ALIAMANU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A New Year’s Eve celebration took a tragic turn after a massive explosion caused by what appeared to be illegal fireworks left at least four people dead and over 20 people hospitalized in critical and serious condition.

First responders rushed to the scene at a home on Keaka Drive in the Aliamanu area around midnight.

Officials said two people were pronounced dead at the scene.

The death toll has now risen to at least four people and, according to police, is expected to rise further.

They also said the HPD’s Specialized Services Division bomb unit recovered homemade illegal fireworks from the wreckage.

Videos taken from the ground and in the air by drones showed thick smoke rising over homes and filling the streets.

A neighbor described what happened at the moment of the explosion.

“I heard what looked like a quiet bang and I turned my phone to see what was going on and there was a quiet bang and then five to 10 minutes later a lot of commotion: ambulance, fire, police.” It “It was pretty tragic what happened,” he said.

After the explosion, ambulance triage was conducted as quickly as possible to prioritize those with the worst injuries and transport them to multiple trauma centers on Oahu.

The tragedy shocked even the most experienced first responders.

“Just very, very sad – nothing like I’ve ever seen at EMS,” said Jim Ireland, Honolulu EMS director. “Some of the people who were here, who were in the war, who were in combat, said it reminded them of things they had seen in combat.”

Officials said there were not only burn injuries, but also “blast injuries.”

“So similar to what you would see with an explosion or a bomb, right? So you see there may be missing limbs from people who are hit by shrapnel,” said Sunny Johnson, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services on-duty paramedic.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi issued a statement Wednesday morning expressing sadness over the tragic event and condemning the use of illegal fireworks as “absurd and unacceptable.”

He said completely:

“It is with both frustration and sadness that I speak about the tragedy that occurred just after midnight last night on New Year’s Eve in Salt Lake. A massive explosion caused by apparently illegal fireworks killed at least three people and left over 20 others critically injured. This incident is a painful reminder of the danger posed by illegal fireworks, which endanger lives, strain our first responder resources and disrupt our communities.

Year after year, a minority of people recklessly endanger us all. This is absurd and unacceptable. My administration remains committed to working with federal and state authorities to stop this illegal fireworks trade once and for all. We will advocate for stricter enforcement, tougher penalties, new technologies and a concerted effort to stop the import of illegal fireworks. Our communities deserve better. We cannot allow this senseless danger to continue, and we will take decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of Oahu residents.”

Gov. Josh Green also expressed his condolences and admitted that despite seizing 227,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, it won’t be easy to combat the problem.

He issued a statement Wednesday that said, “On behalf of the State of Hawaii, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the horrific Salt Lake City fireworks tragedy and pray for the full recovery of those injured.”

Green added: “As tackling illegal fireworks is a priority, we established the Illegal Fireworks Task Force last year to identify and disrupt supply chains. To date, 227,000 pounds of illegal fireworks have been seized, but incidents like this remind us of the ongoing challenges we face. We must continue to work together to prevent tragedies. I urge residents to report illegal activities and prioritize safety. My administration remains committed to protecting our communities and preventing further loss. While my heart is heavy on this first day of 2025 – EMS – my deepest gratitude goes out to the Honolulu Fire Department and the Honolulu Police Department. Everyone acted quickly and heroically to provide care in extremely difficult circumstances.”

The investigation is still ongoing.

Mayor Blangiardi, Governor Green and Oahu’s first responder leaders will hold a press conference at 2:00 p.m. to discuss the tragic fireworks incident.

Hawaii News Now will distribute it across its digital platforms.

Meanwhile, Honolulu EMS also responded to several calls for fireworks-related injuries on Tuesday night.

• Shortly before 10 p.m., a 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital in serious condition after a firecracker apparently exploded in his hand in Kalihi.
• At 11:04 p.m., a 19-year-old man suffered multiple injuries, including a serious arm injury, from a suspected fireworks explosion on Lukela Lane in Kalihi. He was taken to hospital in critical condition.
• At 11:27 p.m., a 34-year-old man suffered a traumatic injury to his hand from a suspected fireworks explosion. He was taken to hospital in serious condition.
• At midnight, a 25-year-old man in Kalihi suffered a serious hand injury from an apparent fireworks explosion. Paramedics took him to a nearby hospital in serious condition.
• Around the same time, a 72-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman suffered leg burns from a firecracker in the Ewa Beach area. They were taken to a nearby hospital in poor condition.

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