http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/HI.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100317032 http://tobacco.org/news/298802.html A bill that would outlaw smoking in any motorized vehicle occupied by a child or young adult was advanced yesterday by a 6-3 vote of a Hawaii County Council committee. The Human Services and Economic Development Committee's supportive recommendation sends Bill 216 to the full council for the first of two votes required for its passage. If approved as law, the ban would take effect 90 days later. Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason, the bill's author and a former smoker, said some people have been unfairly critical of her proposal. Honolulu Advertiser Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100318/NEWS0101/3180345/Council advances bill to ban smoking in autos with kids http://tobacco.org/news/298725.html A Hawai'i County Council committee voted 6-3 yesterday to advance a bill that would outlaw smoking in any motorized vehicle occupied by a child or young adult. The Human Services and Economic Development Committee's action sends Bill 216 to the full council for the first of two votes required for its passage. If enacted into law, the ban would take effect 90 days later. Honolulu Advertiser Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100317/BREAKING01/100317032?source=rss_breaking http://tobacco.org/news/298697.html A bill that would outlaw smoking in any motorized vehicle occupied by a child or young adult was advanced yesterday by a 6-3 vote of a Hawaii County Council committee. The Human Services and Economic Development Committee's supportive recommendation sends Bill 216 to the full council for the first of two votes required for its passage. If approved as law, the ban would take effect 90 days later. Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason, the bill's author and a former smoker, said some people have been unfairly critical of her proposal. Honolulu Advertiser Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2010/03/17/local_news/local02.txt http://tobacco.org/news/298694.html A bill that would outlaw smoking in any motorized vehicle occupied by a child or young adult was advanced Tuesday by a 6-3 vote of a County Council committee. The Human Services and Economic Development Committee's supportive recommendation sends Bill 216 to the full council for the first of two votes required for its passage. If approved as law, the ban would take effect 90 days later. Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason, the bill's author and a former smoker, said some people have been unfairly critical of her proposal. "If this will take me down, I still going to stand my ground," said Naeole-Beason, who is up for re-election in September. "I believe I am the voice of the children of these islands," she added. Hawaii Tribune-Herald jarmstrong@hawaiitribune--herald.com ( Jason Armstrong Tribune-Herald Staff Writer) Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bigislandweekly.com/articles/2010/03/17/read/comment/comment01.txt http://tobacco.org/news/298684.html As I was eating lunch this week at a Hilo restaurant, I saw something out the window that made me angry. There was a man and woman -- I'm assuming that it was a mother and father -- standing outside sharing a cigarette. Standing between them was a boy, maybe seven, at the most. . . . When they would smoke, he would smoke. When they would flick ashes, he would flick ashes. He was basically following their every move. Then, on the way home from work the other day, I spotted a man holding his small child in his arms. As the man looked over some roadside vendors wares -- he was puffing on a cigarette and blowing into his small child's face. The child would recoil from the smoke and rub its eyes, but apparently it did not register to the father. What's wrong with these pictures? . . . We have an obligation to our children to do better. For parents and others out there who want to quit, find out about the Feedom From Smoking Online Smoking Cessation Program, http://www.ffsonline.org. This is an interactive course that is designed to educate and modify the behavior patterns of a smoker. Or, call the Lung HelpLine, 1-800-LUNG-USA. Look for more resources at http://www.ala-hawaii.org. Big Island Weekly jstockton@bigislandweekly.com (Jed Stockton) Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily/Pages/ND0317103.aspx http://tobacco.org/news/298629.html State looks to capture up to $700,000 in uncollected funds; meanwhile New York considers enforcing a 2008 law that would require collecting taxes on the sale of cigarettes by Native Americans to non-Indians. National Association of Convenience Stores nacspoll@nacsonline.com (RSS Feed) Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.starbulletin.com/editorials/20100317_Ban_tobacco_from_the_mail.html http://tobacco.org/news/298627.html Smokers who buy tax-free cigarettes on the Internet have been put on notice that the government knows who they are. They also should realize that their purchase of contraband cigarettes appears headed for a permanent roadblock and should get ready to end their soon-to-be expensive habit. A 1949 federal law called the Jenkins Act requires that any person who sells and ships cigarettes across a state line to a buyer other than a licensed distributor must report the sale . . . Indian tribes, which have built a lucrative industry by selling tax-free cigarettes, are asking Obama to send it back to Congress for an amendment exempting Indian tribes, but that would defy present law. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1991 that the doctrine of sovereign immunity of Indian tribes allows a state "to collect taxes on sales to nontribal members," although a state may not impose taxes on cigarettes sold to tribal members on tribal lands. Smokers have been desperate in recent years to avoid high tobacco taxes in states such as Hawaii. Passage of the bill eliminating the Postal Service as the shipper should eliminate cigarettes made cheap through the Internet. Honolulu Star-Bulletin Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100316_State_pursues_taxes_on_Net_tobacco_sales.html http://tobacco.org/news/298550.html If Hawaii smokers think they are getting a deal buying cigarettes on the Internet, the state attorney general has some advice: Forget it. The state has recently stepped up its campaign to collect the tobacco tax of 13 cents per cigarette on all out-of-state sales. Attorney General Mark Bennett says the state could be missing between $600,000 and $700,000 in uncollected tax money. Hawaii has sent out more than 900 letters to Hawaii residents who bought cigarettes via the Internet but did not pay tax on