HONOLULU (AP) — In the months following a devastating incident where a sequence of explosions at a New Year’s Eve gathering resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including a 3-year-old child, Mike Lambert noticed a decline in the presence of illegal fireworks in his suburban neighborhood in Honolulu.

Lambert, who heads Hawaii’s Department of Law Enforcement, speculated whether this tragic event had prompted a change in the local residents’ enthusiasm for illicit fireworks. Previously, it was not unusual to hear loud explosions at any hour, often marking sports victories, celebrations, or for no discernible purpose.

This year, however, authorities are equipped with more stringent regulations introduced after the tragedy, and they are ready to issue citations to those who violate them, Lambert cautioned.

“We aren’t naive enough to think that a tragedy on New Year’s Eve, followed by a new law in July, would completely eliminate fireworks the next year,” he remarked. Nonetheless, he believes that some individuals might refrain from using fireworks due to the previous year’s fatal incident or the enhanced enforcement and recent legislative changes.

“Previously, people could set them off without fear of consequences,” stated state Representative Scot Matayoshi, the author of two out of five new anti-fireworks bills. “Everyone knew they wouldn’t get caught.”

Police can now issue $300 tickets to those who shoot off fireworks, while repeat offenders and people whose actions cause serious injury or death could get prison time for felony crimes.

Matayoshi said he began working on legislation the morning after the tragedy, which took place at a New Year’s Eve 2025 celebration when crates of illegal fireworks tipped over and ignited in the Aliamanu neighborhood, illuminating the sky in a terrifying set of explosions that left more than a dozen people with severe burns.

“It affected me a lot,” Matayoshi said. “I couldn’t imagine being the neighbor of someone who had basically bombs in their house going off and hurting and killing my kids.”

None of the the 12 people arrested have been charged with a crime. Honolulu police said they’re working with prosecutors in seeking charges.

A hopeful sign was an amnesty event last month where people turned in 500 pounds (227 kilograms) of illegal fireworks, Lambert said. His department has also increased searches at all ports, noting that illegal fireworks shipped to Hawaii often have ties to organized crime.

As of earlier this month, Honolulu police said officers had issued 10 fireworks citations. Matayoshi said the number is an improvement from zero in past years. He expects it to jump dramatically on New Year’s Eve.

Firecrackers to ring in the new year have long been popular in Hawaii, but about a decade ago, professional-grade aerials started becoming common.

“You’re seeing fireworks that were meant to be let off at like stadium and hotel events,” Lambert said. Those pyrotechnics have a 900-foot (274-meter) blast radius, but are exploding in tightly packed neighborhoods where homes are often just a few feet apart, he said.

Army veteran Simeon Rojas grew up on Oahu in the 1980s and ’90s and enjoyed setting off firecrackers and lighting sparklers on New Year’s Eve. He considers fireworks part of the local culture and tradition.

But when fireworks suddenly explode when he’s at home in Honolulu’s Kalihi Valley, “it does rock my heart,” he said. It also triggers his post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It gives me flashbacks,” he said. “I stay with my wife and kids on New Year’s Eve, so I feel safe.”