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~ntmi.ryt Lung Associuion ,~,,o AMERICAN of Hawaii. LUNG 3B U:ulvti Str«t Hilo, HI 96720 ASSOCIATION® Fax: (808)935-7474 January 17, 1997 Phone: (808) 935-1206 - Of F"ifOYVCJII American Lung Association of Hawaii Mayor Stephen Yamashiro 734430 Punawele Str«t Count of Hawaii Kailtu•Kona, Hawaii 96740 y Fax: (808) 325.0068 25 Aupuni Street Phone: (808) 325-5339 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Mayor Yamashiro; , It has been brought to our attention by Ms. Laura Higa that there appears to be a problem with enforcing the Hawaii County Code, Article 4; Smoking in Public Places; Section14-20. As noted in the ordinance, Section 14-21, "Prohibition in certain places open to the public; subsection (6) The following facilities or areas in County- owned or controlled buildings: (B) Auditorium or sports areas that are enclosed; (D) All areas open to the public, including service counters and reception waiting areas..." According to Ms. Higa, during the course of a basketball tournament held on December 26-28, 1996 at the Department of Parks and Recreation Wainaku Gym, a spectator was smoking a cigarette at the doorway of the gym. Ms. Higa indicated that she . made several attempts to politely ask this person to "please not smoke in the doorway as the smoke is affecting the children." The individual who was smoking was not cooperative and remained there and continued to smoke. The smoke from the cigarette entered the gym and ultimately caused one of these youngsters to have an asthma episode as a result of inhaling the cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke, in this child's instance, was the trigger for an asthma attack. It appears as though Ms. Higa encountered the same individual the next day at the Hilo Armory. Again, the same incident occurred whereas this individual was smoking in the doorway of the gym. Ms. Higa tried to remedy the problem to no avail and thus a physical confrontation occurred. When You Can't Ms. Higa contacted this office and asked for our assistance. I Breathe, provided Ms. Higa with several brochures, some of which she Nothing Else already had and also some "No Smoking" signs as she had Matters® planned to discuss this incident with Mr. George Yoshida, of the Founded in 1904, the Department of Parks and Recreation. American Lung Association vtcludcs effilia[ed sssociuions throughout the U.S., and a medical s«tion, the American Thoracic Socicty.