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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;
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Subject: TESTIMONY FOR BILL 224
Attachments: Russell Cummins peered teach.doc
attached is my testimony is support of Bill 224.
Thank you
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Ref. Date FEB_ 0_5 2n`ng
2/4/2008
February 1, 2008
To: Donald Ikeda, Chairperson
County Council Committee Members
Public Safety and Parks and Recreation Committee
Fr: Russell Cummins Keaau High School Peer education Coordinator
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 Russell Cummins I am a Peer education Coordinator for Keaau High School,
and 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.
I am a peer education coordinator for Keaau High school. I am a frequent beach user of
this County.
I support this Bill 224, because of the numerous negative affects that it has produced onto
our County of Hawai'i. The peer education program at Keaau High School advocates for
making healthy choices, this is one of our healthy choices by preserving our air quality.
While using Richardson's Beach Park in Hilo, I stepped on a cigarette butt that burned
my feet leaving me with 2"d degree burns and a blister. My Uncle Frank died from
emphysema caused by a lifetime of smoking cigarettes. He would frequently take his
nieces and nephews to the beach and expose us to harmful second hand smoke. In a
single day our peer education program students collected about a'/2 gallon full of
cigarettes, cigarette packs, and its waste that comes with it, such as books, lighter, cigars,
etc. I have observed elementary age children finding cigarettes on the ground and putting
it in their mouth. Either to act "cool" or to eat it, any way you look at it it's horrific.
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.
In conclusion I support Bill 224 to continue my efforts of advocating healthy choices, by
preserving our air quality. I want to have our beaches free from the litter of cigarettes and
any associates to that product, which could result in injury to individuals and inhabitants
alike. Having family members become affected by the harmful affects that tobacco has
to the health of individuals. I do not want to continue to allow our children to be in
danger of being exposed to second hand smoke, as well as dealing with the idea of an
image that tobacco is the ideal thing to do. The 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.
Please accept this written testimony in support of this bill.
Sincerely,
Russell Cummins
HCR-2 Box 9610
Keaau, HI 96749
(808) 966-6822
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