WASSP-15 BILL 156 (2024) BILL 156 (2024), TO PROHIBIT RETAILERS FROM SELLING OR MARKETING FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND MISLABELING PRODUCTS AS NICOTINE-FREE (WASSP-15)
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee, I am a current student in High School and I strongly support Bill 156. As a student I know of many of my peers that have unfortunately turned to vaping. Knowing how this may affect them not only now but in the future I am in support of this bill to hopefully end this. Students vaping not only affects the student themself but also those around them. While I have not been offered a vape myself I have had friends go to use the bathroom just to see those who are in there smoking and have been offered vapes. I know of many, myself included, who avoid bathrooms at school just so they don’t have to witness those who are vaping.
I strongly urge you to also be in support of this ban, helping to end the sale of flavored tobacco and help the children of this generation to live healthy, not under the influence.
Thank you for your time!
To Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee:
My name is Ciana Cooper and I am a current senior at Maui High School as well as a member of the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Hawai'i Youth Council. I am writing in strong support of Bill 156, which seeks to ban flavored tobacco products to protect Hawaiʻi’s youth from the predatory practices of the tobacco industry. From an early age, I have witnessed the profound impact these products have had on friends, family, and members of my community. Many childhood friends turned to flavored tobacco products as a form of escapism from the hardships they faced at home. Tragically, rather than providing relief, these products often consumed their lives, exacerbating the challenges they sought to escape.
The targeting of flavored tobacco products towards youth has normalized their use, exposing my peers to significant health risks. As a middle schooler, I saw this issue firsthand when my closest friend began using these products as early as sixth grade. They would sneak away to school bathrooms and conceal their actions from their family and friends. Today, the issue persists, as almost any high schooler can attest to encountering students vaping in school restrooms and public vicinities.
This epidemic among Hawaiʻi’s youth demands urgent and decisive action. The health, well-being, and future of our keiki should take precedence over corporate interests. By passing Bill 156, we can take a critical step toward addressing this pervasive issue and shielding the next generation from the harmful effects of flavored tobacco products.
I strongly urge you to consider the far-reaching consequences of inaction. Our youth deserve a community that prioritizes their health and safety, and Bill 156 represents a meaningful effort to achieve that goal.
I deeply thank you for your attention to this matter.
Ciana Cooper
Coalition For A Tobacco-Free Hawai'i Youth Council
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson and members of the Committee.
My name is Keshia Madriaga and I strongly support Bill 156 To end the sales of flavored tobacco products in Maui County.
I am a 6th grade student at Kanu O Ka ‘Aina and also a youth advocate with Hawai’i Island Youth Academy who recently passed a similar bill in Hawai’i County.
Flavored tobacco products, such as menthol cigarettes and fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, are enticing and attractive to young people. Studies have shown that flavored tobacco products make it easier for young people to start smoking, and once they start, it becomes incredibly difficult for them to quit. This is particularly troubling as tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our country.
It is crucial that we take action to protect our young people from the harmful effects of tobacco use. Banning flavored tobacco products is a step in the right direction towards achieving this goal. By removing these enticing products from the market, we can prevent young people like myself from ever starting to use tobacco in the first place.
I urge our policymakers to recognize the urgent need for action and to support Bill 156. By ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, we can protect our young people, improve public health, and create a brighter future for our community. Let's work together to make Maui County a place where healthy living is prioritized and where our young people are not lured into a dangerous and addictive habit.
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson and members of the committee,
I, Kealoha Madriaga support Bill 156 to prohibit retailers from selling flavored tobacco products. I strongly support the end of flavored tobacco products because they pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of our young generation. Flavored tobacco is a powerful tool that entices young people to start smoking or vaping, often without fully understanding the long-term consequences. These products are marketed in ways that appeal to youth, masking the harshness of tobacco and making it easier for them to become addicted. Once hooked, many of these young users are set on a path that leads to lifelong dependency on nicotine, and they risk developing severe health problems, including lung disease, heart disease, and cancer.
