunity to have this

[11:11] gift received on your behalf.

[11:15] >> thank thank you very much.

[11:15] Thank you.

[11:16] >>Chair Okimoto: chair

[11:22] recommends that 4-161 be

[11:24] reported for adoption.

[11:30] Anyobjections or reservations?

[11:32] Hawai'I.

[11:32] Resolution 24-144.

[11:33] Accepts a gift to the city

[11:34] valued at $3,000 from spike'

[11:36] s k9

[11:36] fund for custom fitted k9

[11:39] ballistic vests for use by the

[11:41] honolulu police department'

[11:41] s

[11:42] specialized services division'

[11:44] s

[11:47] canine unit.

[11:51] With is today, major han from

[11:53] the honolulu police department.

[11:54] Aloha, major.

[11:54] >> hi.

[11:56] Good afternoon.

[12:00] I'm hunter alu with the special

[12:04] specialized service division.

[12:10] Here to accept the gift for our

[12:11] k9.

[12:14] >>Chair Okimoto: members, any

[12:15] questions?

[12:15] None.

[12:16] We'll p wceed with in-person

[12:18] testimony.

[12:20] Clerks do we have any registered

[12:21] or nonregistered in-person

[12:22] testifiers?

[12:25] >>Clerk: chair, we have one

[12:25] standing by.

[12:27] >>Chair Okimoto: aloha.

[12:28] Angela.

[12:31] If you could state your name.

[12:32] >>Testifier: angela melody

[12:33] young testifying on behalf of

[12:34] cares.

[12:36] In strong support.

[12:43] So the resolution is to provide

[12:45] for the canine unit, which is

[12:48] part of an entire team made up

[12:50] of the specialized services

[12:53] division, which performs

[12:55] diversion functions which

[12:58] requires unique skills.

[13:01] And so the entire team include

[13:03] S.W.A.T., bomb squad, canine

[13:05] unit and helicopter section.

[13:08] So, of course, with the

[13:09] resolution, it does support one

[13:13] part of the team, and however,

[13:17] in a division, each section

[13:17] functions better together when

[13:22] the group can cooperate.

[13:24] And foundation under diverse

[13:25] function, right.

[13:28] Suchs a marijuana eradication,

[13:29] arrests and warrants and working

[13:31] with federal agencies to provide

[13:33] protection for national and

[13:35] international diplomats.

[13:37] And with the special focus on

[13:39] the canine unit, officers and

[13:42] puppies are could upon to search

[13:47] prisoner, and felony suspects

[13:49] and explosive detection.

[13:53] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[13:57] >>Clerk:s, do we -- any other

[13:58] in-person?

[13:58] >>Clerk: there are none.

[14:01] >>Chair Okimoto: registered or

[14:02] nonregistered remote testifiers?

[14:02] >>Clerk: there are none.

[14:04] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[14:07] Members, we're in discussion.

[14:08] Seeing no further discussion,

[14:10] the chair recommends that

[14:11] resolution 24-144 be reported

[14:13] out for adoption.

[14:15] Any discussion, objections or

[14:16] reservations?

[14:21] Seeing none, so ordered.

[14:24] Moving to agenda item number 4.

[14:31] Resolution 24-146.

[14:31] Accepts a gift to the city

[14:32] valued at $10,000 from vested

[14:34] interest in k9s, inc., for k9

[14:36] ballistic vests k9 first-aid

[14:38] kits, and k9 narcan kits for use

[14:41] by the honolulu police

[14:41] department'

[14:42] s specialized

[14:43] services division and

[14:44] narcotic/vice division canine

[14:49] units.

[14:53] Withwith is again we have major

[14:53] hunter.

[14:54] >> good afternoon.

[14:56] I'm here on behalf of honolulu

[14:58] police department to accept a

[15:03] gift valuedt at $10,000 to

[15:06] further provide for our

[15:09] specialized service division.

[15:09] >>Councilmember Dos

[15:11] santos-tam: has hpd had to use

[15:12] those yet?

[15:15] Have the dogs been exposed to

[15:16] phenomenal or open yets in the

[15:17] course of their duties?

[15:19] >> I apologize.

[15:23] I'm new to the unit.

[15:26] Not familiar with any narcan

[15:33] being used for our canine.

[15:34] >>Chair Okimoto: in-person

[15:35] testimony.

[15:37] Any registered or nonregistered?

[15:38] >>Clerk: we have one standing

[15:39] by.

[15:41] >>Chair Okimoto: aloha,

[15:41] angela.

[15:42] >>Testifier: aloha.

[15:44] Angela melody young testifying

[15:45] on behalf of cares in strong

[15:49] support of the resolution.

[15:51] So we're in support because

[15:52] puppies are medically valuable

[15:54] and it's very valuable to public

[15:55] safety matters.

[15:58] For example, puppies can get

[16:00] trained to go to certification

[16:02] class to detect high blood

[16:04] pressure, and it's very helpful

[16:05] for investigative matters.

[16:05] Thank you.

[16:06] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[16:08] much, angela.

[16:10] Ksclerks, any further in-person

[16:10] testifiers?

[16:14] >>Clerk: there are are none.

[16:16] >>Chair Okimoto: any

[16:18] registered or nonregistered

[16:18] remote testifiers.

[16:19] >>Clerk: chair, there are

[16:19] none.

[16:20] >>Chair Okimoto: before we go

[16:23] to discuss, I would like to

[16:26] welcome to the chamber council

[16:27] chair waters.

[16:30] Thank you for joining us.

[16:31] Seeing no further testifiers,

[16:34] we're in discussion.

[16:35] With no further discussion, the

[16:38] chair recommends that resolution

[16:40] 24-146 be reported out for

[16:41] adoption.

[16:42] Any further discussion,

[16:44] objections or reservations?

[16:48] Hearing none, so ordered.

[16:51] Moving to agenda item number 5.

[16:54] Resolution 24-143.

[16:54] Establishing a task force on

[16:58] gambling rooms.

[17:00] Members, we have distribute a

[17:02] hand carried cd one verse of the

[17:05] resolution.

[17:10] Ocs 2024-0641.

[17:10] Hand-carried cd1 makes the

[17:12] following amendments.

[17:16] A, in the second be it further

[17:20] resolved clause, places blank

[17:22] space of 90 days to the task

[17:24] force to submit a written

[17:26] support of findings and

[17:29] recommend lags.

[17:34] B, make technical, miscellaneous

[17:36] and non-substantive

[17:42] we have

[17:47] and dawn from department of

[17:50] permitting and planning.

[17:52] Major mike lambburt?

[17:58] We have director apuna.

[17:59] Aloha.

[18:02] >> aloha, chair, vice chair and

[18:04] council chair, members.

[18:06] Committee.

[18:07] Dawn.

[18:08] Thank you for this opportunity

[18:09] to speak on this resolution.

[18:11] I think it's a good idea.

[18:12] There's a lot that's already

[18:18] going on with hpd and dpp and

[18:20] hfd under some of the operation

[18:22] that hpd has conduct the, and

[18:23] they've been very successful.

[18:25] this might be the

[18:26] opportunity to

[18:29] lay out how we can continue in a

[18:31] more official manner in order to

[18:35] make sure we can have this carry

[18:37] out throughout the island.

[18:40] It's mostly in kalihi.

[18:42] So I'm available for any

[18:43] questions.

[18:43] Thank you.

[18:46] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you,

[18:49] director apuna.

[18:52] Members, any questions?

[18:53] Councilmember say.

[18:54] >>Councilmember Say: yes,

[19:00] director apuna 8, would you be

[19:01] open to corporation counsel for

[19:03] their legal advice?

[19:03] >> yes.

[19:05] I think that would be a good

[19:06] idea.

[19:07] >>Councilmember Say: you have

[19:08] five members on the task force.

[19:09] Three from the prosecutor's

[19:10] office.

[19:12] Police department and dpp.

[19:13] And two councilmembers.

[19:16] So if you want to do six,

[19:19] aferred -- add

[19:24] on corporation corporation counsel for legal

[19:25] intertakes of the laws.

[19:28] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[19:30] Members, any further questions?

[19:36] Thank you, director apunana.

[19:38] Anyperson testimony.

[19:40] Clerks, any registered or

[19:42] nonregistered?

[19:43] >>Clerk: we have one standing

[19:43] by.

