THEY'RE DESTRUCTIVE AND DEADLY.

SEEMS LIKE THERE'S NO STOPPING   EXCESS OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS IN HAWAII.

SOME SAY CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.

BEHIND   THE DAZZLING BURSTS.

BLACK MARKET  AUTHORITIES HAVE STRUGGLED TO STOP.

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE AND HOW?

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM   OF KAKOU: HAWAII'S TOWN HALL START NOW.

>>Yunji: ALOHA AND WELCOME KAKOU:   HAWAII'S TOWN HALL.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES.

ILLEGAL AERIAL FIREWORKS HAVE BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH NEW  YEAR’S EVE IN HAWAII.

WE KNOW THEY’RE AGAINST THE  LAW.

THEY CAUSE FIRES AND INJURIES.

THEY DISTRESS OUR KUPUNA, PETS, AND VETERANS.

YET, EVERY YEAR, THE SKIES LIGHT UP.

BUT A DEADLY INCIDENT THIS PAST NEW YEAR’S EVE MAY MARK A  TURNING POINT.

THIS HOME VIDEO CAPTURES THE  EXPLOSION IN ALIAMANU THAT KILLED SIX PEOPLE,  INCLUDING A 3‑YEAR OLD BOY, AND INJURED ABOUT 20 OTHERS.

THERE IS NO RECORDED AUDIO, BUT WE’LL LET THE VIDEO  SPEAK FOR ITSELF.

THAT SAME NIGHT, A 20‑YEAR OLD  MAN WAS KILLED IN A FIREWORKS BLAST IN KALIHI.

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED IN ALIAMANU, AUTHORITIES ALSO  CONFISCATED 500 POUNDS OF UNUSED ILLEGAL  FIREWORKS FROM THE SCENE ‑ THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE  YOU'RE SEEING ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

SO FAR, A DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE  BEEN ARRESTED, NO ONE HAS BEEN CHARGED.

PENALTIES FINES AND POSSIBLE JAIL TIME.

CONTINUE TO FLOOD IN OUR STATE.

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO STOP THEM?

>>YUNJI: KAKOU MEANS ALL OF  US, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

AND GIVEN JUST HOW CLOSE SO MANY OF US LIVE TO ONE  ANOTHER, WHETHER IT’S LIGHTING THEM OR YOUR NEIGHBOR,  THESE FIREWORKS POSE A SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO OUR  COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU IN  OUR DISCUSSION.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR   CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE’RE ALSO STREAMING LIVE AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND OUR YOUTUBE  PAGE.

>>YUNJI: IN OUR TOWN HALL, WE  HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRST RESPONDERS, POLICY MAKERS,  AND CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SO LET’S BEGIN.

BEFORE WE GET IN THE POLICY DISCUSSION.

GET A SENSE WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN A  SCENE THAT YOU SCENE IN THE VIDEO.

JAMES H.E.

IRELAND, YOU WERE ON SCENE.

RESPOND THAT NIGHT.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW?

>> WHEN I WATCHED THE VIDEO,   THAT YOU JUST SHOWED, AMAZING ANYBODY  SURVIVED.

THAT WAS JUST SO HORRENDOUS.

EVERY NEW YEAR FOR EMS IS  BUSINESSES IN HAWAII ON OAHU.

USUALLY GET ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO  8 PEOPLE LOSE FINGER OR AND HAS.

AND OFTEN, MOST YEARS AT LEAST ONE DEATH.

PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED BY ILLEGAL AERIALS   HIT IN THE FACE, HIT IN THE HEAD.

THIS WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THE ONE FATALITY YOU MENTIONED.

IT WAS SO MASSIVE, WHEN THE AMBULANCES GOT THERE,   THEY FOUND ABOUT 21 CRITICALLY INJURED PATIENTS.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS EVEN SO UNUSUAL.

SO MANY PEOPLE WERE CRITICAL.

IN ADDITION TWO PEOPLE   PASSED AWAY ALREADY AT THE SCENE.

IT LOOKED LIKE A BOMB HAD GONE OFF.

PEOPLE'S CLOTHE WAS BURNED OFF.

MOST OF THEM HAD SKIN BURNED OFF.

HORRIFIC, HORRIFIC SCENE.

AND AGAIN, PEOPLE WHO WERE IN   THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EMS, FIRE DEPARTMENT,  SEE TRAGIC THINGS AND SEE HORRIBLE INJURIES   BUT TO HAVE THIS MANY WAS SO UNUSUAL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE THAT NIGHT   GO AS SMOOTH AS IT COULD AND SAVE AS MANY  LIVES AS COULD BE SAVED, WAS JUST THE WORKING   RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE  DEPARTMENT, AND THE FEDERAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.

EVERYBODY SHOWED UP THERE.

PROBABLY OVER 100 FIRST RESPONDERS AND   DID WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO WHETHER IT WAS RESCUING  PEOPLE, MOVING PEOPLE, GETTING THEM AMBULANCE,   TREATING THEM, TO SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE COULD THEN HAND THEM OFF TO THE   HOSPITALS TO CONTINUE THEIR CARE.

SIX SENT TO ARIZONA TREATMENT FOR BURNS.

YOU WERE COORDINATED A LOT OF CARE.

CAN YOU TELL BECAUSE THOSE INJURIES WERE LIKE?

>> DR. IRELAND MENTIONED,  FIREWORKS INJURIES LIKE THAT.

ANNUAL BASIS DURING NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAYS  BURNS ENDED UP BEING PART OF CARE,   PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS TRANSFERRED TO  ARIZONA, SHEAR EXTENTS BURN IS NOT JUST   FROM OUR FACILITIES OTHER FACILITIES ON ISLAND.

GENERAL FORMULA WHICH IS PERCENT OF BURNS EQUALS   RATE OF MORTALITY OF DEATH.

EXCESS 90% THESE PATIENTS.

RECOGNIZES DR. IRELAND, HIS TEAM.

THEIR TEAM SURVIVAL RATE IS ALL   ABOUT RESUSCITATION IN THE FIRST HOUR.

DR. IRELAND MENTIONED TO ME EARLIER I MEAN,   RESPONSE WAS IMMEDIATE AND WAS INSTANT.

THAT REALLY IS WHAT SAVED THESE PEOPLE AS LIVES.

MORE OF THEM SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY PASSED  AWAY SURVIVED MOSTLY BECAUSE RESPONSE.

>>Yunji: HEAD OF TONIGHT SPOKE TO PEOPLE ACROSS  HONOLULU, ONE OF THEM WAS VERY OPEN ABOUT HOW MUCH   HE ENJOYS SETTING OFF WHAT HE CALLS BOMBS.

>> ALL FOR IT.

I BLEW IT UP EVERY YEAR.

>> WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT IT.

>> LIKE ONE HIGH.

BIG EXPLOSION.

3‑INCH, 4‑INCH, 5‑INCH.

THESE BOMBS IS CRAZY.

WHOLE VALLEY.

IT'S A HIGH FOR ME.

>>Yunji: ARE YOU WORRIED THAT'S DANGEROUS?

>> IT IS.

WE GOT TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

WHEN WHEN YOU'RE SETTING THEM OFF,   PLENTY OF THESE GUYS, DOING THE WRONG WAY.

THAT'S WHY THEY GET HURT.

WRONG WAY, DAD TAUGHT US TO BLOW IT IN OUR HAND.

IF WE CANNOT DO THAT YOU CANNOT TOUCH THEM.

CANNOT TOUCH THEM.

YOU GOT TO EXPECT THAT.

>>Yunji: WHAT ABOUT YOUR GRANDKIDS?

DO YOU LET YOUR GRANDKID DOES IT?

>> YES, I DO.

>>Yunji: NOT WORRIED.

>> >> THIS PAST YEAR, HE WAS ONLY FIVE, I LET HIM GO.

LET THEM ALL GO.

HAVE TO LEARN THE HARD WAY.

>>Yunji: WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH LEE  OR NOT WE APPRECIATE HIS HONESTY.

CHIEF WONG BATTALION CHIEF  HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT.

CLEARLY BY THE VOLUME OF FIREWORKS WE SEE  IN THE COMMUNITIES, A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL   THE SAME WHAT I GENTLEMAN DOES EVEN THOUGH  THEY MIGHT NOT TELL IT TO TELEVISION STATION.

FIVE‑YEAR‑OLD ENGAGING WITH THESE  MATERIALS, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE FOREFRONT  OF EVERYTHING WE DO, SAFETY.

SO IT'S JUST UTTERLY SCARES ME.

I TOO HAVE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF FIREWORKS.

SALVATION, LEGAL WAY TO DO IT, AND FIRE  DEPARTMENT DOES PROVIDE SAFE AND LEGAL   WAY TO GO ABOUT ENJOYING FIREWORKS  FOR CELEBRATIONS CULTURAL EVENTS.

WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.

THE ISSUE IS ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

THINGS THAT HE WAS SPEAKING OF, ARE  TYPICALLY IT HANDLED BY PROFESSORS.

GET LICENSED PROFESSIONALS.

PERMITS FIRE DEPARTMENT,   FOLLOW THE FIRE CODE CONTROLS AN REGULATIONS IN  PLACE TO MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS ARE DONE SAFELY.

THINGS LIKE IF THEY'RE GOING TO DISPLAY  THOSE LARGE BOMBS AS HE CALLED THEM, WE   WILL ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING  IT HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS FROM THE STATE.

SO THAT THEY'RE TRAINED TO HANDLE EXPLOSIVES.

MAKE SENSE.

WE WITH ACTUALLY GO OUT TO SITE AND  DO FIRE CODE INSPECTIONS MAKE SURE   SURROUNDINGS ARE CORDONED OFFICER.

THEY THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER,   EVERYTHING IS DONE CORRECTLY SEE WHERE THEY STORE FOLLOW FIRE CODE.

CITIZENS DECIDE TO THESE PROPROFESSIONAL GRADE  FIREWORKS BYPASS ALL OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES.

AND BY DOING THAT, RESULT OF THAT  WOULD BE THINGS LIKE THE PAST NEW   YEAR'S TRAGEDY BECAUSE THEY BYPASS CITY &  COUNTY RULE AND REGULATION.

MAKES ME SAD.

>>Yunji: YEAH.

SO QUESTION REALLY IS WHY   ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WILLING TO THAT I CAN RISK?

ASK PEOPLE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHY THEY THINK   FIREWORKS ARE SO POPULAR.

WE HEARD THE WORDS   CULTURE TRADITION AGAIN AND AGAIN.

CULTURE PROBABLY, THE CULTURE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT   THEY WERE BORN AND RAISED HAND IT'S LIKE FOLLOWING  THE TRADITION, BUT IN A WAY THAT I THINK THEY HAVE   TO BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT IT.

>> IT IS HAWAII.

DEFINITELY A PART OF OUR CULTURE.

I WOULD SAY.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE TO AERIAL  FIREWORKS IS A NEW THING FOR US.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO STOP IT FOR YEARS.

IT'S BEEN ALL OVER THE NEWS FOR HOW LONG.

IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE.

IT GOT WORSE.

IT TERMS HOW MUCH USAGE THERE IS.

BUT WE CONDITION REALLY STOP IT.

UNLESS WE STOP IT AT THE PORTS.

>>Yunji: CULTURE AND TRADITION.

JONI RECENTLY WROTE AN OPINION  PIECE ABOUT THAT ARGUMENTS.

SHOULD WE ACCEPT THAT AS PART OF HAWAII IS.

>> AFTER THIS WHOLE INCIDENT WHERE I HEARD A   LOT OF LEADERS SAY WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE ABOUT  HOW WE TALK ABOUT THIS CULTURE AND TRADITION.

OF HAWAII.

I'M THINKING,   AS A KID, OUR CULTURE WAS TO  BLOW THE RED FIRECRACKERS.

BELOW THE LITTLE ONES.

SPARKLERS NEVER ONCE   DID AERIALS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE ALWAYS IT DID IT AT THE SAME TIME MIDNIGHT.

PLAYED BY THE RULES.

BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMMUNITY.

WE DIDN'T BELOW RED LINES OF  FIREWORKS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

THAT WAS NOT THE CULTURE.

CHINESE, STYLE NEVER DID THAT START USING   CULTURE AND TRADITION THING, THEY WILL REALLY  UNDERSTAND CULTURAL AN PRACTICE WHY WE DID IT.

WE WANTED TO CHASE AWAY EVIL SPIRITS.

DO TIME OF YEAR FOR THAT REASON AND TO ME, WHEN   PEOPLE KEEP USING THIS I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TOTALLY  DISRESPECT AND LOST THAT CULTURE AND TRADITION.

THE VALUES THAT WE HAD AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO KEY IN ALSO TO SOMETHING   THAT THE GENTLEMAN SHARED AT THE END THERE.

THAT WAS IDEA WE NEED STOP IT AT THE PORTS.

MIKE LAMBERT DIRECTOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

RESPONSIBLE FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS TASK FORCE.

CAN WE STOP IT AT THE PORTS?

>> DEFINITELY.

HAS TO BE GIVEN ATTENTION.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHENEVER   LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIZES, IT IS  BASED ON SENTIMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO FOR MOST OF THOSE CALLERS, MOST OF PEOPLE  THAT YOU'RE INTERVIEWING, THAT'S A SENTIMENT.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, TYPICALLY,  PRIOR TO AT ALIAMANU TRAGEDY.