By removing flavored tobacco products from the market, we can help protect our youth from falling into this cycle of addiction. We can prevent future generations from becoming permanent customers of an industry that profits from their poor health. The stakes are too high to ignore—this is about ensuring that our children grow up with the opportunity for a healthy, fulfilling life, free from the destructive influence of tobacco.
I strongly advise you to take this measure seriously. If you care for our future generations please make the right choice to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products.
Mahalo nui!
Aloha,
I am a student at Seabury Hall and I am in strong support of bill 156. As a high school student, there is a lot of vaping that I know of from other students. I can see why others are so enticed to begin vaping with all of the fruity flavors, which is what has caused most of them to start. The addictiveness has taken them away from other activities that they did, and the health risks that are associated with vaping are what scare me for the sake of my classmates. Please support this bill for the health of students so they have fewer distractions by flavored vapes and more time for school and sports.
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and Committee Members,
The Committee is considering Bill 156 (2024), which aims to ban the sale and marketing of flavored tobacco products, including menthol and products producing cooling sensations, while preventing the mislabeling of nicotine-free products.
I am writing to express my strong support for this bill. As a parent of children at an age especially vulnerable to these products, I am deeply concerned about their potential health impacts and the role flavored tobacco plays in youth nicotine addiction.
Health research, including studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has shown that flavored products attract youth and often lead to nicotine addiction. The CDC has highlighted how these products mask the harshness of tobacco, making them more appealing and dangerous to our keiki (children).
By implementing this ordinance, we are taking an important step to protect our youth and reduce the appeal of harmful nicotine products. This measure also aligns with Hawaiian values such as mālama, reflecting our collective duty to care for our keiki and community, and kuleana, our responsibility to safeguard the health and well-being of our ‘ohana (family) and future generations.
I ask for your support in passing this ordinance, ensuring transparency, accountability, and better health for our community.
Mahalo for considering this important step to protect Maui County and our keiki.
I am a long-time Kauai pediatrician, and I am writing in that role to strongly support Maui County Bill 156 banning flavored tobacco products . We are in the midst of a vaping epidemic in Hawaii, with startling statistics – 1/3 of high school students and about 1/5 of middle school students are regular vapers. E-cigarettes and other flavored products are purposely made attractive to our keiki by their fruit, candy, and menthol flavors. They are, in effect, attractive starter drugs for nicotine inhalation. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances, especially for children, and by exposing young people early, they are easily hooked for life. Vaping products contain much higher nicotine concentrations than individual cigarettes, which is a strategy put forth by tobacco manufacturers to hook vulnerable teens and preteens and maintain nicotine dependence for life. Menthol is particularly harmful in vaping liquids and cigarettes because of its ability to mask the harshness of tobacco, thereby making it more palatable. This is a recipe for ever increasing medical costs to treat the long-term consequences of nicotine addiction long into the future. The most practical and expeditious way to prevent introducing vaping liquids to children is to prevent the sale of flavored tobacco products in the first place.
Menthol is also a health equity issue. In Hawaii, 78% of native Hawaiians and Pacific Island smokers use menthol cigarettes. Tobacco companies particularly target specific ethnic groups and children in advertising menthol. Shockingly, 42% of Native Hawaiian students use e-cigarettes.
Our neighbor island keiki are vaping flavored nicotine at an even higher rate than statewide, and the counties at present do not have the power to control tobacco use because of preemption, which occurred in 2018 in the State Legislature at the behest of the tobacco lobby. Once all of the counties pass flavor bans, there will be pressure on the State Legislature to finally repeal preemption. At present Kauai has been lagging at introducing a flavor ban bill to the County council, which will hopefully occur on 12/18/24. We are hoping that Maui will be the third county to pass the flavor ban, thus encouraging Kauai to follow suit.
There is a clear-cut way to greatly reduce flavored tobacco use by our most precious resource – our keiki. That is to eliminate access to all flavored vaping liquids and menthol by legislation. There is absolutely no reason to avoid this responsibility. We owe it to our children.