[19:44] >>Chair Okimoto: aloha,

[19:45] angela.

[19:46] >>Testifier: aloha.

[19:48] I want to testify in strong

[19:48] support.

[19:50] I think I talked about a po

[19:54] tension idea for a collaboration

[19:57] with these specific officers.

[19:59] So I think it's a good idea to

[20:02] work with the city's prosecuting

[20:04] attorney and also the honolulu

[20:07] police department and dpp to

[20:09] collaborate as well as with

[20:11] corporation counsel.

[20:11] Yeah.

[20:13] Because each office has special

[20:14] focuses.

[20:16] So when they contribute to the

[20:19] planning, it's more effective in

[20:19] the results.

[20:22] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you,

[20:23] angela.

[20:25] Clerks, any other in-person

[20:26] testifiers?

[20:27] >>Clerk: chair, there are

[20:27] none.

[20:28] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[20:29] We'll proceed with remote

[20:30] testimony.

[20:33] Clerks, any registered or

[20:34] nonregistered remote testifiers?

[20:35] >>Clerk: chair, there are

[20:35] none.

[20:36] >>Chair Okimoto: seeing no

[20:38] further testifiers, members,

[20:40] we're in discussion.

[20:41] No discussion.

[20:42] Okay.

[20:57] Judge at 132, we call the

[20:59] committee on public safety back

[21:00] into order.

[21:02] Thank you, members.

[21:04] Just to recap where we're at.

[21:06] We finished discussion and so

[21:08] we're moving on to

[21:09] recommendation.

[21:12] The chair recommends that

[21:15] resolution 24-143 be amended to

[21:17] the hand-carried cd1 as

[21:23] identified as ocs 2024-0641.

[21:26] Any further discussion?

[21:27] Objections or reservations?

[21:28] Hearing none the resolution has

[21:31] been amended to a cd1.

[21:34] The chair recommendings that

[21:36] resolution 24-143 cd1 be

[21:38] reportedly out for adoption with

[21:40] the attention to incorporated

[21:43] councilmember say's verbal

[21:44] recommendation and will be

[21:48] requesting an fd1.

[21:51] any objection or reservations?

[21:55] Hearing none, so ordered.

[21:56] Yes, councilmember say?

[21:57] >>Councilmember Say: the

[22:00] reason why for the request is

[22:02] that in most cases, as

[22:04] violations go through the

[22:06] department of planning and

[22:08] permitting, the enforcement

[22:10] comes into play, which is

[22:11] corporation counsel.

[22:14] That's the reason why I tried to

[22:16] interject maybe the corporation

[22:19] counsel should be part of the

[22:20] task force.

[22:21] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you,

[22:22] councilmember say, for

[22:23] clarifying.

[22:25] I failed to mention that during

[22:25] discussion.

[22:27] Was to add a member of the task

[22:29] force to be from corp

[22:32] counselleling he. Corp counsel.

[22:34] Thank you.

[22:37] Clerks, we're okay in thank?

[22:38] Thank you.

[22:45] Item number 6,

[22:49] bill 22, 2024.

[22:51] Relates to fire code.

[22:56] Fire chief sheldon and battalion

[23:04] chief with us.

[23:09] Aloha chief hao.

[23:09] >> aloha.

[23:11] Good afternoon, chair okimoto,

[23:13] viceir chair tulba,

[23:14] councilmembers.

[23:16] Good afternoon and thank you for

[23:18] this opportunity to testify on

[23:22] this bill.

[23:26] First off, hfd strongly opposes

[23:27] bill 22.

[23:32] I wanted to share -- ome -- excuse

[23:34] me.

[23:36] Some history behind the bill.

[23:38] So we have a power point up

[23:38] there.

[23:46] Back in 2010 bill 22 was passed

[23:51] and put a ban.

[23:52] Then it was legalized.

[23:54] From my understanding it was

[23:57] deferred because of possible

[23:59] lack of statistics.

[24:01] We're here in 2024 with bill 22.

[24:03] So I wanted to share some

[24:06] statistics that we had from

[24:08] medical statistics that we got

[24:10] from the state department of

[24:11] health, injury prevention

[24:12] section.

[24:17] We only have data from 2017 to

[24:18] 2019.

[24:20] So I wanted to take a look, if

[24:21] you can see the chart and graph,

[24:23] it's color-coded.

[24:25] You can see that line coming

[24:26] down.

[24:27] That's where the ban took

[24:28] effect.

[24:32] You can visually see the

[24:33] reduction injuries.

[24:35] And again, these are injuries

[24:38] that required medical attention

[24:40] at the emergency department

[24:41] throughout the hospitals.

[24:44] Each of these is countywide.

[24:46] Red is countywide.

[24:47] If you look at the individual

[24:50] barrings for oahu county, it's

[24:50] white.

[24:51] Has the highest.

[24:53] To the left we have a claret.

[24:56] If I look at the four years

[24:58] preceding the ban, average is

[25:02] about 83 per year incidents or

[25:02] injuries.

[25:04] And the years after the ban,

[25:07] average of 23.

[25:10] For a reduction of 72% in

[25:11] injuries.

[25:13] So quite substantial.

[25:15] And if you just wanted to look

[25:18] at more recent data, last four

[25:19] years, the average would have

[25:22] been 28 injuries for

[25:26] approximately a 66% reduction.

[25:29] Moving on to the next slide,

[25:30] another look at our fire related

[25:31] calls.

[25:33] Data that the honolulu fire

[25:37] department collects.

[25:39] include wildland rubbish and

[25:41] structure fires.

[25:45] You can see the before and after

[25:48] the four years preceding, the

[25:49] average is 35 incidents.

[25:52] And the years after, average of

[25:56] eight incidents, all the way to

[25:59] 2023 for a 78% reduction.

[26:02] If we look at the last four

[26:06] years, the average comes out to

[26:09] 9.75, for a 72% reduction.

[26:15] From our standpoint, bill 34 was

[26:18] successful in reducing or

[26:20] creating a safer, healthier

[26:24] environment for our community.

[26:24] Next, I wanted to touch on

[26:26] what's been kind of hot topic

[26:30] within our state with the maui

[26:31] wild land fires, our community

[26:33] has been very sensitive to

[26:35] fires.

[26:36] Especially wild land fires.

[26:38] On many of our neighborhood

[26:42] board meetings that we've

[26:42] attended, almost every

[26:44] neighborhood board have concerns

[26:46] about wild land.

[26:48] Recently in this year, we had a

[26:49] lot of heavy rains in MAY.

[26:51] From the national weather

[26:53] service, we have a big green up.

[26:55] Moving into the summer, we're

[26:59] going to have a la nina effect.

[27:02] For this fire season, it's

[27:08] expected to be very high.

[27:11] Also, I wanted to bring to your

[27:15] attention heco's public safety

[27:16] power shutouts.

[27:19] If the program starts on JULY 1,

[27:22] and heco will shut down power in

[27:24] certain areas.

[27:26] Identified as high-risk in

[27:28] forecast of high winds and dry

[27:29] conditions.

[27:30] The intent is to keep the

[27:32] community safe by reducing

[27:33] possible ignitions.

[27:35] And again, I say that because if

[27:38] you go back to the data, in our

[27:40] opinion, bill 34 is successful

[27:47] in rediesessing ig -- ig ignitions.

[27:53] To manipulatize any type of

[27:56] ignitions that could start any

[28:00] wildfires in critical areas.

[28:04] Dle formed an illegal fireworks

[28:05] task force in JUNE 2023.

[28:07] Led by the state and comprised

[28:09] of city, state and federal

[28:09] partners.

[28:14] To date, they seized over

[28:18] 200 pounds of illegal fireworks.

[28:20] Our position is we strongly

[28:21] oppose it for those following

[28:22] reasons.

[28:24] And we hope that you would vote

[28:26] no for bill 22.

[28:27] Any questions?

[28:28] >>Chair Okimoto: thank y,

[28:29] chief hao.

[28:31] Before I turn it over to

[28:32] questions, I did have some.

[28:35] I failed to allow some time for

[28:37] the introducer of the measure.

[28:40] Councilmember say, did you want

[28:41] to say anything?

[28:44] I apologize.

