HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1210.036 2004-2006
TO: HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 365
Relating To Smoking In Certain Places In The County Of Hawaii
Council meeting Dec. 20, 2006
December 18, 2006
My name is Dawn S. Pung, Board Member of the American Cancer Society, and
I strongly support Bill 365, which would prohibit smoking at Kahalu'u Beach Park.
As a parent and grandparent, I must commend the Council for addressing this
important issue. As you already know, smoking is hazardous to health. Because
of this health risk, the State enacted one of the strongest secondhand smoking-
law in the nation prohibiting smoking in virtually all workplaces and in enclosed
and partially enclosed public places. However, smoking is still permitted in nearly
all parks and beach parks within the State, thus our keiki continue to be
endangered to the hazards of secondhand smoke. Additionally, discarding
cigarettes and cigar butts onto our beaches is unsightly, unclean and particularly
hazardous to small children who handle and sometime ingest them. Finally, I am
personally repelled, not only by people who smoke on our beaches, but also by
the sight of cigarette butts accumulating in the sand.
It is for the reasons I have noted above that I strongly encourage the Council to
pass this ordinance. Let's have at least one beach on the Big Island that is
smoke-free and can be enjoyed not only families but also everyone.
Please accept this as written testimony in support of this bill.
Sincerely,
Dawn S. Pung
Board Member
American Cancer Society
Comm. No. 2 ~Q • 3`
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