Sincerely,
Linda Weiner, MD
Kauai Pediatrician, retired
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee Members:
As a health care professional committed to disease prevention, I am strongly in SUPPORT of Bill 156.
Most vapes contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical that has numerous known adverse health effects. Not only does nicotine use put youth at increased risk of smoking cigarettes and future addiction to other drugs, it can also harm the parts of the developing brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. (CDC, 2024)
We have an epidemic in youth vaping/e-cigarette use in Hawaii and statistics show that 80% of youth who vape say that they started with a flavored product. The sweet flavors- some of them locally themed like Maui Mango and Hawaiian POG and coming in deceptive packaging that looks like candy- lure kids in, decrease perception of harm, and then they become addicted to nicotine.
As a Nurse Practitioner trained to provide Tobacco Cessation Treatment, I’ve seen first-hand how challenging it is for individuals to quit once addicted. As a Nursing Instructor who teaches in our Maui hospital, I see the suffering and expense that tobacco product use has inflicted on our community, especially in its contribution to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
We have an opportunity to intervene in this unfolding public health crisis in Maui by passing a bill banning flavored tobacco products to protect our youth. As a nurse I am confident it is the right thing to do; as the parent of a 15- year-old, I am passionate about urging you to act without delay.
Mahalo,
Kathleen Hagan, MS, APRN, ANP-BC
Paia, Maui, Hawaii
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and honorable members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee,
My name is Katie Folio and I am the mother of two girls, ages seven and ten. I am a former teenage smoker and, as a result, a strong advocate for anti-tobacco legislation, especially that which will protect youth, so I strongly support bill 156 to prohibit retailers from selling or marketing flavored tobacco products and mislabeling products as nicotine-free.
While I didn’t realize it at the time, there were two primary contributing factors to my picking up smoking as a teenager - media and flavors, particularly menthol. No one in my family smoked. I was not influenced by my family to smoke in any way, if anything, I was educated on the harms of smoking and I knew it was not good for my health. However, I was raised in the era of Joe Camel, and smoking was in movies, television, and smoking ads were posted at eye level in grocery stores and gas stations. Eventually, and without my really being aware of it, the advertising worked.
The first cigarettes I ever tried were flavored and menthol. Unflavored cigarettes were not very appealing to me as a teenager and were very harsh to smoke when I did eventually try them, but flavored cigarettes, including strawberry and vanilla, were very appealing to us as teenage girls. Thankfully flavored cigarettes other than menthol were eventually banned, but I blame menthol for my nicotine addiction, which took ten years to beat. Sadly menthol is still addicting youth, and it breaks my hear that Maui has the highest rate of teen cigarette smokers who smoke menthol cigarettes (18.5%), surpassing the Hawai‘i State average (15.8%).
I became an advocate for tobacco control as an adult because of my experience as a teenager. I don’t want to see other kids end up in the same situation, or worse, because of nicotine addiction. I don’t want to see my girls end up where I did, or die from cancer too early. I was one of the lucky ones - I was able to eventually quit. Not everyone can, and that is what big tobacco and the vaping industry rely on. It’s how they are so powerful, how they make such ridiculous amounts of money by literally killing people, simply by addicting them as early as possible. It’s unacceptable, and it needs to stop.
We know that tobacco control legislation works. Our youth smoking rates dropped significantly from the 90s once we started passing comprehensive legislation. But our progress is being undone by the popularity of vaping with youth. We can’t allow flavored tobacco products to continue to be on the market, in any form. Vaping products are tobacco products and most often contain extremely high levels of nicotine. One cigarette contains 10 mg of nicotine in a freebase form that makes it harsh to inhale (which menthol helps to mask). Disposable vaping products popular with youth often contain up to 50 mg of nicotine in a salt formula that makes it smoother (i.e. easier) to inhale. They are designed to make it easier to get addicted to nicotine, creating lifetime users.