[28:45] >>Councilmember Say: at this

[28:47] time, I did state, for the

[28:49] record, when we had our first

[28:51] meeting and second reading, this

[28:53] is going to be the second

[28:55] reading, firstly, consumer

[28:56] fireworks are fireworks that

[28:58] deals with sparklers and

[29:01] fountains and spinners.

[29:03] To allude that we're going to

[29:05] create that wildfire is like

[29:08] throwing out a cigarette butt on

[29:11] the freeway and letting it go.

[29:13] At this point in time, I thought

[29:17] it would be a great idea to have

[29:20] this idea resurface.

[29:23] Another redirection of money

[29:26] spent by consumers on what is

[29:29] legit and what is illegal.

[29:31] The stats that the chief shows

[29:33] is correct from the department

[29:34] of health.

[29:37] And what I'm saying is that we

[29:40] don't have it.

[29:43] so we cannot include these two

[29:46] type of items or three items as

[29:49] contributing to this particular

[29:51] incidents of mortality or

[29:54] whatever it MAY be.

[29:56] And I just introduced it to see

[29:57] if we could have the discussion

[30:00] to help retailers and making it

[30:02] legit that they have to go

[30:04] through the retailer.

[30:06] As it worked in regards to what

[30:08] we discussed earlier as one of

[30:12] the hearings, even getting that

[30:15] permit for $25 and going to cvs

[30:18] to buy your 500 pack fireworks

[30:20] and other things, we never

[30:22] stopped the illegals, aerials,

[30:23] the bombs.

[30:25] That's why I thought this would

[30:26] be another smaller way of

[30:30] saying, hey, hey I don't believe it's

[30:32] going to impact us that greatly.

[30:34] At this point, that's the reason

[30:35] it was introduced.

[30:38] I truly believe that let's

[30:43] continue on with our cultural

[30:46] reurresources that we're a part of,

[30:48] having my grandchild having to

[30:52] play the sparklers but not roman

[30:54] candle, not bottle rockets.

[30:58] Not aerials, et cetera.

[31:00] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[31:00] much.

[31:05] Chief hao, and members, if you

[31:07] could allow me at this time to

[31:08] ask questions.

[31:11] And I'll turn it over to the

[31:12] rest of the body.

[31:16] I want to go back to your graph

[31:17] here.

[31:22] I think it's on page two.

[31:24] I appreciate -- I'm a visual

[31:26] learner.

[31:28] I appreciate the statistics.

[31:30] When the ban was passed into

[31:33] law, I believe in 2010, you see

[31:35] that big drop initially.

[31:39] Since then, you see an increase,

[31:42] and in 2017 went up.

[31:46] We don't have -- now it's 2024.

[31:48] those of us who experience the

[31:51] every day or every year

[31:53] celebrations it has seem like

[31:54] it's increased.

[31:56] I wanted to know if you have

[31:58] seen this increase.

[32:01] This graph ends in 2019.

[32:03] Do you have statistics past

[32:05] that?

[32:08] From here as if it were

[32:12] increasing injuries statewide.

[32:14] Majority happening on oahu.

[32:17] >> I think ian santi from ems

[32:20] might have some recent data that

[32:22] they collected for the medical

[32:22] side.

[32:24] >>Chair Okimoto: this is from

[32:25] your department or this is from

[32:26] ems?

[32:30] >> the first slide that is up is

[32:33] from the department of health.

[32:35] The injury prevention section.

[32:38] We didn't have any data after

[32:38] 2019.

[32:39] >>Chair Okimoto: after 2019.

[32:42] >> we stopped collecting data

[32:44] after 2021, if I'm not mistaken.

[32:47] >>Chair Okimoto: director

[32:49] santi, did you want to expound?

[32:52] I have further questions for hfd

[32:55] but I was for the presentation

[32:56] that was started today.

[32:59] >> no problem.

[33:00] Ian san continue, emergency

[33:01] services department.

[33:03] I have very specific data that I

[33:07] wanted to share in regards to

[33:09] fireworks related injuries for

[33:11] this calendar year as well as

[33:14] actually more recently last

[33:14] weekend.

[33:15] I'm not sure if anybody here is

[33:17] aware that last weekend, there

[33:22] was a firework explosion in

[33:24] central oahu.

[33:26] Involved total of four people

[33:28] transported to the hospital.

[33:30] Two minors and two were elderly

[33:31] people.

[33:33] Both were in stable condition.

[33:36] however, as chief pointed out

[33:37] fireworks, any type of firework

[33:41] or any type of injury, be it

[33:43] illegal or legal at that matter

[33:45] does cause injury.

[33:47] For last calendar year from the

[33:51] period of DECEMBER 31 through

[33:53] 6:00 in the morning on new

[33:56] year's day ems responded to

[34:00] almost 300 911 calls.

[34:02] And seven were directly related

[34:05] to fireworks.

[34:08] Three of them were minors and

[34:12] three were over the age of 60.

[34:16] And one was under the age of 20.

[34:18] And responded to eight assaults

[34:20] and nine difficulty breathing.

[34:25] From a medical standpoint, more

[34:26] fireworks, it does cause more

[34:27] medical problems.

[34:28] >>Chair Okimoto: since the

[34:31] ban, injuries have increased?

[34:33] You mentioned it doesn't matter

[34:35] the type of if irfirsts.

[34:37] What types of fireworks are

[34:41] being used when these injuries

[34:46] and disemghtsdz accidents are happening?

[34:48] >> a lot are self-made.

[34:50] Or people find fireworks that

[34:53] are illegal like a rocket and

[34:55] doesn't go off.

[34:57] They bend off and try to salt

[34:59] lake it and it goes off in their

[35:00] face.

[35:01] >>Chair Okimoto: the graph

[35:03] also shows the neighbor island

[35:05] counties, which don't have bans

[35:08] their numbers are fairly low.

[35:11] Zero some years.

[35:14] I understand they're different

[35:15] counties.

[35:15] They're smaller.

[35:17] It sounds likes even with the

[35:20] ban, the injuries have not gone

[35:21] down.

[35:22] That's what I'm hearing from

[35:23] your account.

[35:25] Injuries are still elevating

[35:27] still happenin as of last week.

[35:29] >> he don't have the last trend.

[35:32] this is from the department of

[35:32] health.

[35:34] We can try and look at what our

[35:35] trend is.

[35:38] I do know a lot of fatalities

[35:43] that hammed -- happened on new

[35:44] year's day and eve resulting

[35:46] from fireworks.

[35:48] I don't think it makes a

[35:50] difference whether it's gone up

[35:51] or down.

[35:59] It's the exposure and medical.

[36:01] Because of fires and smoke

[36:03] causes a lot of difficulty

[36:04] breathing problems.

[36:06] Communities do special things to

[36:08] keep people indoors.

[36:11] Smoke really makes a big

[36:11] difference.

[36:13] >>Chair Okimoto: completely

[36:14] understand.

[36:17] When we bring statistics that

[36:20] show things are better, but I'm

[36:24] hearing maybe naz that's not the

[36:24] case.

[36:27] I want to make sure numbers are

[36:28] accurate and that representing

[36:29] the things.

[36:33] A lot of testimony were towards

[36:34] everything is so much better

[36:37] after the ban but I'm hearing

[36:39] that might not be the case.

[36:40] Thank you so much.

[36:42] Chief hao, if I could, I have a

[36:45] couple of questions.

[36:49] And a know that these statistics -- injuries are based

[36:50] on health record.

[36:53] For the fires you're addressing,

[36:55] what types of fireworks are

[36:57] causing the fires?

[37:00] >> it's not really not

[37:00] identifiable.

[37:05] We looked at all of our

[37:05] incidents.

[37:07] And we have our incident

[37:11] commander say it's fireworks

[37:12] related.

[37:14] Some are apparent it was

[37:15] possibly aerials that caused

[37:19] either the fire and/or injury,

[37:23] but it doesn't have that much

[37:23] details.

[37:25] All it captured the is it's from

[37:25] fireworks.

[37:27] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[37:28] And department stated that after

[37:34] the initial ban in 2010, a

[37:37] recrease, I think last record is

[37:39] 86%.

[37:39] Today --

[37:41] >> I think it was 86.

[37:44] They only look at that one

[37:45] instance in time.

[37:47] We want to the look at it from a

[37:52] longer duration to show pre and

[37:53] post ban.

[37:55] You look at the data and you say

[37:56] there's an increase.