GUNS, FIREWORKS.

SHIFT IN PERCEPTION MORE INVOLVED AT THE PORT   I GET BOTH COMES IN THROUGH THE POSTAL SERVICE.

GOOD THING IS THAT IT DOES HAVE TO COME IN.

THE HARD THING IS HOW WE FILTER  THROUGH THOSE THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS   OF CONTAINERS WITHOUT IMPEDING COMMERCE.

THAT'S THE BALANCE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIND.

I WAS ABLE TO DO A NEWS PRESS RELEASE  SORTS TO KIND OF SHARE THAT WE DO, ARE   ADDING ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN REGARDS TO A.I.

TO HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE AN I'M CONFIDENT THAT   IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS WE'RE GOING TO START TO SEE  SOME LARGER SEIZURES THAT WILL OCCUR AT THE PORT.

>>Yunji: SEVERAL PEOPLE WE SPOKE  WITH SAY FRUSTRATED WITH ENFORCEMENT   OF LAWS WE ALREADY HAVE.

LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M MORE   PARTICULARLY ENFORCED IF POSSIBLE.

THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.

WE'RE DOWN WITH POLICE OFFICERS.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW.

THE HARD BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY PEOPLE  DOING IT, ALMOST EVERYBODY IS DOING IT.

PROBABLY EVERYBODY HERE IN TOWN, NUMBER ONE,  POLICE NOT CITING AS MUCH AS THEY COULD.

AND SHOULD.

PROSECUTORS NOT PROSECUTING   AS MUCH AS THEY COULD OR SHOULD.

>>Yunji: HEAR FROM THE POLICE   AND PROSECUTOR'S OFFICERS.

KEITH IS DEPUTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN CITING PEOPLE  AND ARRESTING FOLKS FOR THIS ILLEGAL ACTIVITY?

>> I THINK WE'RE IN A BIG CHALLENGE IS  ESPECIALLY NEW YEAR'S EVE, DAY OF EXECUTION.

THERE'S SHEAR VOLUME OF  FIREWORKS JUST BEING LIST UP.

WHICH TYPICALLY CAN OVERWHELM  THE TYPICAL IT PATROL OFFICERS.

CAPABILITY TO REALLY ADDRESS EACH ONE.

THAT IS BECOMES CHALLENGE AS WELL.

BUT EVEN THOUGH, I'M SURE  PROSECUTOR WILL CHIME IN.

BUT EVEN WITH THE ONES THAT WE DO CITE  AND ARREST, SOMETIMES THE CHALLENGES IN   COURT IS BECOMES CHALLENGE AS FAR AS GETTING  PROSECUTIONS AND SETTING THAT DETERRENT DOWN.

OUR ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE, WE DO, PATROL  OFFICERS DO TRY TO GET OUT THERE AND,   RESPOND TO EACH CASE THAT IS REPORTED OR  THEY CAN OBSERVE, BUT AGAIN, SHEAR VOLUME   DOES OVERWHELM OUR CAPABILITIES SOMETIMES.

>>Yunji: LET'S HEAR ALSO FROM THE PROSECUTOR.

MARK YUEN DIVISION CHIEF  HONOLULU PROSECTURE OFFICE.

HOW DIFFICULT TO PROSECUTE THESE CASES?

NOT MANY OF THESE CASE, CHIEF HORIKAWA   HIT IT ON THE HEAD SO HARD.

YOU SAW VIDEO, FIREWORKS IN THE SKY.

BLOWING UP EVERYWHERE.

SO MANY PATROL OFFICERS.

GO TO ONE SCENE, NEED BACK UP THERE'S  FIREWORKS GOING OFF EVERYWHERE ELSE.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN THAT SITUATION?

DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THAT.

AND ONCE IT IS INVESTIGATED, ONCE IT DOES GET TO  OUR OFFICE, WE DON'T GET TOO MANY OF THEM WE HAVE   TO ISSUE A WE NEED WITNESSES.

WE NEED EVIDENCE.

WE NEED TO HAVE EVIDENCE TESTED.

DEFINITIONS WE HAVE TO PROVE.

ELEMENTS WE HAVE PROVE.

PROVE THIS BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

PEOPLE WHAT IS THAT?

IT'S A VERY HIGH STANDARD   THAT WE HAVE AND IN ORDER FOR US TO  EVEN CHARGE A CASE, THAT'S OUR STANDARD.

MOST JURISDICTIONS, IT'S PROBABLE CAUSE FOR US.

WE GO BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

EVEN FOR THAT, IT'S HARD, REALLY DIFFICULT TO  PROVE THESE CASES IF YOU DON'T HAVE WITNESSES.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE FOUNDATION, SAY THERE'S A  VIDEO, I STILL NEED FOUNDATION TO PROVE VIDEO.

AND AS FAR AS TESTING, WE GOT TO HAVE THAT TESTED.

SO THOSE ARE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE.

THERE ARE OTHER CHALLENGES AS WELL.

I THINK REPRESENTATIVE MATAYOSHI   WILL GET INTO THAT LATER ON.

WE HAVE SOME ISSUES DEFINITIONS   OF AERIAL DEVICES AND OF THE DISPLAY FIREWORKS.

VERY CONVOLUTED DEFINITION AND IT'S IF YOU JUST   READ IT, FRUSTRATE.

WOW, WHAT IS THIS?

WE HAVE TO PROVE THOSE THINGS AND DEFINITION IS  SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES EXPERT TO TESTIFY TO.

>>Yunji: LET'S SAY YOU DO GET SOMEONE.

GET THAT EVIDENCE TURNED OVER.

ALL OF THE SORT OF LIST THAT YOU WERE DESCRIBING.

WHAT TYPICALLY IS THE PENALTY   FOR ENGAGING WITH THIS?

>>Testifer: SO BEST WAY TO LOOK AT IT,   RIGHT NOW TALKING ABOUT AERIAL AND DISPLAY.

TO DECIPHER BETWEEN THE TWO, AERIALS SMALL KIND.

DISPLAY BIG ONES.

FOR THOSE, SAME PENALTIES.

SO YOU HAVE FOR THE   SMALL GUY, YOU HAVE THE USER, GUY THAT WAS ON TV.

FOR THE BIG GUY, THOSE ARE THE DEALERS,   IMPORTERS AND THOSE GUYS.

FOR THE IMPORTER, THEY HAVE, C FELONY.

FIVE YEARS.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE A LICENSE, BRING IT IN.

OR IF THEY SELL IT TO SOMEBODY  WHO DOESN'T HAVE A PERMANENT.

C FELONY.

USERS SMALL GUYS IF THEY   HAVE 25 POUNDS OR MORE AT THAT THEY'RE IGNITING,  OR POSSESSION OF, THAT'S A C FELONY AS WELL.

IF IT'S LESS THAN AT THAT POUND  25 POUNDS, IT'S A MISDEMEANOR.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE MATAYOSHI.

SCOTT MATAYOSHI ONE VOICE   CALLING FOR CHANGE IN THE LAW.

FOR A CHANGE IN THE LAW.

TELL US WHAT YOU PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> COUPLE OF BILLS GOING THROUGH.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS, LIKE MARK  SAID, ADJUSTING DEFINITION OF FIREWORKS.

OR AERIAL DEVICES.

RIGHT NOW, AERIAL DEVICES NEED   TO ACTUALLY RECOVER CASING TO MEASURE IT.

MEASURE IT.

DETERMINE IF A   CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EXPLOSIVES WERE THERE IN THERE.

HARD TO PROVE WHEN HAVE YOU EXPLODED DEVICE TRY TO   CHANGE ANY TYPE OF DEVICE PROPELS ITSELF ABOVE 25.

EASY TO PROVE.

CREATE NEW LEVELS HIGHER AND LOWER.

HIGHER FIVE POUNDS OR LESS   OF FIREWORKS STRAIGHT FINE.

THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE, THE STRICT   BURDEN OF PROOF THAT THE PROSECUTORS NORMALLY  HAVE TO PROVE.

SECOND ONE IS HIGHER PENALTY.

50 POUNDS OR MORE, LIKE WAS CASE IN  THE TRAGEDY FROM LAST NEW YEAR'S EVE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE MORE OF A FELONY  B OR IF IT CAUSES SERIOUS BODILY HARM,   IT COULD BE AS HIGH AS FELONY A.

>>Yunji: YOU'RE DESCRIBING SOMETHING   THAT THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT.

IDEA TURNING SMALLER LEVEL LOWER   LEVEL INTO CITATION WHICH IS VIEWERS  SORT OF SIMILAR TO A TRAFFIC CITATION.

THEY HAVE A MUCH LOWER BURDEN PROOF.

ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER CHANG.

TELL ABOUT YOUR OFFICE, THEY OPPOSE THIS CHANGE?

>> WE HAVE SOME OPPOSITION TO THE MEASURES THAT   WERE BEING INTRODUCE BUT AS OUR POSITION  WAS CONSISTENTLY STATED THROUGHOUT THE   LEGISLATIVE SESSION, CONCERN OF OUR  OFFICE WAS NEVER THE ENFORCEMENT.

WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T OPPOSE ANY OF THE  PROPOSED CHANGES RELATED TO THE DEFINITIONS.

THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING  ABOUT FROM THE PROSECUTOR.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO  ADDRESS THIS COMMUNITY ISSUE.

OUR CONCERN AND AS WE TESTIFIED BEFORE MULTIPLE  COMMITTEES ON, IN ADDITION TO OUR WRITTEN   TESTIMONY, WAS WE UNDERSTAND THE REACTION.

WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO DO THINGS.

BUT OUR POSITION ALWAYS WAS AND I THINK THAT HAS  BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE OTHER PANELISTS THAT YOU   ALREADY HEARD FROM, IS WE HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS.

WE HAVE FELONY LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

WE HAVE MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES.

THAT WERE ON THE BOOKS.

THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR YEARS.

AHEAD OF TRAGEDY.

SO OUR POSITION WAS ENERGY SHOULD BE FOCUSED  ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALREADY HEARD   ABOUT WHICH IS ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER THAT IS  AT THE PEERS, OR BEEFING UP ENFORCEMENT ON THE   NIGHT OF NEW YEAR'S EVE.

RATHER THAN TRYING  TO ENHANCE PENALTIES AND INCREASED PRISON   TIME FOR CHARGES WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY UTILIZING.

SO THAT WAS THE NATURE OF OUR OFFICE'S OPPOSITION.

>>Yunji: GIVEN HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED WITH  THIS YOUR OFFICERS WOULD BE TASKED TO DEFEND   THOSE FOLKS IF THEY NEEDED THAT, WHAT KIND OF  WORKLOAD WOULD THAT ADD FOR YOU DO YOU THINK?

>> SOMETHING THAT I THINK  WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING.

I THINK WE DO LIKE THE IDEA AS  EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT, CITATION.

EASY WAY OR EASIER WAY TO ENFORCEMENT  PENALIZE PEOPLE, ACCOUNTABLE.

WHEN WE ARE INCREASING PENALTIES FOR  EXAMPLE, HEARD SOMETHING REFERENCED   AS A CLASS A OR A FELONY, AND A FELONY  MANDATORY OPEN YEAR TERM OF INCARCERATION.

PEOPLE CHARGED REQUIRES MANDATORY 20 YEAR  INCARSATION NOT GOING TO INCENTIVIZE TAKE   RESPONSIBILITY.

ACCUSED.

NO MATTER WHAT PENALTY IS.

EMBRACING AND WAY TO GO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT.

PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD BE.

BUT AGAIN, IT WAS NEVER A MATTER   OF BEING OPPOSITIONAL TO THE ENFORCEMENT  OR THE PROSECUTION OF THESE TYPES OF CASES.

IT WAS JUST I THINK OUR OFFICE HAD  A DIFFERENT POSITION ON WHAT TACTICS   SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITY   REPRESENTATIVE MATAYOSHI TO RESPOND TO THAT.

THEN I LOVE TO GO TO VALUE   OKAMOTO FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

WHAT THOUGHTS WHAT YOU JUST SHARED.

>> TO BE CLEAR I BILL IS STRUCTURED  SUCH A WAY THAT THE PENALTY ESCALATE.

LOWER PENALTY, INJURED SETTING UP FIREWORKS.

HIGHER PENALTY.

INJURY IS SERIOUS, OR RESULTS  IN A DEATH, IT'S.

MORE SERIOUS.

AND IN TERMS OF STORAGE, FIREWORKS, THAT  EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RECENT TRAGEDY.

BASICALLY LIVING NEXT TO SOMEONE YOU DON'T  KNOW IF THEY HAVE A BOMB IN THEIR HOUSE   THAT COULD HURT, LOOK A NEIGHBORHOOD.

HURT YOU YOUR FAMILY, KIDS I DO THINK   THAT WE NEED A HIGHER LEVEL PENALTY WILLING TO  ENDANGER LIVES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS.

IF THAT UNFORTUNATELY COMES TO FRUITION, THEY  DO SERIOUSLY INJURY SOMEONE, I THINK WE DO   NEED HIGHER STANDARD FOR WHICH TO CHARGE THEM.