My friend’s son, at seven years old, was carded at the Volcano vape kiosk at Maui Mall when he approached and asked for a watermelon apple juice box. He was just a little boy who wanted a juice box, and he had no idea what he was looking at was actually a highly addictive nicotine product. But the industry knows exactly what they are doing, knows that in order to have customers for life, they need to addict kids to nicotine when they are young, and they are doing it very much on purpose.
I want to see see this bill passed for the sake of our kids and their futures. Please let this be the year that Maui takes this much needed step. We thank you for listening to our health experts and organizations, and to our youth who have been asking for these protections for years.
I support this bill and hope you do too. We need to always strive to keep the next generation nicotine free - Its a terrible addiction and way harder to beat than nearly any other I've worked with people on leaving behind.
As someone who keeps up with the Hawaii Youth Network bulletins, I've seen that the youth have been trying and trying for the past 6 years to have their bills that address these issues heard - but have been stopped by Finance not hearing them each year. (I don't even see flavored tobacco, vape etc on their list of priorities this year, so am afraid they may have given up.) I saw their disturbing discussions about seeing second graders having "vape coughs..." I am hopeful that to have these priorities addressed at the County level may prove encouraging to them in their efforts. Mahalo! Colleen O'Shea Wallace, MPH, CFLE
Aloha, Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee, my name is Violet Kato. I strongly support Bill 156 in ending the sale and marketing of flavored tobacco products in Maui. As a current high school student, I see the adverse effects Tobacco products can have on my peers, and helping to end the selling of those products as a whole, and not just in kids, would significantly change the lives of many of those students. When I think back to my experience with flavored Tobacco products, I immediately remember the time in middle school when I had to go to the bathroom so badly that I went during my school’s recess period. Ordinarily, I try not to go to the restroom during school hours because I know what I will find, yet I was still shocked at the number of artificial sick flavors that hit my nose as soon as I stepped inside. There were about four girls, all so consumed with gossiping while smoking their e-cigarettes that they did not even notice when I immediately turned around to leave. I never went to that bathroom again, but I still think about how they were smoking something they knew was not allowed in a public school bathroom. It was almost as if it was normalized in middle schools where most students are ages 11 to 14. A couple of those girls go to my high school and passing this bill will put an end to their illegal substance abuse, which in turn will lead to more students making the right choices for their bodies.
Please support Bill 156, Thank You for Reading,
Violet Kato
To Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee:
My name is Jeremiah Jacinto, and I am a high school student attending H.P. Baldwin High School in the Maui district. I also serve as a member of the youth council for the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Hawai'i. I am writing to express my strong support for Bill 156, which seeks to protect youth from the tobacco industry's predatory marketing practices.
I have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of vaping. A close friend, someone I grew up with and cared deeply about, turned to vaping as an escape during a difficult time in their life. It quickly became apparent that vaping offered no solace; instead, it worsened their struggles. Tragically, this friend ultimately succumbed to the mental health challenges they were facing, leading to their suicide. This heartbreak has left an indelible mark on me and reinforced the urgent need to address vaping among youth.
Beyond the personal toll, vaping has severely disrupted our schools. Many students, myself included, feel anxious even entering school bathrooms. Administrators frequently close restrooms to curb vaping, leaving us with limited options and heightened discomfort. Those that remain open often carry the fear of walking into groups of students vaping. This issue is not only distracting but also a direct threat to the learning environment and well-being of students.
Bill 156 is essential for protecting students like me and others across Maui County. By restricting the ability of the Tobacco Industry to market and prey on young, impressionable minds, we can take a critical step toward safeguarding our health and future. Passing this bill sends a clear message that our community prioritizes the well-being of its youth over corporate profits.
I urge you to stand with us and pass Bill 156. For the sake of my peers, for the memory of my friend, and for the health and safety of generations to come, we must act decisively.
Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Jeremiah Jacinto
Executive Student Council at H.P. Baldwin High School
Coalition For A Tobacco-Free Hawai'i Youth Council
Aloha, please find attached, a copy of Hawai'i Public Health Institute's testimony in support of Bill 156. Mahalo, Leslie Garo -Maui County Tobacco-free Coalition Coordinator
Aloha! I am a 24 year old college student. I support Bill 156, to prohibit retailers from selling or marketing flavored tobacco products and mislabeling products as nicotine-free.
From the time I've been in middle school, I have seen first hand the influence flavored tobacco products and so called "nicotine-free" vapes have, especially on the youth. Their "trendy" flavors named after sweets, candies, fruits, and the stylish vapes make them very appealing to young kids. Because of this, smoking and secondhand smoking have gone up and it sets them up for long lasting health side effects. By supporting this bill, we can further protect kids from the dangers of smoking flavored tobacco products and misleading products as nicotine-free.
Vapes and flavored tobacco products are also bad for the environment, from production to "decomposition". By supporting this bill, we can further protect our environment, our beaches, our oceans, our wildlife, our ocean life, and streets and keep them clean of tobacco products.
It's also clear from other testimonies that this bill will further protect kids from smoking, keep our environment clean, and hold the retailers responsible accountable. Please pass Bill 156. For our keiki, for our community, for our ocean, for our ʻāina.
I am submitting this testimony to urge this Committee to advise the Maui County Council to take immediate and decisive action to improve enforcement of the tobacco-free ordinance enacted in 2014. This law prohibits smoking and vaping in all county parks, beaches, and recreational facilities. While it was a landmark effort to protect public health and our environment, its intended benefits are being undermined by widespread noncompliance and insufficient enforcement.
Despite clear prohibitions and penalties ranging from $100 to $500, vaping and smoking in public parks and beaches remain ongoing, visible, and unaddressed. This issue is especially troubling as it sets a poor example for our keiki (children), contributing to the normalization of tobacco use among youth and adults alike. Furthermore, the environmental damage caused by cigarette butts and vaping cartridges littering these spaces contradicts Maui's commitment to sustainability and the preservation of its natural beauty.
The enforcement of this ordinance offers numerous benefits. First, it protects public health by reducing secondhand smoke exposure, which is particularly hazardous to children and families using these recreational areas. Additionally, enforcement serves as a deterrent, discouraging tobacco use in public spaces and promoting healthier behaviors.
Second, it helps curb youth tobacco use. Public smoking and vaping normalize these behaviors, making them more appealing to impressionable youth. By ensuring compliance with the ordinance, Maui County can reinforce its stance against tobacco use and contribute to reducing vaping rates among young people.
Third, enforcement supports environmental preservation. Cigarette butts and vaping cartridges are among the most common forms of litter found in parks and beaches. This litter harms marine life and detracts from the natural beauty of Maui's public spaces. Strong enforcement would help maintain these areas in a pristine condition.
Fourth, enforcing the ordinance demonstrates accountability. The absence of citations since the law's inception highlights a lack of enforcement, which undermines public trust in the county's ability to uphold its rules. Active enforcement will restore confidence and demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of residents and visitors.
Lastly, while revenue generation is not the primary goal, fines collected from violators could support educational campaigns, enforcement efforts, and park maintenance, creating a positive feedback loop for community benefits.
I recommend allocating resources to increase enforcement through park rangers or other dedicated personnel. Launching public awareness campaigns to emphasize the tobacco-free law and its benefits for health and the environment will also support compliance. Collaborating with schools and community organizations to educate youth about the harms of smoking and vaping is crucial. Finally, periodic reporting should be introduced to track enforcement efforts and assess their impact.
By prioritizing enforcement of this ordinance, Maui County can reaffirm its commitment to public health, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. I urge the council to act on this matter and ensure that our public spaces remain safe, clean, and enjoyable for all.