[37:58] When I look at the entirety, it

[38:01] goes up and down.

[38:05] It's pretty much constant, in my

[38:07] opinion.

[38:10] It's very obvious from pre and

[38:12] post, the firework related

[38:13] incidents we respond to.

[38:16] We feel that reintroducing

[38:18] consumer fireworks is going to

[38:22] make things go back up to the

[38:22] pre-ban.

[38:24] >>Chair Okimoto: so I'm sure,

[38:28] 86%, that was for medical

[38:31] emergencies, not for wildfires

[38:32] or fires?

[38:34] >> I can get back to you.

[38:39] I'm not exactly sure exactly

[38:43] what he was looking at.

[38:45] It was more at the transitio

[38:48] >>Chair Okimoto: this is just

[38:49] combining.

[38:51] Does hfd have data or other

[38:53] information to prove the

[38:55] causation that you spoke about

[38:56] during the first reading of this

[38:57] bill?

[39:00] During the first reading you

[39:01] spoke on 86%.

[39:03] You have any other data?

[39:06] >> might be off the same data.

[39:09] I wanted to look at not the

[39:12] transition point but its

[39:13] entirety.

[39:17] We can get back to you on how we

[39:18] got that 86%.

[39:21] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[39:23] Will the department be opposed

[39:25] to this measure if committee

[39:28] were to amend it in some form?

[39:32] >> I would have to discuss what

[39:34] the possible amendments would

[39:34] be.

[39:36] >>Chair Okimoto: I'm trying to

[39:41] see how we could find some

[39:41] compromise.

[39:43] And maybe we can meet offline

[39:44] later.

[39:45] I would like to know if the

[39:46] department would have some form

[39:47] of this measure that the

[39:50] department would be able to

[39:51] su

[39:52] ort.

[39:53] >> we'll be open to discuss.

[39:54] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[39:55] Thank you, chief hao.

[40:00] I did have is question for c chief

[40:00] logan.

[40:06] I see him there for hpd.

[40:13] Aloha, chief logan.

[40:14] >> aloha.

[40:16] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you,

[40:17] chief logan.

[40:18] One question.

[40:20] Do you have any statistics or

[40:23] numbers on how many arrests for

[40:27] firework violations in the paths

[40:28] year?

[40:28] >> yes.

[40:31] For 2020, we had four arrests,

[40:35] and we gave out 66 citations.

[40:38] 2021, we gave out 53 citations

[40:39] and four individuals were

[40:42] arrested.

[40:46] In 2022, 17 citations and three

[40:48] adults were arrested.

[40:51] And in 2023, we gave out ten

[40:54] citations and five adults were

[40:54] arrested.

[40:56] What I'd also like to cover, in

[40:59] 2020, we had about 2800

[41:02] responses for officers for calls

[41:04] regarding fireworks.

[41:08] In 2021, there were over 3100

[41:09] calls on law enforcement for

[41:13] fireworks, in 2022, it went down

[41:13] to 2400.

[41:18] And then in 2023, it was 2200.

[41:19] There is trend going down.

[41:23] You asked earlier the fire

[41:24] department calls for service

[41:25] have decreased.

[41:30] Where I live, I've noticed a

[41:31] substance decrease in the amount

[41:34] of fireworks expend the in

[41:38] nonfourth of JULY new year's eve

[41:39] time period.

[41:40] Significant drop in the number

[41:43] of calls related to fireworks.

[41:44] >>Chair Okimoto: could you

[41:45] repeat that?

[41:47] What year was it?

[41:51] >> in 2020, little over 2800

[41:54] calls that we responded to.

[41:58] In 2021, a little over 3500.

[42:01] In 2022, a little over 2400.

[42:05] And in 2023, there were a little

[42:05] over 2200.

[42:07] >>Chair Okimoto: can you

[42:09] explain the -- there were

[42:12] citations and arrested.

[42:14] Most years, more citations.

[42:17] That's gone down.

[42:19] Arrests are about the same.

[42:20] Where's theif difference between a

[42:22] citation and arift.

[42:24] >> depends on the officer when

[42:26] they're on the scene what is

[42:28] going on and what is happening.

[42:30] What are the observations?

[42:32] Can he see an individual

[42:34] lighting fireworks?

[42:38] He can make an aroast arrest based on

[42:39] that.

[42:42] Some are juveniles, some adults.

[42:43] Maybe we have information after

[42:46] the fact that an incident has

[42:48] occurred and citations issued.

[42:52] Not necessarily an on-scene

[42:54] observation where an arrest was

[42:54] made.

[42:56] >>Chair Okimoto: these are

[42:58] people caught using illegal

[42:58] fireworks.

[43:00] >> correct.

[43:01] Unpermited and they're firing

[43:02] off fireworks.

[43:03] Not supposed to have.

[43:05] >>Chair Okimoto: okay.

[43:07] Members, if you could be

[43:08] patient.

[43:10] A couple more questions.

[43:15] Is prosecutor am alm here?

[43:17] If not, admin.

[43:19] Thanks, chief.

[43:22] You MAY get called back again.

[43:23] I'll open it to members of the

[43:24] committee.

[43:26] >> hello, chair, vice chair,

[43:28] councilmembers.

[43:30] Andy, mayor's chief of staff.

[43:31] >>Chair Okimoto: aloha.

[43:32] Thank you for being here with

[43:33] us.

[43:35] I had a question.

[43:36] Would the administration being

[43:38] opposed to form of this bill

[43:40] that would b modified in any

[43:41] form?

[43:43] >> I think we're going to take

[43:45] our lead from our first

[43:46] responders.

[43:48] I know chief hao mentioned they

[43:51] would be open to discussions.

[43:53] So based on their conversations

[43:56] with you and subsequent

[43:58] conversations we would have with

[43:59] the fire department and first

[44:02] firsts and councilmembers we

[44:03] would take our lead from that.

[44:04] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you for

[44:05] being open.

[44:07] I do plan to meet with the

[44:07] department.

[44:09] What I was thinking and maybe I

[44:13] should ask, maybe -- we've done

[44:15] with this other measures.

[44:17] A pilot program.

[44:19] One to two years.

[44:20] You'll wait for us to have a

[44:22] discussion?

[44:24] >> I will defer to that.

[44:26] as I said, the mayor's office

[44:29] and the administration stands

[44:31] firmly with our first responders

[44:33] in opposition to the bill as it

[44:33] stands now.

[44:36] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[44:37] much.

[44:38] Members, thank you so much for

[44:40] letting me ask those questions.

[44:42] I will turn it over to the rest

[44:44] of you.

[44:45] Questions for any of those

[44:51] departments reat are here?

[44:52] Councilmember say?

[44:54] And in dos santos-tam.

[44:56] >>Councilmember Say: let me

[45:03] ask chief hao.

[45:05] Do you feel that sparklers,

[45:07] fountains, spinners would be

[45:09] considered prohibit the now but

[45:12] it's one of the safer type of

[45:15] fireworks to to play with or to

[45:16] burn.

[45:18] Compared to what we have

[45:18] es

[45:20] presently in the laws.

[45:22] The firecrackers.

[45:26] >> again, way I'm interpreting,

[45:30] consumer fireworks in general

[45:33] defind no higher than 12 feet

[45:35] above and around.

[45:38] Reintroducing that back into the

[45:40] mix, younger children are going

[45:42] to be playing with these things.

[45:44] Some of the things say you're

[45:45] supposed to place it on the

[45:47] ground, but that never happens.

[45:49] We feel the data is showing, and

[45:51] we believe that reintroducing

[45:54] consumer fireworks such as

[45:56] sparklers would, we will see an

[45:57] increase in the numbers.

[45:59] The reason why we stand

[46:01] officially is if we look back at

[46:02] climate change and everything

[46:05] that happened in lahaina and

[46:08] wildfires are created by 99% by

[46:09] humans.

[46:12] So this is just another means to

[46:14] create ignitions.

[46:16] our standpoint has to again, the

[46:19] way it's written, we strongly

[46:20] feel we're not going to move in

[46:21] our position.

[46:24] Because we feel again,

[46:27] reintroing it, these numbers

[46:28] will go back up.

[46:34] MAY not be the full 60% or 70%

[46:37] but we feel very strongly it

[46:37] will increase.

[46:38] >>Councilmember Say: having

[46:41] it, a, permitted, it makes it

[46:44] more easier monitor.

