Falls on Fire festival approved to continue in Papaikou after years of permit disputes

News admin May 16, 2026 0 Comments

Falls on Fire festival approved to continue in Papaikou after years of permit disputes

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The controversial Burning Man-inspired festival known as Falls on Fire will continue in Papaikou after the Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission voted 4-1 Thursday to approve a special use permit.

The approval allows event organizer Andrew Tepper to legally host the gathering on his 1,400-acre agricultural property along the Hamakua Coast north of Hilo, following years of complaints, fines, and permitting disputes.

Commissioners approved a special use permit allowing an annual four-day festival with overnight camping for up to 500 attendees.

“With that, I look at the application for a special use permit to allow an annual four-day-long festival,” a planning commissioner said before the vote.

The permit comes with dozens of conditions, including traffic management plans, fire safety requirements, insurance coverage, sanitation facilities, and enforced quiet hours.

Tepper also defended the event after the testimony.

“This is not the sort of event that causes problems,” Tepper said. “I’ve been doing stuff like this for 20 years, so I know how to do it safely and respectfully.”

County records show Falls on Fire drew hundreds of attendees in 2023 and 2024 despite lacking required permits. Enforcement actions resulted in about $34,000 in fines tied to illegal camping, amplified sound, and advertising on agricultural land.

Despite county warnings, another gathering was held in 2025 while the permit application remained under review.

Tepper acknowledged challenges related to noise and fire performances.

“Noise technically is the most challenging thing,” he said.

Addressing fire concerns, Tepper said organizers previously consulted with the Hawaii Fire Department.

“They said, well, ‘You’re basically in a rainforest. You couldn’t set a forest fire here if you set your mind to it. You’re safe to burn,’” Tepper said.

Neighbors living along the access road testified that heavy truck traffic, dust, and noise have disrupted nearby agricultural operations, including cacao farms that rely on open-air processing.

“Chocolate is a very sensitive product,” said neighbor Lichuan Huang. “The process of fermentation and drying is open-air, and it will be affected by environmental factors.”

Another neighbor, James McMahon, described concerns about road conditions and vibrations from large vehicles.

“We literally feel the trucks that are going up and down the road,” McMahon said. “The ground shakes. That’s a concern.”

Supporters of the festival pushed back against claims that the event primarily attracts off-island visitors.

“This isn’t a mainland festival being imported here,” former attendee Casey Jedynak said. “It’s where local artists show our work and connect with the community.”

“The whole event runs on gifting, art, food, music, time, and attention to each other,” Jedynak said. “Nobody’s making money. This is not a commercial event.”

Tepper said he plans to skip this year’s festival to ensure compliance with permit requirements, with the next Falls on Fire gathering expected in 2027.