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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> February 1, 2008 <br /> <br /> To: Donald Ikeda, Chairperson <br /> County Council Committee Members <br /> Public Safety and Parks and Recreation Committee <br /> <br /> Fr: Rodney Wilbur: REAL, Keaau High School Peer education <br /> <br /> RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224, <br /> Relating To Smoking in 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 Rodney Wilbur I am a Keaau High school student in peer education. I am <br /> also a member of REAL. REAL is a youth led movement against the tobacco industry. I <br /> strongly support Bill 224, which would prohibit use of tobacco products at all County of <br /> Hawaii parks and beaches, effectively providing a clean and healthy environment for <br /> Hawaii's keiki, ohana, visitors and wildlife. <br /> <br /> I am currently a high school student at Keaau High. I am also a member of REAL. I <br /> attend our beaches frequently with my family and especially with my friends. <br /> <br /> I support this Bill 224, because when I go to the beach to relax with my friends I see so <br /> many cigarette butts. The beaches are crowded with cigarette butt litter. I get disgusted <br /> when I swim in the ocean and a cigarette butt floats next to me. Our environment and its <br /> inhabitants are in jeopardy with individuals polluting our environment. A fish may eat it, <br /> we in turn in the fish that is filled with the toxins. I do not want my siblings to play in the <br /> sand and a cigarette butt is in the sand. They could then put the cigarette in their mouth <br /> pretend to smoke or even eat it. The harmful and even fatal affects that it has to our <br /> environment, and all who live here, is beyond recognition. <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 do not want to see our environment and its inhabitants to become <br /> destroyed. I am tired of seeing cigarette butts littering our beautiful island. I am <br /> disgusted with having to deal with the litter at a beautiful place where I seek peace and <br /> refuge. I do not want to eat a fish that has toxins from a cigarette. Secondhand smoke is <br /> a known health and environmental hazard. The public's health should be protected <br /> wherever possible, including while enjoying Hawaii's parks and beaches. <br /> <br /> Please accept this written testimony in support of this bill. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Rodney Wilbur <br /> HCR-2 Box 9610 Keaau, HI 96749 <br />