[46:46] It's going to be retailer

[46:51] selling it.

[46:55] Cvs, don quixotes.

[47:01] Printrpresently it's the black mar market

[47:03] and we don't have any control.

[47:04] Chief.

[47:05] >> I think you're going to have

[47:06] more people using it.

[47:08] If you look at the testimony

[47:10] submitted by the department of

[47:12] law enforcement, they feel it's

[47:14] going to be more manpower to

[47:15] help manage.

[47:17] Even working with the retailers,

[47:19] we're going to have an increase

[47:21] on that end.

[47:23] It's going to take a lot more

[47:24] resources to manage.

[47:26] >>Councilmember Say: okay.

[47:28] Right now, do you feel it

[47:30] successful thank you got to go

[47:34] to hfd to go to $25 to get a

[47:41] permit and go to cvs and buy a

[47:43] 500 pack firecracker?

[47:46] I'd rather have commercial

[47:48] products, which is much more

[47:51] safer than illegals.

[47:56] A relation of spending money or

[47:59] the black mar kes rather than

[48:03] going to legitimate store.

[48:03] >>Councilmember Dos

[48:05] santos-tam: more of an

[48:06] enforcement question.

[48:08] It's clear to everyone that we

[48:10] struggle with enforcing this

[48:13] existing law, aerials go off all

[48:15] the time.

[48:19] much to the chagrin of all our

[48:20] constituents.

[48:23] If we were to repermit

[48:24] sparklers, eth easts.

[48:26] People would still shoot off

[48:27] aerials.

[48:29] In your estimation, chief, if

[48:31] you were to show up to a house

[48:34] where 350e678 people were doing

[48:36] sparklers and also doing

[48:38] aerials.

[48:39] I'm concerned people will say we

[48:43] have a bunch of sparklers and

[48:43] fountains.

[48:45] I make it harder it makes it

[48:51] harder to do enforcement against

[48:52] the bad guy.

[48:54] >> councilmember, you make a

[48:55] good point.

[48:57] You can use the legal fireworks

[49:01] as a facade behind the illegal

[49:02] operations.

[49:04] To go back with councilmember

[49:05] say's earlier comment about the

[49:08] black market, like the legalize

[49:14] issue of marijuana, most of the

[49:16] mainland agencies sawen increase

[49:18] in the black market even though

[49:20] they tried to legalizing lies

[49:21] marijuana.

[49:24] I don't see any difference here.

[49:27] You try to legalize other

[49:28] aspect.

[49:29] People are going to do what the

[49:30] black market is.

[49:33] They don't want to pay taxes and

[49:37] a higher fee.

[49:40] Want to gets it illegally and

[49:41] pay less.

[49:44] Maybe they're paying more,

[49:45] depending on who's selling.

[49:47] Black market is not necessarily

[49:49] going to chang because we can't

[49:52] control what people want to do

[49:54] illegally unless we have the

[49:57] full force of the task force,

[50:00] dle and our narcotics/vice

[50:02] working together to stop it at

[50:03] the source.

[50:07] Once it gets onland and

[50:08] delivered to the streets, it's

[50:11] much harder to enforce.

[50:11] >>Councilmember Dos

[50:13] santos-tam: building upon that,

[50:15] I appreciate that department of

[50:16] law enforcement is stopping

[50:19] things at the port, inspecting

[50:22] things eth et cetera.

[50:25] For your boot on the ground,

[50:27] officers who get called about

[50:29] some bomb goes off, this he show

[50:30] up.

[50:32] What tools would be more helpful

[50:36] to go after people that are

[50:37] abusing the illegal fireworks

[50:38] right now?

[50:41] They show up in somebody's

[50:41] garage.

[50:43] And nothing so see here.

[50:45] >> by the time the fireworks

[50:46] have gone off, evidence on the

[50:49] the ground maybe moved away.

[50:52] Officers shows up, and there's

[50:52] nothing to see.

[50:55] If a neighbor took a video and

[50:58] released that to us and gave us

[51:01] that, we can issue a citation

[51:04] and/or make an arrest.

[51:04] Depending.

[51:07] Sometimes we knock on people's

[51:10] door and talk story.

[51:12] If they have illegal fireworks,

[51:14] sometimes they will turn stuff

[51:15] over and get rid of it.

[51:17] There's different tools we can

[51:18] use to help.

[51:22] It's a community effort to take

[51:24] back their community and say

[51:26] we're not going to put up with

[51:27] this.

[51:28] We're going to take action.

[51:31] Before we get on the scene and

[51:35] use either ring video or camera

[51:36] video.

[51:39] I'm not wanting neighbors

[51:41] attacking neighbors.

[51:45] I'm a dog lover and dog owner.

[51:47] Every time a firework goes off,

[51:48] they're not happy and I have to

[51:51] deal with that anxiety.

[51:53] why are we putting average

[51:55] citizens who want to live day to

[51:58] day that now have animals in

[52:00] this heightened state because of

[52:02] illegal fireworks going on.

[52:02] >>Councilmember Dos

[52:04] santos-tam: lead to neighbor

[52:05] effect.

[52:06] If somebody's using, whether

[52:09] it's permitted or not a

[52:15] sparkler, fan fountain and something

[52:16] happens and the neighbor's house

[52:18] goes up in flames or their

[52:20] bushes or whatever.

[52:22] Who's at fault?

[52:24] What does that look like?

[52:25] How do we go after the people

[52:27] who lit the fuse?

[52:29] Is it the property owner?

[52:31] Is it the six-year-old who light

[52:32] it?

[52:33] Who's responsible?

[52:35] >> if we could prove the

[52:37] six-year-old that lit it, it

[52:38] would be the parents

[52:39] responsible.

[52:43] We would have to do a forensics

[52:46] investigation.

[52:48] Get witness state.

[52:50] S, video evidence.

[52:53] It would be a full-fledges

[52:58] investigation of what happened what happened.

[53:01] And take many application and --

[53:05] police and hours to investigate

[53:05] that.

[53:05] >>Councilmember Dos

[53:06] santos-tam: thank you.

[53:09] >>Chair Okimoto: chair waters.

[53:12] >>Chair Waters: chief hao.

[53:16] I'm looking at ordinance

[53:20] 20-6.13, permit for the

[53:20] firecrackers.

[53:23] I don't recall when this

[53:26] particular requirement was

[53:26] passed.

[53:29] Do you recall when it was

[53:31] required to get a permit?

[53:32] >> I do not.

[53:35] I have my prevention chiefs

[53:37] here.

[53:44] maybe they would know.

[53:47] >>Chair Waters: because I'm

[53:49] wondering if the -- it could be

[53:51] attributed to the ban, of

[53:53] course, but it could also be

[53:54] attributed to the fact that you

[53:56] got to get a permit now.

[53:58] So less people go out.

[54:02] I grew up with the sanchez's

[54:06] across the streets and kuumoos.

[54:09] We all used to pop firecracker.

[54:12] Now I got to get a permit.

[54:13] I don't do it.

[54:15] I'm wondering if that it a pos

[54:17] pos effect on decreasing the

[54:26] amount of injuries as well.

[54:37] No problem.

[54:40] >> it was in 2010.

[54:42] >>Chair Waters: permit

[54:45] requirement was the same time as

[54:46] original ban.

[54:48] What actually can you do with a

[54:49] permit?

[54:51] How much firecrackers are you

[54:53] allowed to purchase?

[54:56] >> I think 5,000 per permit.

[54:58] >>Chair Waters: I see.

[55:00] Since the ban, and I have no

[55:02] statistics to back it up, but

[55:04] since the ban, it seems like the

[55:09] illegal aerials got worse.

[55:11] So last couple of years, last

[55:13] year I was in ewa.

[55:15] The whole sky was lit up.

[55:17] Year before that I was in

[55:19] waimanalo.

[55:20] Esther's district.

[55:21] Whole sky was lit up.

[55:25] My house from kaimuki

[55:26] overlooking kahala, it was no

[55:26] different.

[55:29] It was beautiful and amazing,

[55:31] but that's got to be dangerous.

[55:32] Right.

[55:34] I'm wondering if there's a

[55:35] correlation between the ban and

[55:38] the illegals.

[55:41] And I don't know, I want your

[55:42] thoughts on that.

[55:44] >> I mean, they could be.

