HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1210.017 2004-2006
Mackenzie Rose Buckner
December 20, 2006
Age: 13
Grade: 8`s
Address
P.O. Box 392
Holualoa. HI
96725
Phone #
Cell: (808) 443-7875
Home: (808) 322-4171
Email: kuuleilokel l2@,,hotmail.com
My name is Mackenzie Buckner of Kailua-Kona, HI and I fully support the
banning of the use of tobacco products at/in Kahalu'u Beach Park.
I have lived in Kona all of my life and I like to go down to Kahalu'u Beach Park
for snorkeling, surfing, and picnics and such. I can see why it is a hot spot for tourists.
But, whenever I go, no matter what time of day, I always step on and/or see cigarette
filters lying a;; around me in the sand. Sometimes I am even unfortunate enough to be
around a smoker, who is usually unaware of the hazard he/she is causing to people
around him/her and the damage they are causing to the ocean and its dwellers.
One day, while at Kahalu'u Beach with Mrs. Goodale, 12 students picked up
2,068 used cigarettes and other tobacco products over a course of 30 minutes.
It takes an average of 7 years for cigarettes to degrade with a range from 1.5 years
- 15 years. During those 7 years, while the filter is degrading, the waves are washing the
filters into the ocean. While in the water, it gets soaked and all of the nasty chemicals
come out, such as arsenic, lead, chromium, and much more. Those chemicals are toxic to
fish, crustaceans, zooplankton, marine mammals, us swimmers and surfers, and much
more, including the reefs. There are over 4,000 toxic chemicals in cigarettes which could
poison you and lead up to some type of cancer. Also, scientists had found a dead sea
turtle one year, did an autopsy on the turtle and found a cigarette filter lodged in its
throat. They suspect that the turtle thought the butt was a little piece of drifting seaweed
and hungrily ate it.
Please, for the safety for the turtles and everything around them, ban use of
tobacco products at Kahalu'u Beach Park. Thank you.
Comm. No. Z 10 17
Ref. To: reseeted
Ref. Date 2 0 2006