>>Yunji: ALSO ROLE OF CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE STATE IS DOING.

LET'S GO NOW TO HAVE.

AL OKAMOTO COUNCILMEMBER   REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 8.

COVERS CENTRAL OAHU.

YOU ARE THE CHAIR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY  COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY & COUNTY.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IF YOU THINK  THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE HANSEN PENALTIES   OR WHEN YOU THINK THE ROLE SHOULD BE THERE.

>> THANKS PBS FOR ALLOWING US TO FORUM.

SHUT OUT TO FIRST RESPONDERS AS YOU SHARED,  IN THAT FIRST VIDEO, BEEN SHARED THIS EVENING,   THE EFFORTS THAT GO OUT FROM OUR FIRST RESPONDERS  IS REALLY WE HONOR THAT AND RESPECTED THAT.

CITY LEVEL WE HAVE A UNIQUE  SITUATION HERE IN THE CITY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE CERTAIN LAWS IN PLACE.

AND WE HAVE TO WORK IN   COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE.

I'M REALLY THANKFUL ACTUALLY,   DIRECTOR LAMBERT CAME PRIOR TO BEING DIRECTOR  HE WAS MAJOR IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND HPD CAME AND AT THAT TIME, DID INFO  BRIEFING WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAN WE DO?

OUR SCOPE RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY  IS LIMITED TO CERTAIN THINGS.

WE HAD TO ALIGN, WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THAT  THE STATE IS MOVING ON CERTAIN LEGISLATION.

HERE ON OAHU.

HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CITY, WHAT WE'RE DOING  TO COLLABORATE RULES ALIGNED WITH THE STATE.

DEFINITION BIG CONCERN.

HEARD IT TONIGHT WITH PROSECUTING AND PUBLIC   DEFENDER THAT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY HARD.

REALLY HARD, OUR CITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE   DEPARTMENT THAT IS THEN RESPONSIBLE TO GO AND  ENFORCE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER INCIDENTS HAPPEN.

SO ON CITY SIDE, RIGHT NOW, WE DID HAVE, BILL LAST  YEAR, BILL 22, WHICH MAYBE I'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.

TO TALK ABOUT LEGALIZING CERTAIN  COMMERCIAL FIREWORKS TO ADDRESS   ISSUE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS GOING OFF.

BILL 7 RIGHT NOW STILL IN CITY COUNCIL.

BILL THAT ESTHER KIA'AINA AND  I HAVE SIGNED ON TOGETHER.

REALLY TO TRY AND ALIGN OUR CITY ORDINANCES AND  PENALTIES AND DEFINITIONS WHAT THE STATE IS DOING.

THAT WILL REALLY HELP I THINK  FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I KNOW THAT DIRECTOR LAMBERT IS REALLY TRYING TO  WORK IN HIS CAPACITY, WORK WITH US BECAUSE RIGHT   NOW, WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IS NOT WORKING.

I THINK THE TAKE A HAVE.

WHATEVER WE HAVE IN PLACE, THERE'S LAWS  ALREADY, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CONTROL IT.

SO WE HAD INCIDENTS WHAT  HAPPENED ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.

>> ONE OTHER THING KEEP IN MIND IS  WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NEW YEAR'S EVE,   AND ANYBODY WORKS IN THE FIRE, POLICE OR EMS  KNOWS THAT, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THAT NIGHT.

BECAUSE THERE'S PARTIES, PEOPLE ARE  DRINKING, PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY ARE FIGHTING.

THERE'S MEDICAL CALLS FOR THE SMOKE.

THE OFFICERS ARE INVOLVED   WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IF THEY GO ON FIRE, HAVE TO CONTROL TRAFFIC.

GO TO ALL THE CAR ACCIDENT.

GOT FIGHTS.

I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE THE OFFICERS  JOB EASY AS FAR AS ENFORCEMENT OR APPROVING CASES,   BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT NIGHT IS SO BUSY.

PROBABLY BUSY NIGHT OF THE YEAR   FOR ANYBODY IN POLICE, FIRE OR EMS.

>>Yunji: DIRECTOR LAMBERT, QUESTION WE HAVE.

GREAT QUESTIONS FROM AUDIENCE KEEP  THEM COMING THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FROM JILL.

WATCHING US ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT HEARD THAT THERE IS   NOT ENOUGH MANPOWER TO STOP FIREWORKS AT THE PORT.

IS THAT TRUE.

>> DO YOU HAVE A RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED  GIVEN THAT 90% OF OUR FOOD IS SHIPPED IF AND   ALL THE OTHER PAPER PRODUCT IT'S AND CLOTHES FROM  RETAILERS, EVERYTHING IS COMING THROUGH THAT PORT.

HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU FIND THESE  FIREWORKS WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW?

>> THAT'S THE ISSUE.

FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS ALL ISSUES.

JUST NOT ENOUGH HUMAN CAPITAL  TO TACKLE ALL OF THESE ISSUES.

THAT'S WHY DIDN'T OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS  MAKING HUGE TECH INVESTMENTS TO HELP US.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE ACKNOWLEDGE  THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE BODIES.

IT'S ABOUT BEING STRATEGIC AND UTILIZING.

WHAT I CALL THE FUTURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT   IS A LOT, A LOT LARGE AMOUNTS AND AGAIN, FEEL  LIKE OFFICIALS TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE INVESTMENTS.

I DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE'RE STRATEGIC, I DO BELIEVE  WITH RIGHT INVESTMENTS, THAT WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN   WITH THE BODY THAT WE DO HAVE.

IN REGARDS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AGAIN, GOING TO BE A HUGE  PARTNERSHIP WITH EACH COUNTY.

GRATEFUL TO GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH  THE HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT.

GO IN AFTER SESSION MAKING SURE THAT  I SAME RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH COUNTY.

GOING TO BE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN LITERALLY  CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL REALLY GOING TO MAKE   THE DIFFERENCE IS WHAT WE INVEST IN  REGARDS TO OUR A.I.

TECHNOLOGY, SCREEN,   CAMERAS ALL OF ABOVE, TECHNOLOGY EXISTS  THAT I DON'T FEEL WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED OR   UTILIZED IN A WAY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE ITS.

>>Yunji: STOPPING IT SOURCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

CHANGE MIND SET.

WE HEARD FROM LEE EARLIER TONIGHT.

VERY OPEN ABOUT HOW EXCITING AND HOW   HE FINDS IT DELIGHTFUL GO THAT.

WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS HERE.

JONI LOVE FOR YOU TO RESPOND  TO WHAT THESE FOLKS ARE SAYING.

SHANNON FROM HAWAII KAI SAYS I THINK THE  TRADITION FOR FIREWORKS IS LIMITED TO THE   RED FIREWORKS NOT MASSIVE AERIALS.

THOSE THOSE CROSS THE LINE.

NOT OF ANY CULTURES HERE.

FIRECRACKERS.

POLLING OF FIREWORKS NEW YEARS RID  ENERGY OF ENDING YEAR AND NEW YEAR   BEGINNINGS WITH GOOD ENERGY.

CLEANSE IT'S ENERGY.

ARE RAISED IN HAWAII, LIKELY TO BE AWARE  OF CULTURAL SUPPRESSION HAWAIIAN PEOPLE   GONE THROUGH.

FIREWORKS BAN NO DIFFERENT.

EQUIVALENT OF BANNING NATIVE AMERICANS FROM   BURNING SAGE.

ENERGY.

KEEP PUBLIC TO USE THEM SAFELY.

>> HONESTLY TALKING ABOUT LAW   AS ENFORCEMENT REALLY LIMITED WITH RESOURCES.

THE POWER I THINK IF WE REALLY WANT CHANGE HAS TO   COME THROUGH, COMMUNITY BUILDING ALREADY.

TO REALLY UNDERSTAND.

CAN I TRUST MY NEIGHBORS TO KEEP ME SAFE?

LIKE THIS YEAR, MY DAD AND NEIGHBORS   SHOOTING FIREWORKS OVER OUR HOUSE  OVER OUR TRACTORS, OVER OUR FARM.

WE HAVE FEW, NEW EQUIPMENT.

WE DON'T WANT THAT HAPPENING.

WE HAVE FUEL.

SO DO WE CALL THE POLICE?

AND GET BUSY AND THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO COME?

WE KNOW THOSE NEIGHBORS.

SO THIS YEAR, MY SON PICKED UP ALL THE DEBRIS.

FLYING ALL OVER THE SHED.

ALL OVER THE HOUSE.

I SAY WE IT CAN SIT HERE FOR HOURS AND LET  THEM SHOOT THEM ALL OVER THE HOUSE OR JUST   WALK UP TO THEM.

THAT'S IT.

IF THEY KEEP SHOOTING THOSE BIG THINGS, BIG  CARDBOARD PIECES, WE WALKED UP TO THEM AND SAID,   HEY, YOU WANT TO SHOOT YOUR FIREWORKS?

SHOOT AT YOUR WAY.

DON'T SHOOT TO OUR WAY.

BECAUSE NEIGHBORS, WHAT HAPPENED   TO NEIGHBORS RESPECTING NEIGHBORS?

WHAT HAPPENED TO BEING A COMMUNITY   WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER?

WE ARE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHERS' PROPERTY.

WHERE IS THAT?

ALL THE POLICE PRESENCE,   EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TRY DO ON LAW BASIS, IF THE  COMMUNITY STILL DOESN'T UNDERSTAND AND RESPECTED   EACH OTHER, WE'RE GOING TO DO LOSE, CONTINUE  LOSING BATTLE, LEARNED FROM THE MISS HAWAII FIRES   WHAT DESTRUCTION HAWAII CAN DO?

DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

ARE UPSETTING TO ME.

I WORK IN HOME HEALTH, CLIENTS ARE DISABLED.

NEIGHBORS SHOOTING FIREWORKS  RIGHT OVER THEIR HOUSE.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSE?

DO YOU HAVE NO CONSIDERATION OR   ALOHA FOR OUR NEIGHBORS?

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

THAT IS WHY I WROTE THAT BLOG BECAUSE  HAWAII USED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

PEOPLE KIND OF KNEW EACH OTHER.

LOST THAT.

I THINK SOMEHOW, ALONG THE  LINE, WE NEED TO REBUILD THAT.

SO FOR ME, AS A COMMUNITY,  VOLUNTEER, I WORK FULL‑TIME.

BUT I DECIDED TO ORGANIZE THAT KANEOHE FUN  FAIR EVEN THOUGH I BUSTED MY BUTT DOING IT,   IT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WE KNOW EACH OTHER.

WE START TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S HOW   WE'RE SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HOW WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS.

COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO TALK   AT A BIGGER PICTURE I THINK MORE WE CAN REBUILD  THOSE THINGS, WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND.

HAVE SHARED VALUES.

ABOUT VALUING EACH OTHER.

>>Yunji: YOU BRING UP INTERESTING POINT.

ABOUT JUST THE DANGER TO  THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT INJURIES  TONIGHT AND BEING, FATALITIES.

ALSO THERY BEING TO HOME AN PROPERTY.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ABOUT IF AIR  WHY OR SOME OF THIS DEBRIS GOES ON A ROOF,   WHAT KIND OF CONSEQUENCES YOU CAN SEE  IN TERMS OF JUST THE PROPERTY DAMAGE   AND FIRE DANGER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENTS.

THAT WAS GREAT.

I ONE OF MY, PERSONAL STORIES, WHICH WAS VERY  YOUNG, TALKED ABOUT CHILDHOOD MEMORY, FIREWORKS,   CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS, ONE OF MY MEMORIES WAS  AERIAL GOING OFF IN THE AIR LANDING ON ONE OF   MY FRIENDS' HOUSE, LIT THE ROOF ON FIRE, AND AS  A BOY SCOUT TROOP CAME TO THEN THEM RECOVER THEIR   PERSONAL BELONGING AND FINDING PICTURES,  AND TEARS I SAW IN THE FAMILY'S EYES.

REALLY STRUCK ME TO THIS DAY.

SO NOW, THE FIREWORKS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT,   THESE ILLEGAL AERIALS AND LARGE REMOTE OR SHELLS  GO UP, JUST DAMAGE THAT WE CAN SEE TREMENDOUS.

MORTAR SHELLS, I CANNOT STRESS HARD  ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS THAT WENT TO   THAT CALL ON NEW YEAR'S EVE ARE MY FRIENDS.

THEY'RE MY BROTHERS AND I WAS AT THAT STATION.

AND THEY DESCRIBED IT AS A WAR ZONE.

AND JUST IMAGINE TO YOURSELF, THAT TREATING   PATIENTS TO PATIENT, RIGHT NEXT TO UNEXPLODED  ORDNANCE, KIND OF FEAR AND THE DEVASTATION THAT   YOU'RE SEEING IS JUST AMAZING.

YOU SEE THE WINDOWS COLLAPSED.

THE THERE'S, YOU DON'T KNOW IF  THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO GO OFF.

IN YOUR FACE.

SO I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE'S   OPINIONS ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO CELEBRATE,  BUT JUST LIKE TO IF EMPHASIZE THAT DANGERS TO   PUTTING NOT ONLY TO THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEMSELVES,  FAMILIES, ALSO FIRST RESPONDERS IS AT RISK ALSO.