[55:46] going to stick to our data, and

[55:50] my perspective is again, we took

[55:52] the consumer fireworks out of

[55:53] the equation.

[55:55] If you look at the years

[55:58] preceding, right after the ban,

[56:00] it went straight down already.

[56:04] If you're saying that 2011, '12,

[56:06] '13, there wasn't that many

[56:08] aerials, it diddy crease during

[56:14] that -- did decrease from that

[56:17] time.

[56:19] We're going to go back on the

[56:21] cause based on the intertaste of

[56:24] the data.

[56:26] Largely due to consumer

[56:26] fireworks.

[56:27] >>Chair Waters: it makes

[56:28] sense.

[56:30] The less fireworks there are,

[56:33] the less likelihood of injury or

[56:34] fire.

[56:36] Makes complete sense.

[56:39] I'm wondering that if you don't

[56:41] give people some outlet, they

[56:44] are going to turn to the

[56:47] illegals.

[56:49] I'm not convinced that's a per

[56:50] baseballive argument.

[56:53] If you give people some

[56:56] opportunity they won't use

[56:56] illegals.

[56:59] If this ordinance, we are

[57:01] allowing people to pop with the

[57:04] permit and illegals are still

[57:04] on.

[57:05] Really tough one.

[57:07] Thank you.

[57:09] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you,

[57:11] chair waters.

[57:13] Members, any further questions?

[57:16] Thank you so much, hfd and chief

[57:18] logan was here as well.

[57:20] As well andy.

[57:21] Thank you for answers our

[57:22] questions.

[57:23] Seeing no further questions

[57:25] we'll proceed with in-person

[57:27] testimony.

[57:29] Clerks, any registered or

[57:31] nonregistered testifiers?

[57:32] >>Clerk: we have some standing

[57:32] by.

[57:37] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[57:42] I'd like to welcome chu lan

[57:49] shuberth kwak.

[57:51] >>Testifier: thank you.

[57:54] And good afternoon,

[57:54] councilmembers.

[57:57] This is good.

[57:58] I want to support part of the

[58:01] bill because I would not support

[58:04] having sparklers or fountains.

[58:06] Usually they go to kids, and

[58:08] they can't control how to use

[58:09] it.

[58:12] I'm supportive of retailers

[58:16] taking the permit for legal

[58:18] fireworks for cultural reasons.

[58:20] That people can for chinese new

[58:24] year and other cultural needs.

[58:25] I also would like to propose

[58:29] that the city or fire department

[58:33] designate an area like a park in

[58:36] like countries in singapore,

[58:40] where you have predominantly

[58:44] chinese people, they don't allow

[58:46] fireworks in residential area.

[58:48] You're allowed to purchase the

[58:50] number to go to a designated

[58:54] place that is set up to let off

[58:55] firecrackers.

[58:57] Maybe pray to your ancestors

[59:01] with a make-do stage.

[59:04] I think that might work to allow

[59:08] for some outlet to do the

[59:10] fireworks for cultural reasons

[59:11] and provide safety.

[59:14] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you

[59:16] very much.

[59:18] >>Testifier: and less call to

[59:19] police and fire department.

[59:20] >>Chair Okimoto: any questions

[59:22] for the testifier?

[59:26] Seeing none, I'd like to welcome

[59:30] tina yamaki.

[59:35] Aloha.

[59:36] >>Testifier: aloha and good

[59:38] afternoon.

[59:42] Tina yamakakki.

[59:43] we're in strong support.

[59:44] City and county of honolulu is

[59:46] the only county that has banned

[59:48] commercial fireworks.

[59:49] And this bill would reverse

[59:50] that.

[59:53] We're talking about the pop, pop

[59:56] firecrackers most of us grew up

[59:57] with.

[59:58] We're not talking about the

[1:00:00] aerials and bombs.

[1:00:03] Firecrackers hold a profound

[1:00:06] cultural significance with not

[1:00:10] just chinese and japanese and

[1:00:11] filipinos.

[1:00:12] Especially celebrations like new

[1:00:15] years and other festivities.

[1:00:18] It brings people together.

[1:00:22] Sale in consumer fireworks

[1:00:24] contribute to the local economy.

[1:00:27] Prior to the ban, retailers were

[1:00:30] all to sell these and it helped

[1:00:33] with their businesses.

[1:00:37] Now all the sales are going to

[1:00:41] illegal and black market.

[1:00:42] Those on the black market,

[1:00:44] they're not regulated.

[1:00:47] So thank you.

[1:00:48] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[1:00:49] much.

[1:00:50] Members, any questions?

[1:00:53] Thank you, tina.

[1:00:55] Clerks, any further in-person

[1:00:56] tossers?

[1:00:57] >>Clerk: there are none.

[1:00:59] >>Chair Okimoto: we'll proceed

[1:01:01] with remote testimony.

[1:01:05] Any registered or nonregistered

[1:01:06] remote testifiers?

[1:01:09] >>Clerk: we have some standing

[1:01:12] by.

[1:01:13] Thank you.

[1:01:17] Those of you waiting patiently

[1:01:17] online.

[1:01:19] Whenwhen I call your name or last

[1:01:22] three digits of your number,

[1:01:24] state your name for the record.

[1:01:27] First, daniel from phantom

[1:01:28] fireworks.

[1:01:30] >>Clerk: he has not logged on.

[1:01:35] >>Chair Okimoto: tad from tnt

[1:01:36] fireworks.

[1:01:37] >>Testifier: aloha, chair,

[1:01:38] vice clair and members of the

[1:01:40] committee and councilmembers.

[1:01:42] My name is tad trout, a partner

[1:01:44] with tnt fireworks in strong

[1:01:46] support of bill 22.

[1:01:47] Thank you for the opportunity to

[1:01:48] testify today.

[1:01:50] Over the past few days a handful

[1:01:54] of letters opposing bill 22 have

[1:01:55] been filed.

[1:01:58] Most raised the concerns of

[1:02:00] illegal aerial and explosives

[1:02:03] that are being sold in the black

[1:02:04] market and used throughout

[1:02:05] honolulu.

[1:02:08] They have included state

[1:02:10] approved novelties.

[1:02:13] They are part of the solutions.

[1:02:15] These do not exceed 12 feet in

[1:02:16] height and sold throughout the

[1:02:21] other counties.

[1:02:25] Offeringal legal consumer

[1:02:30] fireworks will offer a -- as I

[1:02:32] previously testified, a

[1:02:33] three-prong approach that

[1:02:35] include one, safe alternative

[1:02:37] that bill 22 provides.

[1:02:42] Two, stepped up enforcement

[1:02:43] effort and three, safety and

[1:02:45] education.

[1:02:46] They'll make a huge difference

[1:02:50] in the illegal black market

[1:02:52] trade.

[1:02:58] Plews support -- plea please support the bill.

[1:03:01] >>Chair Okimoto: any

[1:03:01] questions?

[1:03:11] Next, valley from co.P.D.

[1:03:12] Coalition.

[1:03:14] >>Testifier: can you hear me?

[1:03:17] I'm valley from hawai'I copd

[1:03:19] coalition representing 45,000

[1:03:21] people in hawai'I that have been

[1:03:23] diagnosed with copd.

[1:03:25] We have a really, really hard

[1:03:27] time when there are things in

[1:03:29] the air like pollutants from

[1:03:41] fireworks and par particular particulate

[1:03:41] matter.

[1:03:45] It doesn't matter ifs lyle or

[1:03:46] illegal.

[1:03:48] When there's stuff from

[1:03:50] fountains to sparklers those

[1:03:52] emit things and it's really hard

[1:03:54] for those of us who have

[1:03:55] challenges breathing.

[1:03:56] Thank you very much.

[1:03:57] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[1:03:58] much.

[1:04:01] Members, any questions for the

[1:04:02] testifier?

[1:04:04] None.

[1:04:06] Clerks any further online or

[1:04:07] remote testifiers?

[1:04:08] >>Clerk: we do.

[1:04:10] >>Chair Okimoto: if you

[1:04:15] could -- I see natalie iwasa.

[1:04:16] We'll go with you first.

[1:04:18] I'm sorry.

[1:04:22] I got an update.

[1:04:27] Next, stephanie kendrick.

[1:04:28] >>Testifier: sorry.

