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From: MelliGenatt@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 3:42 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us; kapilago@co.hawaii.hi.us; bford@co.hawaii.hi.us;
jjaco@co.hawaii.hi.us; enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us; shiga@co.hawaii.hi.us;
jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: TESTIMONY FOR BILL 224
Attachments: Terrance Rapoza.doc
attached is my testimony in support of Bill 224.
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2/4/2008
February 1, 2008
To: Donald Ikeda, Chairperson
County Council Committee Members
Public Safety and Parks and Recreation Committee
Fr: Terrance Rapoza
RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224,
Relating To Smoking in Certain Places in the County of Hawai'i
Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 9:30 a.m.
Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation
My name is Terrance Rapoza I live here in Hawaii County. I am a father of three small
children. I strongly support Bill 224, which would prohibit use of tobacco products at all
County of Hawaii parks and beaches, effectively providing a clean and healthy
environment for Hawaii's keiki, ohana, visitors and wildlife.
My children's health and welfare is my high priority. When we visit the beach we
are constantly surrounded by the litter that is left behind from tobacco and the other items
associated with them, such as lighters, alcohol, etc. The environment becomes damaged
as well as the animal life that inhabits our oceans. Upon swimming we had cigarette
butts floating, we then left the beach. I have seen other children pick up cigarettes and
try to imitate smoking, even worse put it in their mouth to eat. The health factors of that
are horrible. The effects of second hand smoke that we smell are horrible. I use to be a
smoker myself for a number of years, I have quit now for several years, and I no longer
can handle the smell of tobacco. My family and I would not have to move away from the
location that a smoker is at if they weren't allowed to smoke at the beach. My family
would be allowed to enjoy the beach and not worry about the health effects. I do not
want to help the tobacco industries major influence that they impose on our youth to
smoke. By allowing our children to see individuals smoke in areas where they go to
enjoy themselves it is telling them that it can't be that bad because others are doing it.
Last year, Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kona went smoke-free let's do the same for
the rest of the island. Passing Bill 224 will make visiting all County parks and beaches a
more pleasurable experience.
To sum it all up I am tired of breathing in second hand smoke I quit smoking for
the health of my children, yet they are constantly in danger due to other peoples bad
choices. Secondhand smoke is a known health and environmental hazard. The public's
health should be protected wherever possible, including while enjoying Hawai'i`s parks
and beaches. I am tired of the littering that is done to our beautiful islands. The land and
those who live in it want to cherish our land so that our children will be able to live in a
beautiful island for years to come.
Please accept this written testimony in support of this bill.
Sincerely,
Terrance Rapoza
P.O. Box 90 Kurtistown, HI 96760