Other Fourth of July fireworks events a no-go By TGI STAFF Those attending the 13th Annual Concert in the Sky on July 4th at Vidinha Stadium are asked to follow a few special rules and regulations for parking and traffic
Other Fourth of July fireworks events a no-go
By TGI STAFF
Those attending the 13th Annual Concert in the Sky on July 4th at Vidinha Stadium are asked to follow a few special rules and regulations for parking and traffic control for the event.
The soccer field adjacent to Vidinha Stadium will not be used for parking. This year there are designated parking areas, for Concert in the Sky attendees only.
Those driving from areas North of Lihu’e should enter the stadium from Kapule Highway and park in the Lihu’e Land lot.
Attendees coming from South of Lihu’e should enter from Rice Street. They may park in the Vidinha Stadium lot or the County of Kaua’i lot across from Kaua’i Collision Center on Hoolako Street.
Concert in the Sky attendees are encouraged to ride the free shuttles provided by Robert’s Hawaii Tours and Big Kmart.
To catch the shuttles, motorists can park in the 800 Lot of Kaua’i Lagoons, located on the left past the Kaua’i Marriott; at the Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall; or at Big Kmart. The shuttles will run between 2:30 – 7:30 p.m. to Vidinha Stadium.
Passengers will be dropped off at the Kapa’a gate (off Kapule Hwy.), where shuttle drivers will return attendees to their vehicles from 8:30 -10:30 p.m.
Due to parking constraints, each person in the vehicle must have a Concert in the Sky ticket to park in either the Lihu’e Land lot or the County of Kaua’i lot. There will be two lanes entering these lots, one to purchase tickets and an express lane for those who already have tickets.
Pre-sale tickets for $7 are available at all Big Save Markets and Menehune Food Marts through 12:00 on July 3. Tickets will be available only at the Lihu’e Big Save 7 a.m.- 11 p.m. on July 3.
Tickets can be purchased for $10 at the parking lot entrances or at stadium gates on July 4th. Children 5 years and under are free.
Parking is not permitted along Kapule Highway or on Hoolako Street (north side of the stadium). Cars parked in these areas will be cited by the Kaua’i Police Department. Volunteers should park in the regular stadium parking lot and access the volunteer check-in booth at the Lihu’e side gate.
All vehicles in the Lihue Land lot must exit left on to Kapule Highway. All vehicles in the Vidinha Stadium lot or the County of Kaua’i lot must exit right on to Rice Street after the event and will not be allowed to exit on to Kapule Highway.
Please observe the following rules and regulations:
1. Parking lots are reserved for attendees of the Concert in the Sky. This will be enforced.
2. In the stadium, outside food, coolers, alcohol and pets are prohibited.
3. In the parking areas, alcohol, tailgating, loitering, cooking, fireworks and tents are prohibited.
All vehicles parked on surrounding streets and in the Industrial Park will not be allowed to exit onto Kapule Highway after the event and will be directed onto Rice Street.
Kaua’i Hospice would like to thank the Kaua’i Police Department and Garden Island Security for directing traffic flow in the designated parking areas and on the roads surrounding the stadium.
For those planning to watch the event from nearby homes and surrounding streets, please follow the traffic flow instructions of Concert in the Sky attendees. In addition, Kaua’i Hospice encourages those to make a donation to to support their services to individuals facing a life-threatening illness.
Mail your donation to: Kaua’i Hospice, P.O. Box 3286, Lihue, HI 96766.
Any amount is appreciated and will help Kaua’i Hospice to continue producing the 4th of July event and also help to continue their free services to the residents and visitors of Kaua’i.
The Concert in the Sky starts at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 4th. Kapena will take the stage at 5:30 p.m. The fireworks show, sponsored again this year by King Auto Center, are scheduled for 8:30 p.m. The Blond Boys will play a set after the fireworks, and Kaua’i Hospice is asking everyone to enjoy the music and avoid the traffic. For more information, call 634-9061.
Looks like Kaua’i Hospice’s 13th Annual Concert in the Sky is the best bet for 4th of July this year.
Those who want to escape the throngs of enthusiastic fireworks fans can buy a $25 permit to play at home.
People who want a fireworks permit can go to their neighborhood Fire Department to get an application. Applications are also available at the Historic County Building.
Permitees must be at least 18 and possess a valid drivers license. Permits are available from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and cost $25 per permit in check or cash. According to the Fire Department, multiple permits can be taken up.
Each permit allows 5,000 individual firecrackers. The permit doesn’t restrict other types of popular fireworks, like sparklers, fountains and pagodas. Fireworks may be ignited from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 4th only.
If you have leftovers, “You lose out,” said Fire Department Inspector Russell Yee.
A worker at Waipouli Variety, an East Side store whose shelves are well-stocked for New Year’s Eve and Independence Day, said that sales are slow compared to years before firecracker permits were required. People just aren’t buying as many firecrackers, she said. Also, it seems that fireworks stands haven’t popped up everywhere as in years past.
“They’re buying other kinds, but not as much as they used to … they buy the novelties,” the woman from Waipouli Variety added.
The permit was introduced in 2000 to try to reduce the risk of brush fires and other incidents during the holiday.
As far as firecracker-caused injuries and fires: Brush fires have been known to occur from ill-directed firecrackers. Before the permits were required, the Fire Department responded to about five injuries per year, Yee said.
So far, the permits seem to be a success.
“It’s reduced the amount of injury incidents. There were no incidents last year,” Yee said.
This year, the Pacific Missile Range Facility won’t hold their fireworks display that Major’s Bay campers are used to seeing.
Part of the reason is the RIMPAC exercises being held off PMRF waters, which are scheduled to finish at the end of the month.
“The folks here will have one day off and resume on Friday. That, coupled with the fact that we have the security limitations. Whatever 4th of July celebrations we have will be for the base personnel and their families,” PMRF spokeswoman Vida Mossman said.
Get out those plum-picking poles, because the season officially opens this Saturday. July 6. Although this year’s crop is considered “poor,” the DLNR is allowing five pounds per day per person. Harvesting is from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Permits will be available at the Koke’e State Park Headquarters.
Another 4th of July weekend activity is the NHRA drag races at the Kauai Raceway Park in Mana. The races, put on by the Garden Island Racing Association, will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6.