[1:04:31] It took me a minute to get

[1:04:34] authorization to unmute.

[1:04:37] Chair, vice chair, committee

[1:04:39] members, stephanie with hawaiian

[1:04:41] humane society.

[1:04:42] I'll grateful for the

[1:04:43] opportunity to testify.

[1:04:45] You have our written testimony

[1:04:46] in opposition.

[1:04:49] I went to highlight a cowl

[1:04:49] points.

[1:04:51] We've been at the forefront of

[1:04:53] arguing to get fireworks ot of

[1:04:55] our mains for a very long time

[1:04:57] because of the damage it does to

[1:04:59] the mental health and safety of

[1:05:02] animals as well as vulnerable

[1:05:03] people.

[1:05:07] 2010 law, I think, has been a

[1:05:08] missed opportunities because of

[1:05:10] lack of enforcement that came

[1:05:11] along with it.

[1:05:13] We've seen in the last few

[1:05:16] months more fireworks than in

[1:05:18] the last 14 years.

[1:05:20] I would urge the council to

[1:05:23] defer this and give the illegal

[1:05:26] firework task force a champs to --

[1:05:29] chance to do its job before

[1:05:33] complicating things with a huge

[1:05:34] influx with consumer grade

[1:05:35] fireworks.

[1:05:36] Get the bombs out of our

[1:05:37] neighborhoods.

[1:05:38] Thank you for the opportunity to

[1:05:38] tev.

[1:05:41] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[1:05:42] Members, any questions?

[1:05:44] Okay.

[1:05:50] Next, jamie jamie johnston.

[1:05:51] >>Testifier: hi.

[1:05:51] Thank you.

[1:05:54] My name is jamie johnston in

[1:05:56] strong support of bill 22.

[1:05:59] I grew up here all my life, and

[1:06:01] it was so much fun.

[1:06:03] I have fond memories playing

[1:06:06] with sparklers with my family on

[1:06:07] new year's and JULY.

[1:06:09] I really want my children to

[1:06:11] experience the same joy with

[1:06:12] sparklers.

[1:06:13] Thank you so much.

[1:06:14] I appreciate the time.

[1:06:15] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[1:06:17] much.

[1:06:19] Members, any questions for the

[1:06:21] testifier?

[1:06:22] None.

[1:06:23] Next.

[1:06:26] Rus nakamura.

[1:06:27] >>Clerk: testifiers has not

[1:06:27] logged on.

[1:06:32] >>Chair Okimoto: members, chad

[1:06:33] sakagawawa.

[1:06:35] >>Clerk: he's not logged on.

[1:06:39] >>Chair Okimoto: natalie iwasa

[1:06:41] iwasa.

[1:06:42] >>Testifier: thank you.

[1:06:44] Thank you also to the honolulu

[1:06:47] fire department for providing

[1:06:48] those statistics.

[1:06:51] You know, we heard that a lot of

[1:06:55] the firework problems were with

[1:06:57] other days outside of JULY 4 and

[1:07:01] new years and it's handmade.

[1:07:03] those should be enforceed, but

[1:07:10] as we saw in the 1920s,

[1:07:11] prohibition didn't work.

[1:07:13] My his has asthma.

[1:07:16] My son has asthma and they both

[1:07:18] support the fireworks.

[1:07:21] Bill 22 is a reasonable way to

[1:07:26] affair scheduler sumer consumer fireworks

[1:07:29] without having the illegal

[1:07:30] aerials and big bombs.

[1:07:33] I would ask enforcement outside

[1:07:36] of those certain fireworks be

[1:07:36] enforced.

[1:07:40] That would reduce the amount of

[1:07:42] illegal aerials we see today.

[1:07:44] Thank you for allowing me to

[1:07:44] testify.

[1:07:45] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[1:07:46] much.

[1:07:49] Members, any questions?

[1:07:50] None.

[1:07:55] We'll go next to corren.

[1:07:56] >>Testifier: hi.

[1:07:59] I'm here in support of bill 22.

[1:08:12] I followed what MS. Iwasa said.

[1:08:15] Fireworks bring so much joy to

[1:08:17] the community and cultural

[1:08:19] purposes and value and allow us

[1:08:21] to celebrate the new year and

[1:08:23] fourth of JULY and helps the

[1:08:24] local economy.

[1:08:26] We could put some taxes from

[1:08:29] these fireworks towards first

[1:08:30] responder training and safety

[1:08:33] and funding for emergency

[1:08:34] services.

[1:08:35] Please consider all those

[1:08:36] things.

[1:08:36] Thank you so much.

[1:08:37] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[1:08:41] Members, first questions for the

[1:08:43] testifier?

[1:08:46] None.

[1:08:50] One more person. Angela melody

[1:08:54] young on behalf of cares.

[1:08:56] We have extreme levels of

[1:08:58] hazardous explosives and a safe

[1:09:00] level where they can light it up

[1:09:01] and it's not going to be a

[1:09:03] public health and safety issue.

[1:09:05] what you're trying to determine

[1:09:08] is the distinguishing line of

[1:09:11] extreme versus safe.

[1:09:14] I'm curious what the vibe is

[1:09:17] with cultural practices of

[1:09:18] firecrackers.

[1:09:21] Is it a slap on the wrist versus

[1:09:22] a severe citation?

[1:09:25] For example, firecrackers you

[1:09:26] get a fine.

[1:09:28] And smoking crack is like a

[1:09:29] felony.

[1:09:32] It is a good idea to clarify

[1:09:33] that with the city's prosecuting

[1:09:35] tosh.

[1:09:38] Tosh -- attorney.

[1:09:44] I like cultural displays.

[1:09:48] An event space for scheduler

[1:09:49] fireworks.

[1:09:52] And I like to look at federal

[1:09:54] data.

[1:09:55] From the united states consumer

[1:09:56] product safety commission which

[1:09:58] regulate it's health reports.

[1:10:01] Last year eight hundred injuries

[1:10:04] calledded by firework and 700 by

[1:10:05] sparklers.

[1:10:06] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[1:10:08] >>Testifier: and most --

[1:10:08] >>Chair Okimoto: any questions

[1:10:10] for the testifier?

[1:10:12] Thank you so much.

[1:10:16] Okay.

[1:10:17] Members, no further testifiers

[1:10:21] are here, we're now in

[1:10:23] discussion.

[1:10:24] Councilmember say.

[1:10:28] And councilmember dos santos-tam

[1:10:29] santos-tam.

[1:10:32] >>Councilmember Say: chief hao

[1:10:36] hao.

[1:10:40] The question is, who makes up

[1:10:42] the composition of your

[1:10:43] fireworks task force?

[1:10:45] Is it a start task force or

[1:10:46] county task force?

[1:10:48] >> it's a state led task force.

[1:10:53] I'm sorry, I don't have

[1:10:54] specifics.

[1:10:56] >>Councilmember Say: the

[1:10:57] composition.

[1:10:58] >> there's a police

[1:11:04] department -- I'm not certain.

[1:11:07] >> I'm the fire inspector for

[1:11:09] the fireworks.

[1:11:12] It's roy, a retired hpd.

[1:11:15] And jordan lowe, on top of him.

[1:11:19] Roy runs the task force now.

[1:11:21] >>Councilmember Say: and

[1:11:23] composition made up of different

[1:11:26] segmentings of our community?

[1:11:29] >> no, just them.

[1:11:34] But they reach out to border

[1:11:36] patrol, coast guard, matson

[1:11:37] lines.

[1:11:38] Goes off to them.

[1:11:39] >>Councilmember Say: none of

[1:11:40] the vendors?

[1:11:41] >> no.

[1:11:43] >>Councilmember Say: okay.

[1:11:44] Thank you.

[1:11:49] >> so far, they confiscate the

[1:11:49] 189,000 pounds.

[1:11:51] Six containers worth of illegal

[1:11:53] aerials and fireworks since they

[1:11:56] started JULY 1, 2023.

[1:11:57] >>Councilmember Say: okay.

[1:12:00] This is all off to the west

[1:12:00] coast?

[1:12:02] >> and china.

[1:12:04] >>Councilmember Say: matson is

[1:12:05] the supplier?

[1:12:08] >> there's matson, young brother

[1:12:10] and pasha.

[1:12:11] >>Councilmember Say: pasha and

[1:12:13] young brothers do not service to

[1:12:14] china.