AS A FIREFIGHTER, PUTS FEAR  IN MY HEART FOR MY BROTHERS.

>>Yunji: DR. IRELAND, WHAT HAS BEEN THE  IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH YOU   THE ONES WHO RESPONDED THAT NIGHT.

>>Yunji: YOU WERE ON SCENE.

IMAGINE VERY DRAMATIC EXPERIENCE TO BE  A FIRST RESPONDER IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

>> ALL DID SO WELL.

PARAMEDIC, TRIAGE OFFICER UP THERE.

INCIDENT COMMANDER UNDER THE SCENE  BATTALION CHIEF INCIDENT COMMANDER.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS.

HAD SOME DECLINE BRIEFING.

IT'S TOUGH HAD DECLINE BRIEFING PEOPLE DO THIS FOR  LIVING AND EMS AND POLICE AND FIRE SEE TRAGEDIES   SO AMPLIFIED SO MANY PEOPLE.

SO BADLY INJURED.

IT REALLY WAS MOMENTARILY OVERWHELMING.

BUT THEY FELL BACK ON THEIR TRAINING.

FELL BACK CAMARADERIES OTHER FIRST RESPONDER.

POLICE DID WHAT THEY NEED TO DO   AND CARRIED BODIES OUT.

FIREFIGHTERS DID RESCUE.

CARRIED BODIES OUT.

ONE OF THE GIRLS BROUGHT OUT   FOR FIREFIGHTERS BROUGHT HER OUT.

WASN'T BREATH.

THEY WERE USINGEL BAG VALVE  MASK TO BREATH FOR HER.

RESUSCITATING PEOPLE IN THE STREETS.

TRIAGE.

BROUGHT EXTRA AMBULANCES ENOUGH RESOURCE THERE BUT  MOMENTARILY FOR EVERYBODY THERE BIT OVERWHELMING.

THE POLICE SHUTDOWN SALT LAKE  BOULEVARD THAT COULD BE USE TO STAGE   AMBULANCE FEW HUNDRED YARDS ACTUAL SCENE.

EVERYTHING WENT AS WELL AS IT COULD HAVE   BEEN RESPONDERS TEAM AS PETS.

HOSPITALS PUT OUT‑ASPECTS.

ALERT TO HOSPITALS YOU'RE GOING  TO GET A LOT OF PATIENTS EVERYBODY   DON'T SENT BURN PATIENTS ANYWHERE TO STRAUB.

NO WAY THEY CAN HANDLE THAT MANY PATIENTS.

TRAUMATIC INJURIES ALMOST GO TO  QUEEN'S OR PALI MOMI TRAUMA CENTERS.

THEY COULDN'T TAKE THEM IT ALL.

PUT IN A CALL DISPATCHER YOU GUYS   NEED TO GET READY BECAUSE THIS ABOVE  AND BEYOND, THE NORMAL NEW YEAR'S.

AND MAYBE HE CAN COMMENT MORE HOW TO DO  AT THE HOSPITALS BUT TEAMS THAT NIGHT   WERE VERY WELL TOGETHER.

VERY PROUD OF EVERYBODY.

THERE'S NOBODY GOING TO COME OUT  OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT UNAFFECTED.

>>Yunji: TELL US WHAT IT WAS LIKE  TO COORDINATE THAT RESPONSES.

TALKING ABOUT VERY TRAUMATIC  INCIDENCE ON VERY LARGE SCALE.

EVEN ON WHAT WE CONSIDER TYPICAL NEW YEAR'S,  DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE OFTEN LOSE THEIR LIVES.

OR THEY ARE SEVERELY PERMANENTLY INJURED.

WE THINK OF NEW YEAR'S AS GOOD FUN.

AND SEEING THESE FIREWORKS GO OFF.

OFTEN ALCOHOL INVOLVED.

GO OFF.

TELL   US ABOUT KIND OF INJURIES YOU SEE EVEN  FROM MORE PEDESTRIAN CASE IF YOU WILL.

>> I THINK ONE VEIN, HEARING SOME OF THE GUESTS  YOU'VE HAD IN HERE IS THAT LOOK AT TRENDS,   OF INJURIES, EVEN 20 YEARS AGO,  SPARKLER, LITTLE BURNS HERE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THEMES LETHALITY.

FIREWORKS GENERATION OF THE   PAST NOTHING LIKE THE FIREWORKS NOW.

I'M SURE DEPUTY SPEAK TO THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

AMOUNT OF EXPLOSIVES CHANGED SEE  THAT THROUGH THE CARE THAT WE SEE.

SO AS DR. IRELAND MENTIONED,  HANDS BLOWN OFF ROUTINELY.

EYES A LOT OF AERIAL.

GO UP.

IMAGINE LIGHTING IT AND LOOKING,  SHORT FUSE, GOES RIGHT IN THE EYE.

I ONE OF THE THINGS GET TO THE ACTUAL EVENT,  I THINK EDUCATION IS SO MANY SO MUCH DISABLING   INJURIES HAPPENED OVER PAST DECADE ALONE.

IS THAT AS ONE, UNCLE OVER THERE   FIVE‑YEAR‑OLD KID IN HAND.

WHERE IS THE EDUCATION?

GETTING IT FROM THE HOME.

WHERE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY ON COMMUNITY?

SCHOOLS PROVIDE SOME BASIC  LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF SAFETY.

I THINK THAT'S A TOPIC THERE.

BUT TO DR. IRELAND'S POINT.

FOR AT THAT THAT DAY, MAJOR BIGGEST HOSPITAL FOR  THE STATE, ROUTINE QUARTERLY DISASTER DRILLS.

SO CANNOT BE MORE PERFORMANCE  AUDIT OF TRAUMA TEAM.

MY EMERGENCY TEAM, NURSES, RESPIRATORY  THERAPISTS, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO RESPOND.

WE PRACTICED THIS.

ALL CALL CAME IN.

NO‑BRAINER.

WE ACTIVATE TRIAGE.

WE HAD ROUGHLY 20 TO 30 PROVIDERS  DOWN IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

READY TO RECEIVE.

NOT JUST ONES COMING   BY AMBULANCE BUT JIM CAN ATTEST TO IT.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME WITH THEIR CARS.

WHAT THEY DID.

ONES THAT WERE THE WALKING WOUNDED,   ARM BLOWN OFF, FAMILY MEMBER CAN DRIVE THEM THIS  IN BECAUSE THEY KNOW PARAMEDICS BE THERE TAKING   CARE OF ONES CRITICALLY ILL.

IT'S A CHALLENGE NIGHT.

TEAM AFTER 2 OR THREE‑HOURS TEAM CLEARED  OUT OF THE MADE SURE ALL THE PEOPLE CARED   FOR ON TOP OF AS JIM MENTIONED, INJURIES  HAPPENED.

PEOPLE STILL CRASHING CARS.

HEART ATTACKS.

APPENDICITIS NEED   LIVESAVING CARE ON SOME OF DOZENS OR SO TRAGEDIES.

>> WE THINK 40 PEOPLE SALT LAKE SITE.

21 CRITICAL WENT BY AMBULANCE.

TWO WERE DISEASED AT THE SCENE.

WE THINK 16 TO 20 MORE THAT FOUND  THEIR WAY IN CARS TO ALL THE OTHER ER.

BECAUSE ER WE WERE GIVING US NUMBERS.

AFTER THE FACT.

WAY HIGHER THAN   WHAT WE COUNTED IN AMBULANCES.

>> I WANT TO ECHO BECAUSE YOU AGREE.

RESPONSIBILITY AND EDUCATION  EARLIER THOUGHT SAME THING.

WE RELY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT SO HEAVILY.

AND DECISIONS MAKE ON DAILY YOU BASIS   RELY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HAVE CHANNEL NOT JUST FIREWORKS.

OTHER ISSUES.

FOR THIS TOPIC WHAT ARE WE DO DOING   ADDRESS THEM EDUCATION WISE.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

WE HAVE LAWS ON BOOKS.

AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,   IT HASN'T SEEMED TO WORK.

WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE PROSECUTING,   WITH THE PROSECUTION SIDE, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH  LAW ENFORCEMENT, REGULATING WHAT COMES IN IF   GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE AVENUES I ADVOCATED FOR  THIS BEFORE AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR FIRST   RESPONDERS FEEL THE NEED TO CUT EVERYTHING OFF.

YOU THINK WE HAVE TO FIND SOME KIND OF BALANCE.

IT IS INTERESTING AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING  THAT FIREWORKS THAT WE HAVE TODAY AREN'T WHAT   THEY USE TO BE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

I DO MISS THE SAFE AND REGULATED   AVENUE THAT WE HAD AS WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.

I THINK MORE THAT WE GET TO THE EXTREME BAN   EVERYTHING, SEEMS TO BE THE CASE RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE  GOING TO THE BLACK MARKET OR DOING OTHER AVENUES.

SPENDING MONEY STORING IT.

WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS.

SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME  KIND OF DISCUSSION AT SOME POINT.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIND SOME KIND OF  BALANCE AND ENFORCE AND PROSECUTE   THE LAWS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT ARE IN PLACE?

WHATEVER WE'RE DOING NOW, HASN'T SEEMED TO WORK.

ESCALATE THE.

>>Yunji: INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE   COUPLE OF COMMENTS HERE THAT CAME IN TONIGHT.

ONLY WAY TO CONTROL THIS PROBLEM IS TO HAVE A   TOTAL BAN ON ALL FIREWORKS.

NOTHING ELSE WITH WORK.

BAN THEM ALL.

FIREWORKS ARE TOXIC HARMFUL   TO HUMANS ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENT.

NOISE IS OVERWHELMING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATE OF HAWAII IS SO CRUEL.

DO YOU THINK TOTAL BAN IS WAY THAT WE   COULD EVENTUALLY GO OR SHOULD GO?

, I KNOW PEOPLE WANT A TOTAL BAN.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO  MAKE TOO MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.

ALL OF AERIALS ILLEGAL AERIALS  YOU SEE ALREADY ILLEGAL.

PEOPLE ARE STILL FIRING THEM OFF.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BE MORE   PROACTIVE ABOUT THIS.

EVERYONE CONTACTS MY   OFFICE WANTS US TO TAKE ACTION.

WHETHER THAT STOPPING THEM AT THE PORTS   LOOKED INTO FOR YEARS, DOG, X‑RAYS, EVEN CALLED  DOWN TO CONTAINER SHIP ONCE TO SEE IF WE COULD   SCAN CONTAINERS IN ROUTE TO OAHU.

TOE NOT SLOW DOWN THE OFFLOADING.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THEM AT THE PORTS.

OTHER IDEA THAT I BEEN ADVANCING THROUGH   A BILL THIS YEAR, STILL ALIVE.

IS TO INCREASE STING OPERATIONS FOR BOTH   BUYER AND SELLER SIDE.

RIGHT NOW, VERY DIFFICULT  FOR HPD TO CATCH NEM THEM IN THE ABILITY.

GAIN EVIDENCE.

PROSECUTE THEM EFFECTIVELY.

SET UP STRING OPERATIONS CHILL THE MARKET.

START TO BECOME AFRAID TO BUY ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

IS THAT PERSON A POLICE OFFICER  OR SELLING TO POLICE OFFICER?

GET THAT KIND OF EVIDENCE AND  BUILD A CASE DOING STING OPERATION.

ALLOW US TO BE PROACTIVE AND STOP  THE FIRECRACKERS TO THE POINT THEY'RE   BEING LIT OFF TO INJURY PEOPLE.

>>Yunji: STRING OPERATIONS WHAT   DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS TACTIC?

>> WE DO PARTNER WITH THE DLE,   AS PART OF THE FIREWORKS TASK FORCE.

PREVIOUS DIRECTOR LAST YEAR WE DO DO SEVERAL   UNDER COVER STING TIME OFF OPERATION.

ABOUT 88 AND TEN YEARS AGO.

NARCOTICS DIVISION.

8 AND TEN YEARS.

BOUGHT FIREWORKS.

INTENDED DRUG BUY LED TO DISCOVERY   FIREWORKS IN THE HOUSE SHIFTED TO BUYING THAT.

RESULTED IN A SEARCH WARRANT RECOVERED   SOME SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES.

SEVERAL THOUSAND POUNDS IN TOTAL.

SO THOSE DO WORK.

TO BEEN HONEST, I THINK CONTINUE OUR, PARTNERSHIP   WITH THE DLE FIREWORKS TASK FORCE THE WAY.

I NUMBER ONE INTERDICTION AT THE PORTS CRITICAL.

ABSENCE OF THAT ARE IN ADDITION  TO THAT CONTINUE WITH THE STING   OPERATIONS WHICH WE HAVE NARCOTICS VICE DIVISION.

RIGHT NOW, THAT IS ONE THEIR ADDITIONAL TASKS IS   TO LOOK INTO THESE AND AGAIN, PARTNER WITH DLE.

AND TO USE, BECAUSE NARCOTICS FOLKS, WE HAVE   ASSETS AS FAR AS VEHICLES AND INVESTIGATIVE TOOL  USE TO FACILITATE THESE TYPE OF INVESTIGATIONS.

>>Yunji: PUBLIC DEFENDER WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS  ABOUT STING OPERATIONS IN THIS CONTEXT?

