Next month, parkgoers will have to think twice before lighting up or vaping at Hawaii state parks.
Next month, parkgoers will have to think twice before lighting up or vaping at Hawaii state parks.
Effective July 1, smoking tobacco or e-cigarettes at state parks will be prohibited following the signing of House Bill 525 by Gov. David Ige on Friday.
The bill does include language that the department can establish designated smoking areas.
“We have, for many decades, been aware of the bad outcomes of secondhand smoking, and this allows us to put one more impediment into smoking too much. More important, when you talk to people who are users of the parks, and who are responsible for keeping our parks clean, cigarette smoking and cigarette butts is a huge, huge challenge,” Ige said prior to signing the bill, introduced by Cindy Evans, D-North Kona and Kohala, and Kaniela Ing, D-Kihei, Wailea and Makena.
Evans did not immediately respond for comment.
Also Friday, Ige signed into law Senate Bill 1030, making Hawaii the first state in the nation to raise the age of sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21.
The law, which will prohibit the sale, purchase, possession and consumption of tobacco products, will take effect Jan. 1, 2016. A Hawaii County law banning the sale of such products to those younger than 21 went into effect in June 2013.
“Taking this step forward to prohibit anyone under the age of 21 of smoking, purchasing, (or) possessing is another step to reduce the impact smoking has on our community,” Ige said.
Ige also commended the work of Hawaii County Councilman Dru Kanuha, who led the island’s effort to ban the sale of such products about two years ago.
He “taught us a lesson over here at the state about how sometimes we need to be bold in policy decisions,” Ige said.
He also noted both laws will further the state’s “commitment to good health policy.”
“We already have the longest life expectancy in the country for a wide variety of reasons and I do believe that taking these actions here today will only strengthen and lengthen the opportunities for the citizens to lead healthy and fulfilling lives,” Ige said about signing the bills.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.