Every Friday night, the sky over Waikīkī lights up as crowds gather along the beach to watch the Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks show.
For many, it’s more than just a display; it’s a weekly ritual.
Locals and visitors alike return week after week, drawn to a tradition that has become part of Waikīkī’s identity.
But while the fireworks explode high above the shoreline, some researchers are looking much closer at what happens after the show ends.
Concerns about fireworks and environmental harm are not new. Some studies suggest they may introduce pollutants into surrounding ecosystems.
But one question often goes unanswered: how?
If fireworks explode in the sky, how do they affect the ocean below?
That’s what University of Hawaiʻi student researcher Ruby Helmuth is trying to understand.