>> WE REGULARLY DEAL WITH STING OPERATION  AS A PART OF MANY CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

AS ON TOPIC OF FIREWORKS AND AVENUE FOR INCREASING  ENFORCEMENT, WE READ THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL.

AND AS I STATED EARLIER, WE ACTUALLY DID NOT  OPPOSE INCREASES FOR APPROPRIATIONS.

I HEARD   TESTIMONY MIGHT HAVE BEEN FROM DIRECTOR  LAMBERT OR LIVE FROM HIS DEPARTMENT ASKING   FOR APPROPRIATIONS FOR INCREASED DRONES.

EVERYBODY USED DRONES FOR ENFORCEMENT.

WE DID NOT OPPOSE ANY OF THAT.

I THINK SOMETIMES THE COMMUNITY   THINKS OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDER OR CRIMINAL  DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ALWAYS SIDE WITH THE CRIMINALS.

WE ARE MANDATED TO REPRESENT PEOPLE  THROUGH THE CRIMINAL PROCESS,   WE ARE ALSO SENSITIVE TO THIS ISSUE.

ENCOURAGE LEGISLATURE AND CITY DOWN BE MINDFUL   ABOUT HOW WE'RE CHANGING LAWS TO MAKE SURE THAT  THE LAWS THAT YOU DO PASS ARE CONSTITUTION AND   WITHSTAND SCRUTINY BY DEFENSE ATTORNEYS LIKE THIS.

SPECIFIC STING OPERATIONS ENFORCEMENT NO POSITION   THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO INCREASE.

ON THAT ALWAYS MAINTAIN POSITION THAT WE   DO BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS ENFORCEMENT  RATHER THAN INCREASING PENALTIES FOR   CURRENT OFFENSE THAT WE ARE NOT UTILIZING.

>>Yunji: DIRECTOR LAMBERT I BELIEVE ONE OF   THE CASES OF THE CHIEF REFERRING TO,  INDIVIDUAL AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND,   SELLING THESE ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE.

OUT IN THE OPEN, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO   YOU THINK STING OPERATIONS COULD HAVE ON THIS?

>> REALITY IS STING OPERATIONS WOULD BE ONE OF   MANY FEATURE TO CORRECT IN THINK TYPE OF SITUATION  OR MARKET IT'S REALLY SUPPLY AND DEMAND THING.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT STING OPERATIONS,  DISCOURAGING PEOPLE TO HAVE THEM.

BEING AFRAID TO SELL OR EVEN RECEIVE THEM.

ALL AVENUES TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE'S WANT.

I THINK THAT TO SOME OF THE  THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT,   JONI TALKING WITH ABOUT EVERYBODY HAS TO  TALK ABOUT HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE SITUATION.

EVIDENCE‑BASED.

NOT ACTUALLY CULTURE.

PEOPLE THROW OUT CULTURE AND TRADITION  ARGUMENTS WAY TO BE LIKE DON'T BUG ME.

I WANT TO BE PROTECTED UNDER  MY CULTURE AND TRADITION.

BUT REALLY, IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY  AND REALLY ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

ALL LITTLE THINGS HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.

I KIND OF GOING BACK TO PREVIOUS QUESTION,   ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A  COMPLETE BAN JUST TO CREATE A RESET.

IN OTHER WORDS YOU BAN IT ALL.

MAKES IT VERY EASY TO NOW FIND IT.

BECAUSE ISSUE HERE WE HAVE IS THAT BECAUSE  THERE ARE LEGAL FIREWORKS BROUGHT IN,   WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE ILLEGAL SHIPPERS THAT WILL  PUT ILLEGAL STUFF IN THE BACK OF THE CONTAINER.

KNOWING THAT WE CAN'T LAW ONLY ALLOWS  TO SEARCH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FOOTAGE.

SO IT'S ALL OF THESE LITTLE THINGS  THAT MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

OR DIFFICULT TO REALLY BE IMPACTFUL.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE   COMPLETE BAN FOR FIVE YEARS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD REALLY BEGIN   TO RESET THE MARKET BECAUSE WHAT OUR INFORMANTS  HAVE SAID, SOME DISTRIBUTERS HAVE TWO YEARS WORTH.

STOCKPILED ENOUGH TO SUPPLY  THEIR FUNNEL FOR 2 YEARS.

SO ONLY WAY TO REALLY DO A FULL  RESET IS TO RESET THE WHOLE MARKET.

THEN WE CAN START TO LOOK AT HAVING RED FIREWORKS  AND SPARKLER TYPES BEING REINTRODUCED OVER TIME.

SO REALLY LIKE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

AND IT REALLY GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT A GREAT   OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TURN IT BACK.

THIS PIECEMEAL STYLE, IT WILL WORK   BUT IT WILL BE.

SLOWER.

>>Yunji: INTERESTING.

I WANT TO GO BACK.

>> YOU SAID CAUGHT MY HERE IS THAT   THERE IS PEOPLE WITH 2 YEARS OF STOCKPILE.

WE WENT TO A SITUATION IN EMS I THINK   ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, WHERE PEOPLE WERE LEGALLY  DISMANTLING FIREWORKS IN THE WAIKELE BUNKERS.

LEGALLY DOING THAT.

RISK FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT,   EMS, STORED CACHES GOES UP RESIDENT  AREA OR ANYWHERE, A LOT OF DANGER THERE.

>>Yunji: TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY STORING  BOMBS IN NEIGHBORHOODS I WANT TO GO BACK   THAT VIDEO WE SHARED AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR  BROADCAST OF THE EXPLOSION ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.

INVESTIGATORS SAY LIT BUNDLE OF ABOUT 15 AERIAL   FIREWORKS FELL OVER AND THEN BLASTED  INTO CRATES OILY UNLIT FIREWORKS.

CAUSING EVEN BIGGER EXPLOSION.

WHAT IRELAND TALKING ABOUT.

WITH THIS DESTRUCTION IN MIND THINKING  ABOUT LIVES LOST AND LIVES FOREVER CHANGED   WE ASKED PEOPLE IN HONOLULU, IF THIS  TRAGEDY WILL LEAD TO ANY REAL CHANGE.

DO YOU THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

PEOPLE ARE GOING STILL DO WHAT THEY  DO BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CAUGHT.

UNTIL THEY GET CAUGHT, THEN  THEY'LL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, THERE IS NOT  A LIKELY CHANCE THAT THEY WILL.

SAT TO SAD TO SAY BUT IT'S TRUE.

I REALLY HOPE SO PEOPLE REALIZE   SMALLER BIG FIREWORKS, STILL CAUSE INJURIES  TO NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF BUT FOR OTHERS.

ESPECIALLY INNOCENT.

>> NO.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S JUST TOO MANY  PEOPLE THAT ENJOY POPPING THOSE FIREWORKS.

>> I HOPE SO.

I HOPE SO.

I DON'T KNOW.

I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE CHANGE IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.

>>Yunji: MIXED REVIEWS THERE.

ANYONE HOLDING THEIR BREATH?

DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE   MEANINGFUL CHANGE GIVEN SIX PEOPLE LOST  THEIR LIFE AND SAW ALL OF THAT DESTRUCTION?

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK, FIRST TIME HEARD IDEA  OUTRIGHT BAN FOR CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AND   THEN INTRODUCING THINGS SLOWLY.

I ACTUALLY HAD NEVER HEARD THAT.

DO YOU KNOW OF CASE WHERE  THAT WORKED IN CERTAIN AREAS?

I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HAS IT WORKED.

I ALWAYS HEAR OUTWARD BAN.

TRY TO FIND BALANCE.

WHAT CAN WE DO WITH CONSUMER ENFORCING   THE REGULATING ONES THAT ALREADY OUTLAWED.

I  WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW HAS HAD A WORKED SOMEWHERE?

EXAMPLES OF THAT HAPPENING?

>> NO.

JUST TRYING TO APPLY.

KNOWING WE'RE IN ISLAND STATE,   AND IT'S LIMITED, WAY THAT IT CAN COME IN AND  DIFFERENT FROM DRUGS BECAUSE DRUGS A LOT OF DRUGS   CAN BE BROUGHT IN SMALL PACKAGE.

FIREWORKS ARE LARGE.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE TO DEPLOY THIS  FULL BAN STRATEGY, I THINK THAT WHAT IT   DOES IS KIND OF REDUCES THE AVAILABLE MARKET.

WHATEVER STORAGES ARE ON ISLAND, WILL START TO BE   DEPLETED BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BRING IN ANYTHING, IT'S  MUCH EASIER TO IDENTIFY IT AT THE PORT VERY EASY.

RIGHT NOW, MIXED SHIPMENTS OF LEGAL.

MAUI ALLOWS CERTAIN TYPE.

ONLY COUNTY THAT DOES THIS.

OTHER COUNTIES ABLE TO DO THE   CONSUMER ONES THAT I MENTIONED.

>> CORRECT.

PASS THROUGH WITH LEGAL AMOUNT, NOT  ACCUSING NAINOA HAD INSTANCES FRONT HALF   CONTAINER IS YOU'RE LEGAL, CONSUMER FIREWORKS.

NOT ACCUSING ANYONE R WHAT WILL HAPPEN INFORMANTS   WILL SAY BACK HALF LOADED.

>> HEAVILY POPULATED.

OTHER COUNTIES DON'T HAVE THE  SAME, DIFFICULTIES THAT WE DO.

ARE THEY PLAGUED WITH THESE AERIALS?

>> BENEFIT THAT THE OUTER ISLANDS HAVE   IS THEY DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY  THE POPULATION DENSITY POCKETS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, RURAL AREAS OF BIG ISLAND,  PROBABLY NOT GOING TO PISS YOUR NEIGHBORS   OFF AT MUCH BECAUSE YOU LIVE ON 3 ACRES.

WHEN PEOPLE IN HONOLULU LIVING 3,000 SQUARE FEET,   AND BLOWING IT UP SHAKE YOUR WINDOWS.

DIFFERENT IMPACTS.

HONOLULU GETS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION  BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION DENSITY.

BUT DO I KNOW THAT'S OTHER  COUNTIES DEPENDING WHERE YOU LIVE   PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED THERE AS WELL.

>>Yunji: GIVEN THAT FRUSTRATION, CHIEF DO   YOU THINK GOING BACK TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE  AUDIENCE THERE, FROM THE VIEWERS WE TALKED TO,   DO YOU THINK THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE?

>> I'M HOPEFUL.

I GUESS IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.

BUT THE FOLLOW‑UP ON THE BANS, I WOULD TELL YOU   THAT CITY COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL DID ENACT A BAN  ON MOST CONSUMER FIREWORKS ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU.

WE STILL DO ALLOW FIRECRACKERS.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF BAN, THE NUMBER   OF FIRE AND MEDICAL, FIREWORKS RELATED FIRES AND  INJURIES WERE SOON AFTER WERE REDUCED BY OVER 70%.

SO FROM A FIRST RESPONDER PERSPECTIVE,  WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THESE BANS.

BECAUSE WE DO STATISTICALLY SEE LESS INJURIES  AND LESS, SO I GUESS THAT IS WHERE THE HOME   AND FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDS WOULD BE.

WE WHATEVER  WILL REDUCE, WILL ENHANCE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC.

WE'RE REALLY FOR.

>> IF I CAN PIGGYBACK.

WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE OF HOPE  OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS FOR ME TO   SAY THAT I DON'T HOPE, I HAVE GIVEN UP.

FOR ME, DO I THINK WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE?

YES.

DO I HAVE HOPE?

ABSOLUTELY.

GET UP EVERY MORNING.

WHY EVERYONE GETS UP EVERY MORNING.

CREATE A COMMUNITIES THAT SAFE.

SO YEAH, I HAVE A LOT OF HOPE AND I THINK THERE'S  GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.

LAW THAT'S OCCURRING ONE HUGE  STEPMENT HAVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT   AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT THAT HAS TO CHANGE.

AND GOING BE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RECURRING   INVESTMENT IN THIS ISSUE.

>> A LOT OF HOPE.

FIGHTING THIS ILLEGAL FIREWORKS  FIRST DAY OFFICERS AND VARIOUS   PLANS, STOPPING AT THE PORTS EVERYTHING.

STOPPING THEM ILLEGAL SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WHERE I'VE  SEEN ENTIRE LEGISLATURE KIND OF COME   TOGETHER AND SAY, WE GOT TO SOMETHING.

AND THE BILL THAT I'M TRYING TO ADVANCE   IS KIND OF FIRST TIME WHERE HIGH RANKING MEMBER  OF HPD IS ACTUALLY POINTS TO THE BILL AND SAID,   THIS BILL IS THE FIRST BILL I'VE  SEEN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

CREATING THAT LOWER LEVEL CITATION,  CHANGING DEFINITION OF AERIALS TO MAKE   IT EASIER TO PROSECUTE, WE CAN'T REALLY  ON NEIGHBORS REPORTING ON NEIGHBORS.

CAN'T RELY ON NEIGHBORS BEING  ABLE, CALLED TO TESTIFY IN COURT.

FOR THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW WHICH CRAZY NEIGHBORS  LIVE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVERYBODY KNOWS.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE LAST PERSON YOU   WANT COMING AFTER YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO ALLOWING HPD TO DO THEIR JOB EFFECTIVELY.

