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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0732.021 2008-2010Murashige, Laura From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Hawaii County Smoke Free Cars ... LorrieAnn Santos [Isantos @papaolalokahi.org] Thursday, April 01, 2010 4'38 PM counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us _ _ Testimony in Strong Support of Bill 216 ED 7010 APR 6 6M 7 99 Hawaii County Smoke Free Cars Testimony in Support 40510.doc CC`Ui .1F H inr COUNIt° ; ,-_.., =J[ 1 P/Gouw Corona. No. count Z� af. To, P,�� " R Rtft Date APR 0 7 2010 42/ Papa Ola Lokahi Nana I Ka Pono Na Ma Papa Ola Lokahi is a non - profit Native Hawaiian organization founded in 1958 for the purpose of improving the health and well -being of Native Hawaiians and other native peoples of the Pacific and continental United States Board of Directors Member Organizatwna Hoola Label Hawaii Hui No Ke Ola Pono Hui Ma /ama Ola Na Oiwi ALU LIKE Ke Ola Mamo E OIa Mau University of Hawaii Hawaii State Department of Health Na Puuwai Office of Hawaiian Affairs Ex Officio Members Hawaii Primary Care Association Ke A /au/a Executive Director Hardy Spoehr April 1, 2010 `O wau iho no, LorrieAnn Santos Co- project Director and Program Manager Papa Ola Lokahi 894 Queen Street Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 526-1700 Isantos@papaolalokahi.org website: www.nativehabit.org Papa Ola Lokahi 894 Queen Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Phone: 808.597.4550 — Facsimile. 808.597.6551 Dear Chair J Yoshimoto, Vice Chair Emily I Naeole- Beason, and Members of the Hawaii County Council Re: STRONG SUPPORT for Bill 216 (Comm. 732): An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14, Article 4, Section 14 -21 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as Amended), Relating to Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Places (prohibits smoking in all motor vehicles if a person under 18 years of age is in the motor vehicle) For: First Reading on April 7, 2010 at 9:00 a.m., Hawaii County Building, before the full County Council Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of Bill 216, which would prohibit smoking in cars and other motor vehicles when a minor is present. Papa Ola Lokahi, established by Congress in 1988, is a nationally recognized community - based organization in health advocacy and policy that is dedicated to improving Native Hawaiian health and wellbeing. 'Imi Hale Native Hawaiian Cancer Network, a program of Papa Ola Lokahi, is one of 25 Community Network Programs (CNP) funded by the National Cancer Institute to reduce cancer health disparities and the only CNP addressing the burden of cancer among Native Hawaiians, who have the highest smoking rates and highest prevalence of smoking - related diseases in the state of Hawaii. Hawaii's keiki must be protected from harmful second -hand smoke. Children's bodies are still developing and second -hand smoke exposure greatly impacts their lung development. Second -hand smoke is still a major health threat. Second -hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, at least 250 of which are known to be harmful and 50 of which are carcinogenic or cancer - causing. Studies indicate that second -hand smoke in cars can reach unhealthy levels even when windows are down and air conditioning units running. We cannot allow our children to continue to be exposed to second -hand smoke in cars. Hawai`i County has made great strides to protect the health of island families. The strong County Council supported the passage of smoke -free county parks and beaches. Children are no longer exposed to dangerous second -hand smoke in county public places. Please further protect our children by prohibiting smoking in motor vehicles when a minor is present. Please vote to support Bill 216. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to present our testimony in support of Bill 216.