HONOLULU (KHON2) — The New Year’s Day fireworks explosion has left the community grieving and frustrated, but will the tragedy change Hawaii’s complicated relationship with fireworks?

“I don’t think it’s going to have a major change in the mentality of the people that pop fireworks,” said Michael Kitchens, creator and administrator of the social media site “Stolen Stuff Hawaii” that has more than 54 thousand followers. He said what he gathers from the posted comments is one of apathy.

“There’s apathy because, hey, ‘you know what you’re doing.’ You hurt yourself. I’m not going to donate to that. There’s anger to the people that pop fireworks and hurt others,” said Kitchens.

Kitchens said he senses that most people are ok with legal fireworks during specific hours during the holidays, but not the house-rattling bombs at random times throughout the year.

But the cultural attachment that has kept illegal fireworks thriving in Hawaii, is what others said needs to change.

“When I was growing up, it was a tradition to pop the red firecrackers and hear some sounds. I never thought it was a tradition to go shoot something into the sky and illuminate the entire neighborhood. ‘That is their tradition.’ I just don’t buy that idea,” said State Senator Glenn Wakai, whose district includes Aliamanu where the fatal fireworks explosion occurred.

Wakai expects numerous bills to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session to address the illegal fireworks issue, but said pursuing civil penalties versus criminal might be more effective.

“So maybe that’ll be the consequence. You do that out of your house, we’re going to seize your house,” said Wakai. “I think if there’s consequences for bad behavior, you’re going to see a diminishing of interest in fireworks.”

And there appears to be agreement that laws without enforcement are meaningless and need to change.

“We don’t have enough law enforcement officers to cover the entire island. There’s not enough strict enforcement. And when they get these, these guys get caught, and they go to the judicial system, they just get a slap on the wrist,” said Kitchens.

“There is a disconnect someplace there between the actual, you know, boots on the streets that are enforcing the law and the people are going to carry that case through prosecution,” said Wakai.

Wakai said the New Year’s Day tragedy may have brought immediate attention to the dangers of illegal fireworks, but it will likely take time, community effort and a shift in public perception to see real change.