them. Honolulu Star-Bulletin rborreca@starbulletin.com ( Richard Borreca) Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/226167-hawaii-ag-pursues-cigarette-tax-scofflaws http://tobacco.org/news/298549.html Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett says people who buy cigarettes on the Internet could owe the state $26 for every carton they order. Bennett's office has recently increased efforts to collect the state's 13-cents per-cigarette tobacco tax on all out-of-state sales, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported this week. In all, the Aloha State is missing about $600,000 and $700,000 in uncollected tax money. Recently, the state sent out more than 900 letters to Hawaii residents who bought cigarettes on the Internet but did not pay tax on them. Legal NewsLine chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com (CHRIS RIZO) Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2010/03/09/local_news/local01.txt http://tobacco.org/news/298121.html It would be illegal to light up in vehicle occupied by someone under 18 Kids can't smoke on school buses, and if one Hawaii County Council member gets her way, they won't be allowed to light up when riding with parents or cruising with friends. Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to smoke in any motor vehicle occupied by someone under the age of 18. The council's Human Services and Economic Development Committee is expected to consider Bill 216 when it meets March 16 in Keauhou. Hawaii Tribune-Herald jarmstrong@hawaiitribune-herald.com ( Jason Armstrong Tribune-Herald Staff Writer) Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/global/story.asp?s=12074183 http://tobacco.org/news/297833.html With a cigar smoldering and the smoke wafting throughout, O'Toole's Irish Pub doesn't hide the fact it serves smokers. "I'm okay with that. I'm not proud of it. I'm just okay with it. It's an economic reality," said Bill Comerford, President of E&J Lounge Operating Co. which runs O'Toole's, Kelley O'Neil's and the Irish Rose Saloon. Three years ago the state passed the no smoking bill prohibiting smoking indoors and within 20 feet of an entrance. Yet Comerford allows smoking at all three of his bars because he says it's up to police to enforce the law, not him. "I can't make an income without customers so it's not my business to throw customers out of my bar," said Comerford. Comerford says he's still in compliance with law because he's placed the no smoking signs and stickers throughout his establishments and his employees advise the customers there is no smoking. But he also provides customers with an ash tray. So doesn't that send a mixed message? "It may be sending a mixed message but I have a responsibility. I'm sure if the fire department came in and someone had a cigarette they would expect to have an ashtray," said Comerford. KGMB 9 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100301_bill_diverts_tobacco_funds.html http://tobacco.org/news/297716.html No money would be allocated for smoking prevention activities from the Hawaii tobacco settlement special fund under a bill moving in the state House to deal with the state budget crisis. Instead, the funding would be diverted to the state treasury. House Bill 2887, introduced by House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina), passed the House Finance Committee over heavy opposition and cleared the House on second reading. It is expected to be up for third reading this week. The measure proposes transferring the tobacco prevention and control money to the state general fund for five years as of July 1. It also would require interest and earnings of the tobacco settlement special fund to be deposited in the state general fund. Honolulu Star-Bulletin haltonn@starbulletin.com (Helen Altonn) Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.starbulletin.com/editorials/20100227_dont_divert_tobacco_fund.html http://tobacco.org/news/297622.html An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Apply Benjamin Franklin's truism to state tobacco prevention efforts, and it can be said that an annual $3 million of prevention is worth $50 million of cure. Preserve funds for tobacco prevention and control as a necessary investment against costly tobacco ailments down the road. As it is, just 6.5 percent of tobacco settlement money now goes into the Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund . . . Yes, these are tough financial times. But an investment of $3 million annually to head off $50 million in smoking-related costs seems well worth it -- in dollars and cents, and in lives saved and better lived. Honolulu Star-Bulletin Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100221_Butting_in.html http://tobacco.org/news/297316.html Hawaii's investment in tobacco prevention and control programs the past 10 years has paid off with significant reductions in adult and youth smoking and related health costs. But funding for prevention activities also has been reduced--from about $10 million per year from 1999 through 2001 to $3.2 million this year--and health officials are concerned about backsliding. Only about 6.5 percent of tobacco settlement money now is going into the Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund, managed by the Hawaii Community Foundation. The principal plunged as low as $32 million when the market slumped in 2008-09 but is back up to $52 million. The Legislature distributes the fund to other purposes . . . The "consistent, well-funded effort over the last 10 years has really worked," said Trisha Nakamura, policy and advocacy director for the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii. "We saved lives and saved state money. We saved over $400 million in direct health-related costs over eight years attributed to smoking." But the decade of progress is in jeopardy, she said, pointing out smoking and tobacco consumption have increased in states where tobacco control funding has been cut. Honolulu Star-Bulletin haltonn@starbulletin.com (Request) Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100216/NEWS25/2160326/Survey backs spending more to reduce smoking http://tobacco.org/news/297049.html Ninety-two percent of respondents in a recent survey agreed that part of Hawai'i's tobacco settlement money should be dedicated to programs to reduce smoking among minors and to other quit-smoking programs, the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii said yesterday. "We've made great strides by reducing youth smoking from one in four youths to one in 10. However, we need to reach the 1,400 kids who start smoking every year," Deborah Zysman, the group's executive director, said in a news release. Honolulu Advertiser Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT