If you’re on Oahu, chances are you’ve been hearing illegal fireworks going off. With New Year’s approaching, it’s only getting worse. We spoke to residents who are asking folks for some consideration. Whether you support the use of fireworks or not, residents say there’s a time and place for them.

Here in Ewa Beach, residents say the aerial explosions have been constant for the past few months. Michael Kitchens, founder of Stolen Stuff Hawaii, says the FaceBook page gets flooded with complaints.

“One of the things that’s a big issue is that people just can’t prepare for it. You can’t be on guard 24/7,” said Kitchens.

Another Ewa Beach resident tells us folks may be popping illegal fireworks for fun, but the effects are damaging to property, pets, and people.

“When they go off it’s shaking the house,” said Rick Onderko.

Onderko served in the U.S. Army for 28 years and is a combat veteran. He says these explosions can be triggers for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“Those things trigger back to a time where it was a violent time. Where they may have lost somebody or they may have been injured themselves. So it certainly does have a negative impact to the recovery process,” said Onderko.

He and his family also have a dog and board their pet every New Year’s away from their neighborhood.

“My poor dog, he will try to escape the yard and so many dogs have gotten out and have been missing and missing for days. It’s hard because they won’t go to anyone and they are completely traumatized,” said wife Lynn Robinson-Onderko.

“I think there’s some consideration loss for our neighbors, our communities. These people that have illegal fireworks, you know, it’s one thing to have them but you got to have consideration for your neighbors and what they’re experiencing,” said Kitchens.

Anyone found selling, possessing, or using illegal fireworks could face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $2-thousand.