After pandemic hiatus, July 4 back in full swing
After two years of scaled-down and canceled July 4 events because of the coronavirus pandemic, a full-scale celebration is in the works for Monday.
The night sky will light up with fireworks displays at 8 p.m. in both Hilo and Kailua-Kona.
“A Salute to Our Hometown Heroes” fireworks exhibition will feature professional pyrotechnics set off from a barge moored in Kailua Bay. The Kona fireworks show follows the the Kailua-Kona Independence Day Parade, which starts at 6 p.m.
The parade will begin at Kekuaokalani Gymnasium and travel along Kuakini Highway to Alii Drive and through Kailua Village to Walua Road.
To accommodate the parade, handful of road closures will be in effect starting at 5:45 p.m. and continuing until 8:15 p.m.
• Kuakini Highway will be closed from Kekuaokalani Gymnasium to Palani Road. Its intersections with Loloku and Kaiwi streets will be closed.
• Palani Road will be closed from Kuakini Highway to Alii Drive.
• Alii Drive will be closed between Palani to Walua roads. Alii Drive’s intersections with Kahikina Lane, and Sarona and Hualalai roads will be closed.
• Kaiwi Street will be closed at its intersection with Kuakini Highway.
According to Fire Chief Kazuo Todd, personal fireworks permits are on sale now through 8 p.m. Monday. Permits and firecrackers may be purchased only at the TNT tent, 381 E. Makaala St. in Hilo.
Each permit costs $25 and will allow the holder to purchase up to 5,000 individual firecrackers. Permits will be issued to persons 18 years of age or older and are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Permits are not required for novelties and paperless firecrackers.
Firecrackers, and approved consumer fireworks are allowed to be set off only during the hours of 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.
The purchase, sale or possession of aerial luminary device such as Sky Lanterns and Hawaii Lanterns is unlawful. Anyone possessing these devices who wants to dispose of them with amnesty can call the Fire Department at 932-2911.
