Honolulu Police Make Third Round Of Arrests In New Year’s Explosion

All four arrested Friday were parents who set off fireworks at the party with their children, according to police.

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All four arrested Friday were parents who set off fireworks at the party with their children, according to police.

Police arrested another four people Friday in connection with the deadly New Year’s fireworks explosion in Honolulu, bringing the total number of arrests to 10.

No charges have been filed in connection with the arrests, according to court records. Police said all cases will be sent to the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office.

Demi Mendoza, 31, and Rin Dao, 32, were arrested on one count of reckless endangering, two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and three fireworks-related citations.

The tragic toll of illegal aerial fireworks shown at the site of 4144 Keaka Drive. Gov. Josh Green toured the area with Police and other personnel on New Years morning and held an impromptu press conference at the scene confirming that two people had died at the scene with multiple others being transported to local hospitals and two of those, including a child, in life threatening situations.(David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Gov. Josh Green surveying the scene of the explosion on New Year’s morning. Green earlier this month announced legislative proposals to crack down more harshly on fireworks violators. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

Mendoza and Dao attended the gathering at 4144 Keaka Drive in Honolulu’s Salt Lake neighborhood and ignited fireworks with their two children, ages 11 and 9, according to police. Neither of the children were injured.

Michael Cabato, 29, was arrested on one count of endangering the welfare of a minor and the same three fireworks citations — , renter or person otherwise responsible for property for allowing anyone to possess or set off fireworks on the premises; a , purchasing, selling or making fireworks; and importing, storing, selling or possessing fireworks  or permit.

Police also arrested a on one count of endangering the welfare of a minor, according to police. Her name was not listed in an arrest log. Cabato and the 28-year-old woman attended the gathering and shot off fireworks with their 1-year-old, police said. The child was not injured.

The four people who were arrested on Wednesday have been released from police custody. The first two arrests in connection with the incident were made on Jan. 24.

The death toll from the New Year’s explosion rose to five this week after one of the burn victims, 29-year-old Kevin Vallesteros, died at a hospital in Phoenix on Tuesday.

The other victims who died as a result of the blast are Nelie Ibarra, 58; Carmelita Benigno, 61; Jennifer Van, 23; and Cassius Ramos-Benigno, 3. All four died in Honolulu. More than 20 other people were injured in the blast and five burn patients remain at the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix.

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