KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — On the Fourth of July, a 20-year-old man from Kailua-Kona died during a fireworks incident.

According to a news release from the Hawaii Police Department, Glen John Nakata died from injuries sustained while holding a firework launcher that went off above his head.

Hawaii Island police said they were called to a retail parking lot in Kailua-Kona on Tuesday at 10:27 p.m. for “a public accident [and] possibly illegal fireworks.”

Upon arrival, officers located Nakata on the ground with a “substantial head injury.”

Witnesses said Nakata was holding a firework launcher above his head when it went off and sent him to the ground.

An ambulance drove Nakata to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:55 p.m. 

In response to the incident, police launched a coroner’s inquest investigation and ordered an autopsy. Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact Officer Melani Cline at 808-326-4646, ext. 253.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.