Shoppers with money to burn were snatching firecrackers and Magic Whips from the shelves at Daiei on Kaheka Street yesterday, indicating that the New Year's Eve tradition of setting the sky alight is still going strong.

Yesterday was the first day fireworks could be sold this season, and many shoppers had hit other outlets before ending up at Daiei at mid-afternoon.

Kapahulu resident Laine Go, 31, had spent about $500 on fireworks at other places before he arrived at Daiei to fill a shopping cart with another $500 worth of ignitable merchandise.

Included in that purchase were 10,000 firecrackers that required Go to buy two $25 permits from the city, and a stack of Magic Whips, a spinning firework that was flying off the shelves. As for the other assorted novelty fireworks that filled his cart, "I don't know what it does, but my son will probably have a blast," he said.

Go limited his purchases to mostly paperless fireworks. "There's less rubbish, so I don't have to pick it up," he said.

Sales of firecracker permits are up more than 10 percent on O'ahu, an official said. Through Thursday, 3,498 permits had been sold, compared with 3,089 at the same time last year, said fire department spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane.

However, retailers brought in fewer cases of fireworks this year — 105,552 cases of firecrackers and novelties, down from 112,179 the year before, Kane said. He said some importers may be selling stock left over from last New Year's or the Fourth of July.

By law, fireworks can be purchased through 1 a.m. Sunday, one hour past midnight on New Year's Eve. Many people said they plan to continue picking up fireworks throughout the week.

"This is just the first store," said Bill Soong of Hawai'i Kai.

Soong and his wife had filled a shopping cart about two-thirds full with various fireworks, including red firecrackers.

"That's the real stuff. That's why they charge $25 for the permit," Soong said.

What he had so far would last only two hours, and he planned to do more shopping to buy enough fireworks for his entire family, who will be coming over for the holiday. "I still have to hit Longs," he said.

Mark Kido of Kahuku was more moderate in his purchases yesterday.

"My mother and I just picked up the essential fireworks," the 20-year-old said, estimating they spent about $30.

His brother will supply things like Morning Glories, while his uncle has permits for 50,000 firecrackers. Family and members of the community will share in the New Year's festivities, Kido said.

"They bring food and firecrackers and we pop them together," he said. "It's a yearly thing."

Melody Gines, 20, had stopped by Daiei to pick up a supply of Magic Whips that her boyfriend had requested. But she and her sister Ruby, 23, found several other things they wanted.

For Ruby, who is hosting a party for more than 30 people, it was the second time she had been to Daiei for fireworks that day. "I spent about $200 already," she said. "I want to make sure we have enough."

She said she might end up buying more later, "if there's more sales at other places."

Despite an already overstuffed cart, Clarence Saren, 34, anticipates that his wife will return for more when she gets a day off from work. The Saren family gathers with four other families at his in-laws' house in Kalihi Valley for New Year's. Each family will bring several hundred dollars in fireworks, enough so that they can start lighting them at lunchtime with no fear of running out.

"We go through the night," Saren said.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.