A few of them were even legal. As much as we like fireworks, a ban may be necessary to protect Hawai'i residents. Chinese firecrackers, smoke bombs and a variety of other spinning, sizzling, burning or flaring devices pose fire hazards, breathing difficulty, reduced visibility on freeways, immediate physical threat and lots of pollution. This past New Year celebration was an excellent example of how fireworks affect the safety of Hawai'i residents. The biggest problem brought on by fireworks is smoke.
Smoke is more pervasive than most people think.
Many Hawai'i residents have breathing disorders which range from common illnesses like bronchitis to advanced emphysema or asthma. The smoke, which fills the streets and even homes, aggravates these disorders, sometimes to the point of requiring hospitalization. Joining them were many hotels that felt it necessary to provide sanctuary from the smoke, so that people with breathing disorders could spend their New Year's Eve in peace, free from smoke. As commendable as these efforts were, many people had to spend their New Year's Eve in hotels and campsites, unable to attend other parties or even spend an evening at home because of smoke. We can't negate the right these people have to walk the streets of their communities in safety.