Hawaii
Deadly Hawaii fireworks incident caused “war zone” injuries: Governor
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said that a deadly New Year’s fireworks incident in the Honolulu neighborhood of Aliamanu caused “war-zone” injuries.
Newsweek reached out to the Honolulu Police Department via online form for comment Wednesday night.
Why It Matters
The incident that has left three dead and over 20 injured is significant as the United States has stringent laws regarding fireworks possession and usage, and there are not many incidents outside of the 4th of July that result in death or injury from fireworks.
What To Know
AP Photo/Marco Garcia
Green told reporters Wednesday about the victims who died, “We’re talking about the worst possible war zone injuries that took their lives.”
Three people died—two women at the scene and a third woman at a hospital—after a lit firework bundle tipped over and fired sideways into crates of additional fireworks, causing a blast that shot out shrapnel.
Several of those injured in the attack were in critical condition.
The explosion that occurred shortly before midnight on Tuesday at a three-story home with a bottom-level carport left debris scattered in front of the house and windows across the street shattered.
The Honolulu Police Department has classified the occurrence as a major incident and, in a statement, said that they were “working diligently to manage the situation and ensure the safety of everyone in the area,” according to Channel2Now.
On December 23, the Honolulu Police Department warned that only individuals with a permit may set off fireworks for the New Year’s holiday and that they can only be lit between 9 p.m. local time on December 31 and 1 a.m. local time on January 1.
What People Are Saying
Honolulu Emergency Services Department Director Dr. Jim Ireland, at a news conference:”I’ve been in EMS over 30 years, and this is probably one of the worst calls I’ve ever been on as far as the immense tragedy and amount of patients and severity of the injuries.”
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, in a statement: “It is with both frustration and sorrow that I address the tragedy that occurred last night in Salt Lake just after midnight on New Year’s Eve.
“This incident is a painful reminder of the danger posed by illegal fireworks, which put lives at risk, drain our first responder resources, and disrupt our communities,” he added.
What Happens Next
Honolulu Police Chief Arthur Logan said authorities have yet to determine whether charges for the person who lit the firework were warranted.
Meanwhile, Blangiardi said, “My administration remains committed to working with federal and state agencies to shut down this illegal firework trade once and for all. We will push for stronger enforcement, tougher penalties, new technologies, and a united effort to stop the import of illegal fireworks.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Gov. Josh Green today issued a statement regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility requirements within the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was established to address the historic dispossession of Native Hawaiians and reflects a longstanding commitment to them by both the federal government and the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Green.
“This lawsuit threatens that commitment. I have directed the Department of the Attorney General to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program. We will fight this lawsuit with everything we have,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by Eric Ryan, an Oʻahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian and tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement, according to Hawaiʻi News Now and court documents published at Courthouse News Service.
The Class Action Complaint argues that the “explicitly ancestry-based requirement” establishes a “permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai‘i residents. The blood-quantum requirement thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint alleges.
Green said the administration “stands firmly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the thousands of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who rely on this program and its promise for future generations.”
Attorney General Anne Lopez also issued a statement saying the state of Hawaiʻi has both a legal and moral obligation to uphold the commitments embodied in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“This lawsuit seeks to dismantle a program that has provided opportunities, stability and hope to generations of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Lopez.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead the legal team in defending the state against the challenge.
“We are prepared to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program and the promises it represents,” said Lopez.
Under the Green administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has accelerated the delivery of homestead opportunities and expanded pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025 alone, DHHL offered more than 2,500 lease awards and continues to advance major housing projects, including Hale Mōʻiliʻili on Oʻahu, which will provide 278 affordable rental units for beneficiaries.
“These efforts reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing wait times, strengthening Native Hawaiian communities and fulfilling the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” according to the governor’s announcement.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Concrete fell from the exterior of an Ala Moana Center parking structure Monday afternoon near the Kapiolani Boulevard exit, damaging a vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
Security blocked an exit lane as debris scattered across the roadway. Ala Moana Center said they are grateful no one was hurt, and the lane will remain closed while structural engineers and construction professionals assess the damage and make repairs.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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