[1:12:17] Matson services china direct.

[1:12:18] >> yes.

[1:12:20] But some of the stuff have come

[1:12:20] from --

[1:12:21] >>Councilmember Say: west

[1:12:21] coast.

[1:12:23] >> yeah.

[1:12:24] >>Councilmember Say: that's

[1:12:29] where the divvy -- difficulty occurs.

[1:12:31] >> border patrol can search

[1:12:33] everything that comes

[1:12:34] international.

[1:12:36] Things that come domestic, if

[1:12:39] it's not somehow flagged, it

[1:12:40] doesn't get checked.

[1:12:43] Only way it guess checked if is

[1:12:45] paperwork is wrong.

[1:12:49] If something doesn't seem right.

[1:12:50] International cargo are x-rayed

[1:12:51] and economicked.

[1:12:52] >>Councilmember Say: I would

[1:12:53] say this.

[1:12:55] Most are coming off the west

[1:12:56] coast.

[1:12:57] Why?

[1:12:58] Because it's general

[1:12:59] examination.

[1:13:02] Here in honolulu it's intensive

[1:13:04] when it comes from asia.

[1:13:05] >> yes.

[1:13:06] >>Councilmember Say: thank

[1:13:07] you.

[1:13:09] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you.

[1:13:09] Councilmember dos santos-tam.

[1:13:10] >>Councilmember Dos

[1:13:10] santos-tam: thank you.

[1:13:13] I think overall, I have some

[1:13:16] concerns about this, that

[1:13:19] hopefully be can address.

[1:13:25] I'm not quitable with moving

[1:13:26] forward today.

[1:13:28] Having a little more public

[1:13:30] input would be helpful.

[1:13:32] If we're going to legalize some

[1:13:35] degree of commercial fireworks

[1:13:37] we do it in a way that's not

[1:13:38] right for abuse.

[1:13:41] Allowing for the sale of any

[1:13:48] type of sparkler, fountain, eth

[1:13:50] et cetera without having an

[1:13:51] understanding how those are

[1:13:52] abused.

[1:13:55] Not only do we have aerials we

[1:13:57] have a lot of nuisance loud

[1:13:59] bombs that people manufacture on

[1:14:00] their own.

[1:14:03] I'di'd like to make sure if we do

[1:14:05] have a framework to permit these

[1:14:08] I a it minimizes chance for

[1:14:09] abuse.

[1:14:11] We're really sensitive to that,

[1:14:13] and also we minimize the chance

[1:14:17] for injuries as well as fires

[1:14:21] and other typings of

[1:14:22] indepartment.

[1:14:23] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[1:14:24] much.

[1:14:24] Councilmember tulba.

[1:14:26] >>Councilmember Tulba: thank

[1:14:26] you.

[1:14:29] I echo councilmember dos

[1:14:30] santos-tam.

[1:14:33] I think was a great

[1:14:34] conversation.

[1:14:35] Thank you so much for all the

[1:14:35] stats.

[1:14:38] We know 9 challenges, and I

[1:14:41] would be okay with deferring and

[1:14:44] having more discussion even

[1:14:45] possibly adding more people to

[1:14:46] this task force.

[1:14:52] Now that councilmember say

[1:14:54] making good points of who's

[1:14:54] shipping.

[1:14:57] Maybe having the retailers

[1:14:58] involved.

[1:14:58] Yeah.

[1:15:01] I'll be okay with having more

[1:15:02] discussion.

[1:15:05] I do understand the value of

[1:15:09] come tram -- cultural practices.

[1:15:11] My family love and I grew up

[1:15:14] with the fireworks.

[1:15:18] I'mi'm not a big fan.

[1:15:20] I do video every year.

[1:15:23] Be sensitive to the people,

[1:15:25] especially kupuna.

[1:15:28] Our veterans, and as well people

[1:15:30] who own pets.

[1:15:32] It is a challenge, and

[1:15:35] appreciate the stats.

[1:15:37] And would be interesting to see

[1:15:41] the stats even before 2019 when

[1:15:43] we were growing up.

[1:15:47] Thank you, councilmember say,

[1:15:48] for bringing this discussion up.

[1:15:50] I hope we can continue to have

[1:15:52] great conversations and

[1:15:55] hopefully come to some sort of

[1:15:58] balance so we ken joy -- so our

[1:16:01] children can enjoy the

[1:16:03] sparklers, fountains and

[1:16:03] firecrackers.

[1:16:04] >>Chair Okimoto: thank you so

[1:16:07] much vice chair tulba.

[1:16:09] >>Councilmember Say: the idea

[1:16:12] behind this, if we could stop

[1:16:14] the black market.

[1:16:16] These products are in the black

[1:16:17] market.

[1:16:20] People bringing it in maybe

[1:16:23] increasing the price range.

[1:16:27] 30, 40, 100% what the retailers

[1:16:28] are selling.

[1:16:30] You are looking out for the

[1:16:33] consumer who wants to play

[1:16:36] sparkler, fountains eth et cetera.

[1:16:38] I've never been a proponent for

[1:16:40] fireworks and I agree with some

[1:16:41] of the testifiers.

[1:16:48] I have two dogs and mings -- MS. Ken

[1:16:49] strict knows.

[1:16:54] Topic and issue for me, as we,

[1:16:59] as local residents getting

[1:17:00] ripped off?

[1:17:02] >>Chair Okimoto: I see no

[1:17:03] further discussion.

[1:17:05] I thank everyone for comingut out

[1:17:10] today so we could discusses discuss

[1:17:11] something that has been dear to

[1:17:14] our communities but we want to

[1:17:15] respected our departments

[1:17:17] keeping our community safe.

[1:17:19] I took in the testimony and I

[1:17:21] could see the size of everyone's

[1:17:23] points.

[1:17:25] And I think as I walk in my

[1:17:28] community, pet lovers shared how

[1:17:29] their -- they understand the

[1:17:31] respect win the fireworks were

[1:17:32] allows.

[1:17:35] Their dilemma and concerns were

[1:17:37] when fireworks were going off

[1:17:41] outside of those specified times

[1:17:42] allotted.

[1:17:45] We have to deal with enforcement

[1:17:47] of things deemed illegal and

[1:17:50] ones causing loud noise and

[1:17:51] smoke.

[1:17:53] Ones that go up in the air.

[1:17:54] Thank you for the departments

[1:17:57] for coming and answering our

[1:17:58] questions.

[1:18:00] we appreciate you guys.

[1:18:01] I want thank the introducer of

[1:18:03] this bill.

[1:18:05] It's good to see someone

[1:18:09] thinking outside of the box.

[1:18:14] We grew up -- I grew up with the the

[1:18:15] fireworks.

[1:18:18] My dad was a firework.

[1:18:19] Reinflicted 9 fear of setting

[1:18:20] things off.

[1:18:23] He taught us how to do things

[1:18:24] sensibly and responsibly.

[1:18:27] We want to find that balances on

[1:18:29] respecting the cultures that

[1:18:30] make our state so special.

[1:18:32] This island is unique because of

[1:18:34] all the cultures that are

[1:18:35] brought here and we don't want

[1:18:37] to ignore tradition but want to

[1:18:40] be respectful and find a way to

[1:18:42] keep our communities safe.

[1:18:44] I really appreciate the

[1:18:45] discussion.

[1:18:48] And that being said, with the

[1:18:49] discussion, I have taken into

[1:18:51] consider age everybody's input

[1:18:54] and chair will recommend that

[1:18:57] action on this bill 22, 2024

[1:18:59] will be postponed to a time and

[1:19:01] date to be determining by chair.

[1:19:04] And at that time, we can have

[1:19:06] further insight, hoping to meet

[1:19:09] with the departments and

[1:19:10] administration as well as see

[1:19:12] what we can do to find a happy

[1:19:13] medium.

[1:19:17] I'd like to find ways to do so.

[1:19:19] Members, further discussion?

[1:19:21] Any objections or reservations?

[1:19:25] Hearing none, so ordered.

[1:19:27] And at this time, this brings us

[1:19:28] to the end of our agenda.

[1:19:30] I want thank everyone for being

[1:19:32] here and your participation.

[1:19:34] >>ing there.

[1:19:41] There being no further business, this

[1:19:46] meeting is adjourned at 2:30.

2024-06-27 PS

Agenda

Transcript