[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.