Fireworks: Permits, rules and regs

Permits for firecrackers are available today until 8 p.m., according to Hawaii County.

Permits and firecrackers may be purchased only at the following locations:

— TNT Tent at the Safeway parking lot, 381 E. Makaala Street in Hilo;

— TNT Tent at the Walmart parking lot, 75-1015 Henry Street in Kona.

Each permit costs $25 and will enable the holder to purchase up to 5,000 individual firecrackers. Permits will be issued to those 18 years of age or older and are nontransferable and nonrefundable.

Permits are not required for novelties and paperless firecrackers.

Firecrackers (with a valid permit) and consumer fireworks are only allowed to be set off between 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Fourth of July.

The public is advised that it is unlawful to buy, sell, possess or set off any aerial luminous device, such as Sky Lanterns and Hawaii Lanterns. Any person in possession of an aerial luminous device who would like to dispose of it with amnesty can contact Fireworks Auditor Kamuela Moraes at (808) 938-1253.

It also is illegal to remove the powder or pyrotechnic contents from any fireworks; to throw fireworks from a vehicle; to set off any fireworks outside the allowed period or within 1,000 feet of any hospital, nursing home, home for the elderly, animal hospital or at any school building or property; on any public highway, street or sidewalk; in any public park, or within 1,000 feet of a church during the periods when services are held.

The Hawaii Fire Department will be conducting a collection of unused and unwanted fireworks following the holiday. Anyone interested in disposing of fireworks should call Moraes for further information regarding the pickup and dropoff locations. Please do not drop off fireworks at local fire stations.