Kauai fire department warns residents ahead of July Fourth fireworks risks

On June 24, Kauai firefighters warned residents to treat Fourth of July fireworks as a fire hazard, not a harmless tradition, days before Saturday, July 4, 2026.

Fireworks should only be used in a clear, open area away from dry grass, brush, and trees, with a bucket of water, a hose, or a fire extinguisher close by. Parents and guardians should supervise children and not allow fireworks to be held, aimed at others, or thrown. Homeowners and parents or guardians may be held responsible for fireworks ignited on their property or by minors under their supervision.

Kauai County allows fireworks and firecrackers to be ignited only on private property between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. on July 4. Setting them off on streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public property is illegal. Aerial luminaries, also known as flying lanterns or flying luminaries, are prohibited statewide, and only licensed pyrotechnicians with proper permits may ignite aerial fireworks.

Gov. Josh Green signed fireworks bills into law on June 30, 2025, including Acts 243 and 244, after the Āliamanu fireworks incident on New Year’s Eve and growing concern after the Maui wildfires. The laws increase penalties, with some violations carrying fines of up to $25,000 and prison terms of up to 10 years, and authorize drone use for enforcement in public areas.

A structure fire in Wailua on July 3, 2024, was determined by investigators to have been accidentally caused by fireworks. The fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damage and no injuries occurred.