An afternoon of holiday shopping at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu turned into a full emergency response Sunday when a pepper spray canister accidentally discharged inside the craft fair hall. According to police, officers responded after 3 p.m., and a vendor said a customer examining the canister at a booth accidentally activated it, releasing the spray into the air.
Honolulu firefighters, including a hazardous materials team, and EMS responded to the scene, and the event hall was evacuated. Fourteen adults were evaluated at the scene, and all of them declined transport to a hospital. Attendees later reported a lingering chemical smell near the venue entrance.
The incident raises practical questions for event season, which is ramping up right here on the Suncoast as holiday markets and craft fairs fill the calendar. Vendors displaying self-defense items, aerosols, or other irritants should keep them secured and out of customers’ hands, and shoppers should always ask before handling products on a table. Have you ever seen a display at a local festival that made you stop and think twice? Tell us on our Facebook page.