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO PROSECUTE EFFECTIVELY  WITHOUT RELYING ON NEIGHBORS REPORTING,   I THINK I SEE A LOT OF HOPE.

FEELING AROUND THE CAPITAL AROUND   THIS ISSUE HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

THIS YEAR CHAIR COMPARED TO ALL OTHER   YEARS I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE.

>>Yunji: GET YOUR THOUGHTS.

WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE DO  YOU EXPECT THIS TO MAKE?

LEVEL TO PROVE GUILT TOO HIGH.

SET HIGH FINES INSTEAD OF GOING FOR THE FELONY.

GIVE THEM FINES.

TIERED SYSTEM, DO YOU THINK EFFECTIVE?

>> I THINK FACT THAT WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE RIGHT  NOW, DISCUSSING THIS, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S HOPE.

WE ALL WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

I THINK THAT COMES DOWN TO THIS.

ALWAYS GOING COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS  FOR ANYBODY DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL.

IF I DO THIS, I'LL PROFIT  THIS MUCH IF I SELL THIS.

MUCH GET CHANCE OF GETTING CAUGHT NOT IN MUCH.

EVERYBODY DOING THIS REMOVING RIGHT DIRECTION.

EASIER TO PROSECUTOR, INCREASE ONE OF THE  THINGS SAW IN REPRESENTATIVE MATAYOSHI'S   BILL, HABITUAL USER IF THEY GET CONVICTED  LAST TEN YEARS OR ANOTHER ONE, UP THE ANTE.

I THINK THESE KIND OF THINGS, GOING TO  MAKE THE COST IS GOING TO BE A LOT HIGHER.

AND THE BENEFIT WILL BE A LOT LESS.

SO I THINK I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT,   LIKE I SAID, ENACT WE'RE ALL HERE DISCUSSING THIS,  FACT WE'RE ALL HERE DISCUSSING THIS, I WORKED   WITH MIKE THERE FOR AGES AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS  ISSUE FOR PROBABLY 8, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS,   BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE DEFINITION.

HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS?

BACK THEN, IT WAS I WOULD SAY, THAT  FRANKLY, IT WAS VERY NOT SO HOPEFUL.

BUT I THINK REALLY GOING TO  THE RIGHT DIRECTION RIGHT NOW.

>>Yunji: LOVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT  THE CHANGING, CHANGE THAT ATTITUDE.

SHARED STORY OF GOING TO YOUR NEIGHBOR  AND CONFRONTING THEM.

A LOT US WOULD   NOT CHOOSE TO DO THAT PRETTY BRAVE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS SAYING THEY   SUPPORT YOU.

AGREE.

MORE LIKE FAMILY HISTORY THAN REAL CULTURE.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS A SHIFT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL?

WHAT ARE THE CONVERSATIONS YOU'RE HAVING.

>> I NOTICED LIKE I FOLLOW TRENDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO I NOTICE THIS YEAR, IN PARTICULAR,  EVEN BEFORE THE FIREWORKS INCIDENT,   THAT THE TONE OF THE MEDIA WAS WE WANT IT BANNED.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS PEOPLE BLOWING  THESE BOMBS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

PEOPLE'S DOGS WERE GETTING  OUT AND ALL GETTING RUN OVER.

SO LIKE A BUNCH OF DOGS GOT KILLED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS HEARTBREAKING AND IT'S   COSTLY FOR THE PET OWNERS TRIED TO SAVE  THEIR DOG.

AND BECAME IN THE FOREFRONT.

ESPECIALLY IN OUR KANEOHE PAGE.

AND MORE VOICES STARTED COMING OUT THE SAYING   MAYBE WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS.

SO I DID SEE A SHIFT IN THAT.

WHERE MAYBE WE SHOULD NOT JUST DO  THE ASIAN THING AND NOT SAY ANYTHING.

FORMALLY DON'T SAY ANYTHING.

DON'T REPORT OUR NEIGHBORS.

THEY'RE JUST CRAZY.

BUT WHEN THIS YEAR   WAS DIFFERENT, SO MY FOLKS ARE OLDER.

AND YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE COMING THEIR WAY.

DO WE JUST TAKE IT STILL YET?

I FELT LIKE WHAT IF I WASN'T THERE   AT NEW YEAR'S, SOMETHING CAME OVER THEIR  HOUSE AND SET THEIR WHOLE SHED ON FIRE?

I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THEY'RE GOING TO HATE ME BUT I DON'T CARE.

I'M THERE TO PROTECT MY FAMILY.

MY KIDS, OUR PETS, AND WE NEED TO SPEAK UP.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY  ANTI‑ASIAN I'M GOING TO DO IT.

AND THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR THAT NIGHT.

IT WAS MUCH MORE SAFER AFTER THAT.

>>Yunji: WHAT ABOUT THIS IDEA?

LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN ONLY DO TOO MUCH.

TALKED ABOUT OVERWHELMING.

GO ON THE FREEWAY NEW YEAR'S EVE,   AND JUST SEE WHOLE SKY IS LIT UP.

WHAT ABOUT THIS IDEA OF NEIGHBORS   TALKING TO NEIGHBORS?

THAT CAN BE A RISK.

>> IT CAN BE.

ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT WE CALL THEM,   OFFICERS HANDLE CONFRONTATION PIECE OF IT.

WE STARTED LIVE IN RURAL AREA BY THE TIME   FELT THAT IT WOULD BE QUICKER FOR HER TO GO AHEAD  AND TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT CASE, WORK OUT.

WE DO RECOMMEND THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

DO GET THE POLICE INVOLVED TO   BECAUSE BETTER EQUIPPED TO RESPOND.

IF THERE IS NEGATIVE RESPONSERS SORT OF THING.

BUT TO A POINT THINGS ARE HAVE ESCALATED  TO A POINT I THINK, ATTITUDES ARE CHANGING.

FOR US, BESIDE JUST OBVIOUS PROLIFERATION  OF FIREWORKS, DOES AFFECT US IN OTHER WAYS.

ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, RECALL LIKE  A FREEWAY SHUT DOWN BY WAIKELE   BECAUSE JUST STOPPED THERE TO WATCH.

THAT TIED UP OUR TRAFFIC AS WELL.

IN THIS PAST NEW YEAR'S, DEDICATE LARGE  FORCE OF TRAFFIC AND PATROL FOLKS TO WATCH   THE MAKING FREEWAY ACCESS AS WELL.

IMPACTS VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE DO SEE I THINK CHANGE IN PUBLIC  PERCEPTION ABOUT INCREASE IN   JUST EXPLOSIVENESS OF SOME OF THESE AERIALS  AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEOPLE'S LIVES OVERALL.

HOPEFULLY, THE TIDE IS CHANGE  ESPECIALLY WITH AT ALIAMANU INCIDENT.

>>Yunji: ALIAMANU.

>>Yunji: DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING   REALIZE HOW DANGEROUS THESE DEVICES.

>> YEAH.

IDEA GOES TO SPEED OF NEW CYCLE  THANKFUL PANEL HERE.

BEEN FOUR MONTHS   ALMOST FIREFIGHTER MONTHS SINCE THE INCIDENTS.

HOPEFUL FOR WHAT OUR STATE LEADERS ARE DOING.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

BEYOND EDUCATING FROM A PHYSICIAN   LEVEL TO SCHOOL LEVEL OF THE EVEN THE HERE,  JUST PBS, NEWS HAS RESPONSIBILITY TO KIND   OF RECOGNIZE THIS IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK WE HAVE PEOPLE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP   WITH GOVERNOR GREEN, MAYOR BLANGIARDI,  THAT WE REALIZED HIT THE THRESHOLD POINT.

YOU HAVE INNOCENT WOMEN DYING.

INNOCENT CHILDREN DYING, ELDERLY   PARENTS AT RISK HERE AFFECTS WHOLE SPECTRUM.

AND MY HOPE MOVE THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE CYCLE   PUTTING SPOTLIGHT.

PTSD ASPECTS.

PEOPLE INJURED.

PETS MENTIONED IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CULTURE.

AS WELL.

I'M VERY HOPEFUL.

>>Yunji: THERE'S A QUESTION HERE FROM CYNTHIA.

I WAS HOPING MARK THAT YOU COULD TAKE THIS ONE.

HAVE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEW YEAR'S  INCIDENT ARRESTED OR ROAMING AROUND FREE?

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE STATUS OF THAT CASE?

>> STATUS OF THAT CASE, PROBABLY NOT GOING   TO LIKE MY ANSWER TO THIS.

IT'S PENDING INVESTIGATION.

RIGHT NOW, CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IT.

I WILL SAY IS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING   WITH HPD AND ASSISTANTS DLE AS WELL WORKING  REALLY HARD AND TRYING TO PUT THIS CASE TOGETHER.

IN MY OPINION, TOP ATTORNEY  WORKING ON THIS CASE AS WELL.

FROM OUR SIDE.

IT'S BEING VERY THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED RIGHT NOW.

>>Yunji: DIRECTOR LAMBERT, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS  HERE ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AND RESOURCES AND BOB IN   EWA SAID, WHY HASN'T THE GOVERNOR ACTIVATED  NATIONAL GUARD IN THIS TYPE OF CRISIS?

WHY HASN'T MATSON STOPPED SHIPPING THESE?

THERE IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

COMPANY THAT IS SHIP THESE  INADVERTENTLY SHIP THESE DEVICE.

AND THEN ALSO, COUPLE OF FOLKS IN HERE  ASKING IF THE NATIONAL GUARD COULD BE   ACTIVATE THE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.

ON DAYS THAT ARE SPECIFIC.

THAT SEEMS LIKE PRETTY HEAVY LIFT.

BUT WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> NATIONAL GUARD, ACTUALLY CHIEF NATIONAL  GUARD, MAYBE CAN HE GO FURTHER INTO THAT.

TYPICALLY, YOU CAN'T USE THOSE ASSETS FOR  ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR LIMITATION.

COULD PROBABLY SUPPORT BUT IN REGARDS TO  ENFORCEMENT, THOSE, THAT AGENCY WOULD NOT BE   ABLE TO FULFILL ROLE OF THE GAP THAT WE'RE HAVING.

AND WE DO WORK WITH MATSON AND AGAIN, WE JUST HAVE   TO REMEMBER WHAT EVERYBODY GOAL IS.

MATSON JOB IS BRING THINGS IN.

LEGAL THINGS IN.

AND MAKE SURE THEY MOVE QUICKLY.

WORKING WITH US.

AND ACTUALLY WE'RE   ENGAGED IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.

IN REGARDS TO SUSPICIOUS CONTAINERS.

I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO DEEP BECAUSE THAT'S  INVESTIGATIVE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON.

I CAN SAY THEY UNDERSTAND THAT CONTAINER FULL  OF FIREWORKS BROUGHT IN WOULD OBLITERATE PORT.

SO THEY UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME  AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME PARTICIPATION   FROM OUR SHIPPERS.

>>Yunji:   THERE'S NOVEL IDEA FROM RUSSELL IN WAIKIKI.

REPRESENTATIVE MATAYOSHI MIGHT BE ONE FOR YOU.

ANSWER IS NOT THROUGH ENFORCEMENT  UTILIZES INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

CANCEL HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE FOR  PEOPLE USE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

LIABILITY ISSUES LET THIS HAPPEN ON YOUR PROPERTY.

>> CERTAINLY LIABILITY ISSUES.

IF INSURANCE COMPANY KNEW YOU WERE STORING ILLEGAL  FIREWORKS ON YOUR COMPANY THE THEY WHO WOULD ACT.

NOT GOING TO FIND OUT UNTIL TOO IT'S LATE  OR ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THE INDIVIDUAL I'M   NOT SURE TOO INSURANCE IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.

REACTIVE APPROACHES STING OPERATION AT THE PORT.

I DON'T KNOW IF HOMEOWNERS  INSURANCE RIGHT BE A MECHANISM.

WE HAVE MORE FORFEITURES LAWS.

MIGHT HAVE INSURANCE.

GET THEIR HOMES TAKEN AWAY  RIGHT NOW AS IT IS IN THE LAW.

>> ONE INTERESTING THING THAT ALSO ABOUT  THE BILL WE'RE TRYING PASS IS MAKES SOMEONE   MORE LIBEL IF A FIREWORK IS SHOT OFF ON THEIR  PROPERTY, WHETHER THEY KNOW ABOUT IT OR NOT.

NEGLIGENTLY, RECKLESSLY, INTENTIONALLY  ALLOWING SOMEONE ELSE TO FIRE OFF FIREWORKS   ON THEIR PROPERTY, THEN THE HOMEOWNER OR  THE RENTER CAN BE LIBEL FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE MORE  RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN PROPERTIES AS WELL.

AND I'M TALKING ABOUT MAYOR'S RIGHT NOW  ABOUT DOING, DRONE PROGRAM TO TRY TO DETECT   WHAT PROPERTIES THEY'RE BEING FIRED OFF ON.

EVEN IF WE DON'T SEE THE, CANNOT IDENTIFY THE   PERSON, FIRING IT OFF, FIRED OFF ON THAT PROPERTY.

POSSIBLY GO AFTER THE RENTER OR HOMEOWNER   THAT OWNS THAT PROPERTY.

