The number of fireworks permits sold on O'ahu has declined steadily over the past three years and although permit sales are up slightly so far this year, there's no reason to believe that the overall downward trend won't continue.

The sale of legal fireworks begins Saturday and a permit is required to purchase the traditional paper firecrackers. There is no limit on the number of permits a person may possess, but each permit can be used to purchase 5,000 individual firecrackers.

Permits cost $25 and are available at any satellite city hall during business hours.

Last year, the city issued 6,924 permits, compared with 9,223 the previous year. In 2006, 10,980 permits were sold, a 21.5 percent drop from 2005's 13,981 permits.

As of Tuesday, there were 1,707 permits sold, compared with 1,403 during the same period last year. But Capt. Terry Seelig, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said that 500 permits were issued on Tuesday, which he said is an unusually large number for a single day.

"It could be one person. We had that one year when somebody bought a whole bunch of permits," Seelig said.

Despite the surge, he said officials believe permit sales will be down for a fourth straight year. Seelig said it's difficult to predict what the final numbers will be because many people wait until after fireworks go on sale to get a permit.

But just because permit sales are on the decline, doesn't mean revelers won't be ringing in the New Year with a bang.

"What we're hearing from the vendors is that people are buying more of the novelty items and we would expect that trend to continue," Seelig said.

These items, which include "paperless" fireworks, have gained in popularity over the years. The paperless fireworks are cheaper than firecrackers and don't require a $25 permit, although they lack the punch of the firecrackers.

Seelig reminded residents that aerial fireworks are illegal in Hawai'i. He said any item that emits material or sparks higher than 12 feet above the ground is illegal.

At the Don Quijote store on Käheka Street, employees are gearing up for an anticipated rush of people looking to fill shopping carts with fireworks on Saturday.

George Downham, Don Quijote fireworks department manager, said the area of the store that carries novelty fireworks is now larger than the firecracker section.

"Our permit section isn't as big as the paperless, but we still have a loyal clientele of guys who like the big noise," Downham said.

He said the Don Quijote stores have increased their shipments of paperless fireworks each year because of their popularity. He said they're cheaper and easier to get than the firecrackers.

"There's no mess to clean up afterwards. When they say paperless, they're not kidding," Downham said. "When you shoot permit-required stuff, you've got to have a rake and broom after you're done. But with the paperless, there's nothing to do. They don't give you the big, big bang, but it's better than no bang."

The sale of fireworks begins Saturday and ends at midnight New Year's Eve. Fireworks can be set off legally from 9 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1.