Jump to full article: KHNL-TV Channel 8 (Honolulu, HI), 2008-02-12
Author: Roger Mari
Intro: It's been more than a year since Hawaii outlawed smoking in bars and restaurants.
But this year, some lawmakers plan to introduce a new bill that would make exceptions.
It will allow bar owners to pay a fee of one to three thousand dollars for a license allowing smoking.
The beauty of this bill is that those fees every year will go toward a public awareness campaign to increase organ donations in Hawaii.
Those in favor of the bill believe that, unless lawmakers push it through, Hawaii's bar and restaurant industry will suffer.
"There have been millions of dollars lost since the smoking ban we're shooting ourselves in the foot, it's despicable," said Kawika Crowley of the Hawaii Smokers Alliance.
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