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From: MelliGenatt@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 3:40 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: Melissa 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: Melissa Rapoza, REAL
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 Melissa Rapoza I am the Island Coordinator with REAL for this County. 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. REAL is a statewide youth led movement
against the tobacco industry. We try to teach empowerment to youth, as well as inform
them how the tobacco industry uses different tactics to target people.
I enjoy our parks and beaches frequently with my family and friends. I am a mother of
three small children that are five years old and younger. The main reasons for wanting to
have our beaches and parks smoke free include but are not limited to; the effects of
second hand smoke, the damaging effects to our environment and its living beings, such
as animals and sea creatures, the island oasis that we know and love are in jeopardy for us
as lovers of our beautiful home as well as visitors.
Second hand smoke is very deadly in fact it is more damaging than someone who
actually smokes. Now that I have children it is not only my health that concerns me, it is
my entire family. I am responsible in protecting their health and well fare as well. My
family loves to enjoy our beaches, and we are having a wonderful time, then all of a
sudden we get a disgusting over powering smell of second hand smoke. My infant twin
daughters get sick with respiratory ailments when they smell second hand smoke.
The environment and its inhabitants become damaged and destroyed by the
constant litter from tobacco and its products and/or accessories, such as matches,
wrapping, lighters, etc. Birds take the waste from the cigarettes and build their nests with
it, and even feed their babies. These animals as well as sea life are ingesting thousands of
deadly chemicals. Fish may eat the butts and we in turn eat the fish causing us to ingest
the thousands of deadly chemicals. The land becomes massively littered with all of the
tobacco waste (butts) and its accessories (lighters etc.)
Individuals have used our beaches as their ash trays. I can recall numerous events
where I would build sand castles or dig into the sand with my children, and end up
retrieving cigarette butts. There were events where I have caught children finding the
cigarette butts and ingest them or put them (cigarettes) by there mouths and pretend to
smoke. This type of behavior needs attention it is NOT ok to expose our children to
images of tobacco. The tobacco industry targets our children enough we as a society as
the spirit of Aloha and love should not encourage it. By allowing our innocent children
who are just forming their own ideas and opinions we need to surround them with
positive images. These beaches are for everyone to enjoy. I take my family to spend
quality time and enjoy our beautiful island. What visitor will want to see a beautiful
oasis that is covered in cigarette butts and smelling like second hand smoke?
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.
Secondhand smoke is a known health and environmental hazard. The public's health
should be protected wherever possible, including while enjoying Hawaii's`s parks and
beaches. In conclusion my family and yours deserve the right to breathe clean fresh air.
Far beyond anyone's free rights the right to breathe fresh air is essential to live. If you
can't breathe you DIE!!! Why are we wishing to turn the other cheek and allow second
hand smoke to fatally harm everyone? The animals/sea life and environment becomes
damaged, littered and killed by all the waste from tobacco and its accessories, such as,
wrapping, matches, etc. Our beaches are not an ash tray it's a safe sanctuary to enjoy.
Tourism as one of our heaviest incomes on our islands, they are looking for the island
feel. Our County beaches and parks are selling our island oasis as our natural selling
points. There is nothing natural and beautiful by a beach or park littered with cigarette
butts and smelling second hand smoke.
Please accept this written testimony in support of this bill.
Sincerely,
Melissa Rapoza
REAL
P.O. Box 90
Kurtistown, HI 96760