Hold on to your balloons!

by Sharon Higa | Jan. 23, 2023

For many years, I worked with our Safety, System Operation, and Education & Consumer Affairs teams on an annual safety campaign to remind the public of the hazards of metallic balloons in power lines, especially during the graduation season. The campaign message, “hold on to your balloons,” takes on an even more urgent tone now that a new Hawaii law makes it illegal to intentionally release balloons into the sky. Here’s what you should know.

• Act 141 is the new law that prohibits the intentional, outdoor release of balloons “with a gas that is lighter than air,” which took effect on Jan. 1, 2023, across Hawaii.
• The ban does not affect indoor balloon releases, so long as they remain indoors. Two other exceptions are scientific or weather/meteorological balloons launched on behalf of a governmental agency and hot-air balloons recovered after launching.
• The intent of the ban is to protect Hawaii’s precious marine life and wildlife, which can mistake the balloon as a food source and suffer severe injury or death after ingesting it. Metallic balloons and ribbons are particularly attractive to sea turtles and seabirds because of their shiny, colorful and slippery surface that can resemble a jellyfish.
• An individual or entity releasing, organizing or causing the release of balloons will be fined $500 per offense. The release of multiple balloons at one time is considered a single offense.
• The statewide ban just might be the toughest measure in the nation since some other states allow outdoor balloons releases limited to a specific number in a given time frame. In Hawaii, it’s a zero allowance.

For Hawaiian Electric, the new law can help prevent outages year-round and that means better reliability for our customers. Since metallic or foil balloons contain a type of material that conducts electricity, when a loose balloon contacts an energized power line it causes a short circuit that can lead to a widespread power outage. Aside from the inconvenience to thousands of customers, other potential hazards are downed lines, fires, property damage and serious injury.

So, please hold on to your balloons, make sure it has a weight attached securely to the bottom and never release them into the sky. If a balloon accidentally slips free and contacts a power line, don’t try to retrieve it. Call our trouble line to report it. Be sure to dispose balloons properly and get more safety tips on our website, here.

As you plan for graduations, baby gender reveals and other celebrations, also consider planet- and animal-friendly gifts or decorations to help protect our environment and provide a sustainable alternative that will long be remembered and cherished.

Sharon Higa is a senior communications consultant at Hawaiian Electric Company.