HONOLULU

Honolulu City Councilmember Stanley Chang has introduced Bill 72, which would prohibit smoking at beaches and parks in Waikiki, Ala Moana and Sandy Beach Park.

Current City ordinances restrict smoking at the Honolulu Zoo, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Koko Crater Botanical Garden and the Waikiki Shell, except as otherwise permitted in certain designated areas.

"In addition to the health risks to smokers and risks caused by second hand smoke, cigarette butts are still the number one cause of litter in our city and at our beaches," said Chang.

All the beaches and parks named in Bill 72 include the following:

Earlier this year, the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii conducted a poll on Oahu asking residents their opinion on the matter.

"According to our survey, there is overwhelming support with 73 percent of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that our beaches should be smoke-free," said Jessica Yamauchi, Executive Director of the Coalition. "In 2008, Hawaii County passed an ordinance prohibiting smoking at all county beaches and parks and there continues to be strong support for this law."

Bill 72 will be introduced for first reading on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 10:00 am at the meeting of the full council on the third floor of Honolulu Hale. Comments and testimony on the bill are welcome.

The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii is the only independent organization in Hawaii whose sole mission is to reduce tobacco use through education, policy and advocacy. The organization is a nonprofit organization of more than 3,000 organizations and members working to create a healthy Hawaii through comprehensive tobacco prevention and control efforts.

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Bill would ban smoking at major Honolulu beaches, parks