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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> February 1, 2008 <br /> <br /> TO: Donald Ikead, Chairperson <br /> County Council Committee Members <br /> Public Safety and Parks and Recreation Committee <br /> <br /> FR: Tiffany Ramos Keaau high school peer education <br /> <br /> RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224, <br /> Relating to Smoking Certain Places in the County of Hawai'i <br /> Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 9:30 a.m. <br /> Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation <br /> <br /> My name is Tiffany Ramos I am with Keaau High schools peer education program and I <br /> strongly support Bill 224, which would prohibit use of tobacco products at all County of <br /> Hawaii parks and beaches, effectively providing clean and healthy environment for <br /> Hawaii's keiki, ohana, visitors and wildlife. <br /> <br /> I support Bill 224 because I visit our beaches often with my friends, and I am tired of <br /> seeing all the litter. I don't like to see all the cigarette butts in our ocean and on the <br /> grounds. I have asthma and I really hate having to breathe in dirty air. Second hand <br /> smoke is even deadlier for me. I have a real hard time breathing with people smoking <br /> around me. One time I was enjoying myself and I got a stench of second hand smoke. I <br /> was very disgusted, and it made me want to throw up. I also got a really bad headache. I <br /> had to cover my nose for about five minutes. I don't want to have to smell that ever <br /> again, so the more we can do to help preserve our air quality the easier it is for me to <br /> breathe. <br /> <br /> Last year, Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kona went smoke-free let's do the same for the rest of <br /> the island. Passing Bill 224 will make visiting all County parks and beaches a more <br /> pleasurable experience. <br /> <br /> In conclusion I am in support of Bill 224 because I hate all the littering that comes from <br /> smoking. I really want everyone to be able to breathe clean air, without second hand <br /> smoke harming our health. Second hand smoke it a known health and environmental <br /> hazard. The public's health should be protected wherever, possible, including while <br /> enjoying Hawaii's parks and beaches. <br /> Please accept this as written testimony in support of this bill. <br /> <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Tiffany Ramos <br /> HCR-2 Box 9610 <br /> Keaau, HI 96749 <br />