OR RESPONSIBLE FOR   THAT PROPER PROPERTY GET THEM MORE DIRECTLY.

>>Yunji: WHAT YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT IDEA,   THAT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE  A PARTY PEOPLE COME OVER, FRIEND OF A FRIEND.

LIGHT THAT.

NOW YOU'RE LIABLE.

HOW DIFFICULT WOULD THAT BE TO DEFEND?

WE'RE  HEARING DESIRE TO INCREASE AND CRIMINALIZE AS MUCH   ACTIVITY OR CONDUCT AS POSSIBLE  TO ANSWER THE SPECIFIC QUESTION,   ABOUT HOW IT WOULD BE TO DEFEND SOMETHING  LIKE THAT, ONE THINGS IS STILL DOES REQUIRE   SOME CULPABILITY OR STATE OF MIND OF HOMEOWNER.

NOT A STRICT LIABILITY PROPOSITION THAT'S BILL   HAS MEANING THAT REGARDLESS OF ANY KNOWLEDGE,  HOMEOWNER WOULD THEN BE CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE.

AS YOU HEARD, NEGLIGENTLY,  FAIRLY LOW SAN STANDARD.

INTENTIONALLY KNOWINGLY OR RECKLESSLY.

SOME CONNECTION TO HOMEOWNER.

LIABILITY EXPANSIVE.

>>Yunji: CAN WE USE DRONES?

CATCH THEM IN THE ACT.

BASICALLY WHAT REPRESENTATIVE WAS SHARING.

SOME DRONES CAN RECORD GPS COORDINATES.

CAN DIRECTOR LAMBERT MAKE USE OF DRONES   TO GET THE EVIDENCE NEEDED TO PROSECUTE  THOSE SETTING OFF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BACK TO EARLIER DISCUSSION, DON'T HAVE THE   MUNICIPAL HUMAN ASPECT BUT CAPABILITY FOR DRONE.

DON'T HAVE THE HUMAN'S ASPECT LEGISLATORS   THAT SUPPORTING IT, NEW LAW, WE COULD FLAG A  PROPERTY AND SAY THAT WE FEEL THAT THIS PROPERTY   IS RESPONSIBLE FOR I WILL FIREWORKS OR AERIALS.

I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS I   DIDN'T WANT SAY THEIR NAME.

PITCHED TO MAYOR AND OTHER   COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD IMPOSE BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE  ASKING FOR INSURANCE ASKING FOR PRIVATE ENTITY   TO TAKE ACTION, WHAT GOING TO BE ASKING THE  COUNTIES TO CONSIDER IS HAZARDOUS PROPERTY TAX.

MEANING THAT IF HE ARE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THIS  PROPERTY IS ALLOWING THESE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES   TO OCCUR, CITY WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO  IMPOSE A ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX FEE.

WHAT IT IS THAT PROPERTIES THAT USE  FIREWORKS, MORE LIKELY TO NEEDAMBULANCE.

CREATE FIRE RISK FOR THAT  COMMUNITY TO ABSORB POLICE SERVICE.

DO ALL OF THAT STUFF.

FINE CONVICTED.

PROVE THROUGH CIVIL PROCESS YOU'RE A  HAZARDOUS PROPERTY, WE HAVE TO X AMOUNT   OF INCREASE FOR CERTAIN AMOUNT YEARS.

WHAT YOU WOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT   HAVE A PARTY AT YOUR HOUSE.

WELL, NOT THIS YEAR GUYS.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU  WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE IT.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS ATTACK FROM A CIVIL  ASPECT BECAUSE AGAIN, GO CRIMINAL,   CRIMINAL GOOD FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

WHAT DISCOURAGES THIS IS MONEY.

>>Yunji: NOVEL IDEA.

>> I'M SO EXCITED.

INTERESTED ALL THE THINGS THAT  DIRECTOR LAMBERT SAYING TONIGHT.

FIRST TIME I HEARD THIS.

I WASN'T  THE COUNCILMEMBER YOU SPOKE WITH.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT  BATTALION CHIEF WANG MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING,   OCCURRENCE OF FIREWORKS LESSENED.

THAT HASN'T LESSENED,   HASN'T BEEN THE CASE UP UNTIL NOW.

SO AGAIN TRYING TO FIND THE BALANCE.

I AM INTERESTED, I GENERALLY DON'T LIKE TO HAVE  TAXATION OF PEOPLE.

I WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW IS THAT   SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY LEGAL?

FIRST TIME HEARING.

I LIKE TO HEAR REP IS DOING HIS BILL TRYING  TO ADDRESS WHAT CAN WE DO TO KIND OF NIP THAT   THE BUD.

BUT I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO  ADVOCATE FOR I KNOW THAT YOU DISAGREE.

BAN HAS NOT WORKED.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO EXPRESS THIS.

MAYBE INITIALLY, FIRE DEPARTMENT SAW  A DRAFT OF THE NOT CASE RIGHT NOW.

SAW DROP, STILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIND THAT BALANCE?

REGULATE?

STABLE, SAFE AND   CONSUMER FIREWORKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE  ONES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE HARMFUL.

REALLY KNIFE IN THE KITCHEN COULD BE HARMFUL.

CAN'T STOP ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT CAN WE DO.

IF WE REGULATE THINGS BETTER, WE WOULD   HAVE LESS OF BLACK MARKET.

WOULDN'T SEE  AERIALS GOING OFF UNSANELY LIKE EVERY YEAR.

THEN HAVE, IT WOULD GENERATE INCOME  FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR STATE.

OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS FIREWORKS.

I KNOW MIGHT NOT THINK AS POPULAR SUGGESTION   OF YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S OUTRIGHT BAN  HAS WORKED I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING   TO CONTINUE TO WORK.

WE HAVE IN PLACE.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADDRESS WHAT WE HAVE?

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION FURTHER.

IF IT'S TIME I HEARD THAT.

>>Yunji: IDEA OF HOW PEOPLE RESPOND TO MONEY.

IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING SPENT   ON FIREWORKS.

LOVE FOR ANYONE   ON THE PANEL TO SHARE SOME STATISTICS.

INTERVIEWED GENTLEMEN, TOLD ME HE SPENDS   ABOUT $2,000 A YEAR ON FIREWORKS.

HOW MUCH DO THESE THINGS COST?

REPRESENTATIVE MATAYOSHI OR DIRECTOR?

>> THIS IS ALL JUST GENERAL NUMBERS.

TYPICALLY, TO LOAD UP A CONTAINER, IS SOMEWHERE  BETWEEN 200 TO A QUARTER MILLION.

TO LOAD.

THEN THE SHOT VALUE IS OVER A MILLION.

WHERE THESE $5,000 FINES,   JUST DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

$10,000, WITH A B FELONY START.

REALLY HAVE TO START TO LOOK AT WAYS TO DISCOURAGE  THE MONETARY REWARDS FOR GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST PITCHED  TO REP TONIGHT, IS MAYBE NEXT SESSION,   LOOK AT TRANSFERRING COST OF THESE  DESTRUCTION ONTO THE PERSON THAT BRINGS IT IN.

RIGHT NOW, FOR US TO DESTROY A CONTAINER  DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY ON UNDERSTOOD.

CONTRACTOR ON THE CONTENT COULD DO IT  FOR A MILLION DOLLARS PER CONTAINER.

I JUST FEEL THAT'S UNFAIR THAT WHY SHOULD THE  TAXPAYOR HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL SOMEBODY THAT WAS   TRYING TO MAKE ILLEGAL MONEY ON THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU WANT TO BRING IT IN.

YOU GET CAUGHT.

UP A MILLION DOLLARS TO DESTROY IT.

YOU FLIP THE BILL.

TO DESTROY IT.

ILLEGAL SHIPPER MAKES FOUR FULL CONTAINERS  IN FOR EVERY ONE THEY GET CAUGHT.

DISCOURAGE THAT RISK REWARD,  WHAT MARK TALKED ABOUT.

RIGHT NOW, IF I SEND TWO CONTAINERS ONE  GETS THROUGH I'M WINNING.

SIMPLE MATH.

>>Yunji: THERE'S A COMMENT HERE.

THERE'S A COMMENT HERE LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

IMAGINE IF ALL THE MONEY PEOPLE SPENT ON  FIREWORKS DONATED TO THE COMMUNITY PARKS AND REC.

KIDS PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT OR HIKING TRAILS.

FROM MATTHEW.

THINK ABOUT ALL THESE RESOURCES JUST  GOING UP IN SMOKE IN AN EVENING.

>> WHERE WE DON'T, PEOPLE ARE  BLOWING FIREWORKS SPENDING   ALL OF THIS MONEY, NO MORE COMMUNITY VALUES.

THEY DON'T THINK, JUST THINK IT IS MY PARTY.

I WANT TO BLOW IT UP.

MY FUN.

WHO CARES IF THE NEIGHBORS WAKE UP.

DON'T THINK LIKE THAT.

AND THAT IS UNFORTUNATE CONVERSATION THAT WE I  THINK AS A GREATER COMMUNITY, NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

YOU CAN'T SPEND ALL, PEOPLE DON'T  VOLUNTEER FOR THINGS, DON'T GIVE BACK.

DON'T HELP.

NOT COHESIVE AS A COMMUNITY AND I WOULD LOVE TO   SEE LIKE OUR LEADERS COME BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY  AND SHOW HOW TO GIVE BACK AND BE THAT EXAMPLE.

RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

I THINK THAT IS WHY IT'S ALL ME, ME, ME.

VERY SELF‑CENTERED.

THAT'S WHY ME, MY FIREWORKS.

ME, MYSPACE.

WHO CARES ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE?

THAT'S IS VERY, VERY UNFORTUNATE.

I SEE THAT EVERY DAY.

I DO A VOLUNTEER CROSSWALK.

HOLD MY SIGN.

TWO EVERY DAY FOR AN HOUR.

AND WE FIRST DID IT, PEOPLE WERE JUST DON'T CARE.

WE HAVE KIDS WALKING THERE.

THEY'RE GOING 40, 50 MILES PER HOUR.

SOMETIMES.

RESIDENTIAL ZONE.

NOW, WE PUT THE SIGN.

WE TELL THEM SLOW DOWN.

AND NOW, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO CARE.

THEY'RE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND   BUT THAT'S A WHOLE PROCESS.

THAT TOOK 3 YEARS.

FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT  WE WANT OUR KIDS TO SAFE.

>>Yunji: I THINK WE NEED MORE JONIS  IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

DR. IRELAND,   YOUR WHOLE AGENCY IT'S FULL OF PEOPLE  WOULD DO NOTHING BUT CARE FOR COMMUNITY.

OPPOSITE OF WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.

JUST WONDER WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

ALL THESE RESOURCE GOING UP IN SMOKE.

EMS LIMITED NUMBER OF RIGS.

PUTTING THEM AT RISK.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT   THAT IT WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND.

>>GREAT TEAM WE HAVE BLESSED TO WORK WITH THEM.

THAT NIGHT OFF CHARTS PEOPLE'S  BEHAVIOR ALREADY CHANGING  MAYBE TEMPORARILY THINK ABOUT NEW YEAR'S EVE.

THREE OR FOUR DAYS BEFORE THERE'S PEOPLE   POPPING ALREADY.

THINGS BLOWING UP.

AND THREE OR FOUR DAYS AFTER.

ESPECIALLY IN THE WEEKEND   FOLLOWING NEW YEAR'S EVE.

AND AT LEAST WHERE I LIVE, THEIR AIR WHERE I LIVE,   VERY QUIET ON THE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, AND SO  I THINK PEOPLE REFLECTING ON WHAT HAPPENED NEW   YEAR'S EVE WHEN THEY GOT THE NEWS, NEW YEAR'S  DAY.

FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD, USUALLY VERY, VERY   ROBUST WITH ILLEGAL AERIALS PRETTY QUIET.

>>Yunji: DID YOU SEE THAT   THE RESPONSES DAYS AFTER?

LITTLE BIT OF HESITATION OR REFLECTIVENESS   THAT DR. IRELAND IS TALKING ABOUT?

>> YES.

I APPRECIATE THESE VENUES, IT BRINGS TO  LIGHT DANGERS THAT IS POSSIBLE FROM ALL   ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

ON NEW YEAR'S EVE VOLUMES  BY 60% CALL VOLUMES GO UP.

GRANDMOTHER NEED HELP, AUTO ACCIDENT,  RESOURCES ARE TIED UP DUMPSTER FIRE.

REALLY STRAINS THE FIRST RESPONDER RESOURCE.

SO NOT ONLY THAT, I HAVE TO SAY PARADIGM   SHIFT JUST IN MY FRIENDS THAT  WENT TO THE CALL THAT NIGHT.

THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID, I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO  TALK MY KIDS OUT FIRE WALK DURING NEW YEAR'S EVE.

AFTER SEEING DESTRUCTION.

SO I THINK THIS IS A, I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT,   FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

WE'RE CREATING PSA'S.

CREATING OUR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.

ADVOCATE FOR SAFETY.

LIFE SAFETY.

BUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

VERY MUCH COMMUNITY EFFORT.

>> APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY   COMING AND ACTUALLY IF WE IGNORE AND  DISMISS THE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS SAY I'M   NOT GOING TO SAY NOTHING, GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT WITH THIS OUTREACH, MAYBE AS A   COMMUNITY, WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND IMPROVE.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO KEY INTO   SOMETHING CHIEF WAS JUST SAYING.

IDEA THAT PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY   WANT TO TAKE THEIR KID DOWN THE  STREET.

YOU HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS  AND JUST YOUR REFLECTIONS AS A DAD.

TAKING YOUR KIDS TO A PARTY.

I HAD THAT SAME THOUGHT.

MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE DON'T GO.

>> NO.

IT'S FRIGHTENING.

HONESTLY.

I THINK THAT WAS THE SCARIEST THING.

AS A PARENT.

THINK WATCHES DISASTER HAPPEN NEW YEAR'S  EVE, THAT COULD BE MY HOUSE RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

THAT REALLY SCARED US.

I KNOW THERE'S A HOUSE ONE STREET BACK THAT   HAS BEEN FIRING OFF THOSE BIG CONCUSSIVE BOMBS.

AERIALS.

KIND OF EVERYTHING.

AND OCCASIONALLY ONE WILL MISFIRE AND EXPLODE.

MAYBE 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.

AND REALLY SHAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AFTER THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, IT MADE  ME REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT HOUSE AND   WHAT KIND OF DESTRUCTION IT COULD DO  TO MY KIDS SLEEPING IN THEIR BEDS.

TO ME AND MY WIFE JUST SLEEPING IN OUR HOME.

NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

BUT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S ACTIONS.

IT SCARY THING.

PARTIES GOING ON THE STREET, SHOULDN'T RISK TO  YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

WE SAW IN THE COMMUNITY KIND   OF A SHIFT TO HONESTLY FEAR THAT DOING ORDINARY  THINGS NOW, COULD RUN THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH.

THREE‑YEAR‑OLD DIED THAT NIGHT  OR THE NEXT DAY OR RIGHT AFTER.

3‑YEAR‑OLD WAS KILLED, OTHER KIDS THAT  NIGHT INJURED, COMPLETELY INNOCENT.

THAT IS VERY, VERY SAD.

IT'S OTHER THING IS I   THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING FOLKS THAT IN THE  HOSPITAL WERE JUST DISCHARGED FEW WEEKS AGO.

LOOK HOW FAR WE ARE FROM NEW YEAR'S EVE.

I DON'T EVEN THINK I DON'T HAVE FIRSTHAND   KNOWLEDGE OF THIS, I DON'T DON'T THINK  FOLKS FROM ARIZONA ARE BACK YET I THINK   THEY'RE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL  BUT I THINK THEY'RE STILL IN REHAB.

IT WAS MONTHS BEFORE PROBABLY A DOZEN OF THE  PATIENTS EVEN GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL THAT   WERE SO CRITICALLY INJURED THAT NIGHT.

>>Yunji: DR. CHANG LIFETIME RECOVERY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

REFLECTING FAMILY PORTION.

MY WIFE IS NOT FROM HAWAII  WHERE SHE GREW UP.

ORTHOPEDIC.

WORKED MANY NEW YEAR'S NIGHTS.

YOU SPEND UP TO,   8 TO TEN HOURS LIKE FOR HAND SURGEON.

DR. IRELAND MENTIONED, TYPICALLY FIVE TO SIX PER.

THAT'S JUST FOR QUEEN'S.

MEDICAL CENTER.

AND I THINK JUST THESE AGAIN, GENERAL  A LOT PEOPLE HERE, GROW UP IN HAWAII,   TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE TO  PROVIDE A REALIZATION THAT I ALMOST KIND OF   PUT IT ON THE LITTLE LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE.

TODAY THERE WAS A TRAGEDY IN FLORIDA.

WE'VE BEEN FAIRLY I THINK FORTUNATE.

FACT WE HAVE A VERY STRONG COMMUNITY IN HAWAII.

KIND OF PUT ALMOST LIKE MADNESS OBSESSION  WITH FIREWORKS SOCIAL CHALLENGE IN HAWAII.

THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE.

I THINK WE SPOKEN   ENOUGH ABOUT THE LONGTERM MORBIDITY.

LONGTERM DISABILITY THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

ONE‑TWO LAST POINTS I'LL MAKE.

I THINK I HOPE WITH THIS EXPERIENCE,   UNLIFTS A LITTLE BIT OF TABOO.

STRONG PART OF BOY CULTURE MOST   OF US IN THE ROOM HAD AN INJURY RELATED TO THAT.

HAWAII CULTURE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT DID WE DON'T   WANT TO RUIN THE FUN OR MAKE IT BE A DOWNER SO  FUN OR HAS SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS ABOUT IT REALITY,   SO MUCH TRAGEDY IN THIS CULTURE  AND DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.

I THINK THERE IS A POSSIBLE WAY TO ENJOY IN A  SAFE WAY COME BACK TO COMMON SENSE PRACTICE.

>> I AGREE.

AGAIN, I WISH I HAD A JONI IN MY COMMUNITY.

I'M A PARENT AS WELL.

SAME THOUGHTS THAT REPRESENTATIVE DID.

I WALKING THE COMMUNITY, ONE OF MY  DOOR‑TO‑DOORS, I MET A LADY, PET OWNER.

SHE SAID, I DON'T HAVE ISSUES WITH FIREWORKS.

PROBABLY 2 YEARS AGO.

SHE HAD ISSUES WITH PEOPLE NOT  RESPECTEDDING OTHER PEOPLE.

DOING IT OUT OF HOURS.

BEFORE OR AFTER.

OUR COMMUNITY WE ARE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER.

I WOULD JUST PUT A PLUG OUT   TO THERE ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE WANT TO RESPECT EACH OTHER   CULTURAL OR TRADITIONS RESPECTED THAT AND WE WANT  EVERYBODY TO ENJOY IT DO IT SAFELY AND IN A TIME   FRAME WE'RE ALLOWED WITH THE MATERIALS THAT WE'RE  ALLOWED TO NOT ILLEGALS.

NOT ADVOCATING FOR THAT.

MORE PEOPLE WOULD THINK LIKE THAT  AND JONI THAT KIND OF MINDSET,   WE WOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE BEING DISRESPECTFUL AND  LEADING TO DANGER THAT COULD HARM PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>>Yunji: WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS DISCONNECT?

SO COMMUNITY‑MINDED IN HAWAII.

PRIDE OURSELVES ALOHA, SPIRIT OF ALOHA  IS IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION SEE ACTIVITY   DOSE TOTALLY DISREGARDS COMMUNITY.

WHY DO YOU THERE'S THAT DIFFERENCE.

>> I HEAR WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING I TEND  TO SHARE A LOT OF VIEWS MINDSET WHY ARE WE.

DISCONNECTING OR DISREGARDING  RELATIVELY RECENT PERSPECTIVE.

KIND OF COME ABOUT IN THE WAKE OF THE TRAGEDY.

I THINK FOR MANY YEARS, WE HAVE ALL KNOWN   FIREWORKS HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY ISSUE.

FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

ONE THAT THE LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY BEEN FOCUS YOD  ON SINCE I THINK THE CREATION OF THE TASK FORCE.

FIRST TASK FORCE BACK IN 2011.

THEY DID UPDATED REPORT TO THE TASK FORCE IN 2019.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY ISSUE FOR YEARS.

IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND LEGISLATION.

BUT I DON'T THINK MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY HAVE  BELIEVED THAT ENGAGEMENT WITH FIREWORKS OR   SOMETHING BEEN SUCH A HUGE PART OF OUR TRADITION  AND CULTURE AND CELEBRATION HERE SEEN AS METHOD   DISRESPECTING YOUR NEIGHBOR.

SAFETY MORE SPOTLIGHT.

ALL TALKING ABOUT CONSERVATION  CAN PROGRESS IN THAT REGARD.

BECAUSE I THINK NEW SENSE OF  AWARENESS GIVING WHAT HAPPENED.

>>Yunji: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHT ON THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

JUST TO ME, CHANGING PEOPLE, I  MEAN, I REALLY AGREE WITH JONI.

I'M OLDEST PERSON HERE.

CAN I SAY THIS.

WHEN I GREW UP PEOPLE HAD THE ROMAN CANDLE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE STUFF WE HAVE NOW.

ROMAN CANDLE LANDED ON PEOPLE'S ROOF.

CULTURAL STUFF, I HAVE A HARD TIME   UNDERSTANDING THAT.

TALK ABOUT CULTURE   HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, PEOPLE DID THIS.

HUNDREDS YEARS AGO, NATIVE AMERICANS DID THIS.

HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, CHINESE DID THAT.

OR WHATEVER.

BUT IT'S ONLY BEEN LIKE THE LAST 30 YEARS OR SO.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IS REALLY CULTURAL.

I REALLY HAVE, I THINK, LIKE HALEY SAID, I THINK  TRAGEDY WILL HAVE PEOPLE WILL BE BECOME AWARE OF   IT AND REALLY HOLD PEOPLE REALIZE IT'S CULTURAL  THING, I HAVE HARD TIME BUYING CULTURAL ARGUMENT.

I DON'T THINK IT IS.

>> IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS NOWADAYS   TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE VALUES.

GOT ALL OF THESE SHIRTS SAY,   ALOHA, PUT IT ALL THE VALUES.

THE ODD THING IS THAT THEY TALK   ABOUT EVERY DAY IN SCHOOL.

BUT THEN STILL KIDS THAT   DON'T DISPLAY THAT BEHAVIOR.

WE'RE NOT, ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE KIDS.

LIKE WHEN I DO THE CROSSWORD, KIDS DO NOT DO THAT.

CHOOSE TO LET THEM DO IT?

BUT THIS HARM OTHER PEOPLE.

I TELL THEM.

HEY, WE DON'T DO THAT.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT GO OVER THERE.

CHANGING THAT HAS REALLY CHANGED   THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE.

WE TALK ABOUT ALOHA VALUES.

AND WHAT EACH ONE MEANS.

AND WE NEED TO EMBODY THAT   AND WE AS ADULTS NEED TO EMBODY IT.

AND TELL THOSE KIDS THAT IS NOT RIGHT.

>>Yunji: I THINK THAT THING IS THIS OTHER SIDE.

YOU ADDRESSED THIS EARLIER.

OF NOT WANTING SORT OF STICK OUT  OR MAKE TROUBLE OR INSULT ANYBODY.

HOW WE FIND OUR VOICE.

>>  >> A VOICE.

>>Yunji: HOW DO WE EMBODY SPIRIT ENJOYING.

ORGANIZING COMMUNITY EVENT CROSSWALK  OR KNOCKING ON NEIGHBOR'S DOOR.

EMPOWER COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THAT WAY?

>> I THINK ISSUE OF COMMUNITYEL VALUES.

I THINK IT'S REALLY SHIFTED AS FAR AS  PERCEPTION OF FIREWORKS WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE.

SHIFTED AFTER THE BAN IN 2011 TO  WHAT IS IT NOW.

FIREWORKS TO AERIALS.

BUT I DO AGREE LIKE EARLIER DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW  I PERCEPTION ESPECIALLY WITH THIS RECENT TRAGEDY,   KIND OF REACHED ALMOST LIKE A TIPPING POINT WHERE  I THINK MORE PEOPLE, ARE ARE APT TO AGREE THAT   AERIALS ARE JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE HERE.

MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THIS MOMENTUM DEFINITELY.

AND I THINK GOES WITH EDUCATION.

WE SAW MR. LEE FROM THE  EARLIER VIDEO THERE, KUPUNA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HONEST ON THIS.

BUT HE'S A KUPUNA WITH THOSE KIND OF ATTITUDES   THAT HE GETS HIGH OFF OF LOUD EXPLOSION.

TEACHING HIS GRAND KIDS HOW TO DO THIS.

GENERATIONAL LEARNING THING THAT NEEDS TO SHIFT.

I THINK UNFORTUNATE TOOK A TRAGEDY   TO BE STIMULUS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE EDUCATION, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY,   SCHOOLS, CAN PROBABLY ACHIEVE SOME OF THAT.

>>Yunji: WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT.

WANT GIVE DR. IRELAND WORD TONIGHT.

MANY RESPONDED.

FINAL THOUGHT FOR OUR AUDIENCE.

ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT   THAT EVENING AND WHY THINGS SHOULD CHANGE.

>> JUST YOU CAN HURT OTHER PEOPLE.

YOU MAY BE DOING THIS BEHAVIOR AND  HURT NEIGHBORS AND OTHER CHILDREN.

BUT AGAIN, JUST I'M SO PROUD  OF THE TEAM THAT WAS THERE.

THAT NIGHT.

FROM ALL THE AGENCIES.

AND HARD WORK THAT THEY DO  SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS THEY DO.

GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH PEOPLE HERE, NONPROFITS  LOOK AT WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE THIS   IS OBVIOUSLY VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

>>Yunji: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MAHALO TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS TONIGHT.

FOR YOU AT HOME,   BEING PART OF TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL.

WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

KAKOU TAKING SOME TIME OFF.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMING   DOES CONTINUE WITH OUR WEEKLY EPISODES  OF INSIGHTS EVERY THURSDAY EVENING.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, GOOD NIGHT AND ALOHA.