My name is Rick Collins and I'm a resident of Pukalani. As a father of two children, I fully support this bill. It's clearly evident that e-cig products are attractive to youth and have led to a nationwide epidemic of youth smokers. This is one of the strongest legislative policies known to curb youth e-cig/vape use. As the future of our community, we owe it to our youth to provide them with a safe environment, free from these types of harmful products that prey upon them and have lifelong, lasting health impacts. I know that this type of legislation can feel controversial for lawmakers such as yourselves. This was the same case years ago when legislation was passed that banned Fred Flinstone from smoking, banned TV commericals, and made it unlawful to smoke in hospitals, restaurants and planes. I appreciate Council member Sugimura and the committee for addressing this issue and taking courage to pass legislation that will create healthier youth and save numerous young lives for years to come. Mahalo for the opportunity to provide testimony and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Mahalo, Rick Collins
Aloha,
I am a writing in support of Bill 156. As a tobacco treatment specialist of eight years, health educator to youth in the schools, licensed clinical psychologist to youth clients, and as a community member of Lanai, I am seeing first-hand how youth are drawn to try e-cigarette devices as they are enticed by the flavors (flavors that are clearly marketed towards youth with their catchy names and desirable flavors) and eventually become hooked on the nicotine making it difficult for them to stop using the product. As we know, our youth are vulnerable as nicotine, as well as, other chemicals in e-cigarettes can be harmful to the developing brains in our youth. 36.6% of teens in Maui County have tried e-cigarettes in 2021, surpassing the Hawaiʻi State average (32.4%) (2021 YRBS). The FDA (2024) indicates that flavored products are driving this epidemic, where 87.6% of youth e-cigarette users use flavored products. Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco will advance health equity – disparities in tobacco use are due to the tobacco industry’s history of marketing menthol cigarettes to youth and people of color. In Hawai‘i, 80% of Native Hawaiian smokers and 70% of Filipino smokers use menthol cigarettes (Hawai‘i BRFSS, 2022). Mint and menthol-flavored e-cigarettes are the most popular flavors among youth. Please consider passing this bill. By doing so, you will be putting the health of our keiki first and letting tobacco companies know that it is not okay for them to target youth with their products. Thank you for your time. Please support Bill 156.
I work for a youth-serving organization. Last year, a seven year old child was caught vaping near our facility in Wailuku. Upon being questioned, the child would not disclose how and where he got the device, but when asked why he likes to vape, the two-word answer was telling and simple, "Taste good". I support the passing of bill 156.
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee, I am a current student in High School and I strongly support Bill 156. As a student I know of many of my peers that have unfortunately turned to vaping. Knowing how this may affect them not only now but in the future I am in support of this bill to hopefully end this. Students vaping not only affects the student themself but also those around them. While I have not been offered a vape myself I have had friends go to use the bathroom just to see those who are in there smoking and have been offered vapes. I know of many, myself included, who avoid bathrooms at school just so they don’t have to witness those who are vaping.
I strongly urge you to also be in support of this ban, helping to end the sale of flavored tobacco and help the children of this generation to live healthy, not under the influence.
Thank you for your time!
To Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee:
My name is Ciana Cooper and I am a current senior at Maui High School as well as a member of the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Hawai'i Youth Council. I am writing in strong support of Bill 156, which seeks to ban flavored tobacco products to protect Hawaiʻi’s youth from the predatory practices of the tobacco industry. From an early age, I have witnessed the profound impact these products have had on friends, family, and members of my community. Many childhood friends turned to flavored tobacco products as a form of escapism from the hardships they faced at home. Tragically, rather than providing relief, these products often consumed their lives, exacerbating the challenges they sought to escape.
The targeting of flavored tobacco products towards youth has normalized their use, exposing my peers to significant health risks. As a middle schooler, I saw this issue firsthand when my closest friend began using these products as early as sixth grade. They would sneak away to school bathrooms and conceal their actions from their family and friends. Today, the issue persists, as almost any high schooler can attest to encountering students vaping in school restrooms and public vicinities.
This epidemic among Hawaiʻi’s youth demands urgent and decisive action. The health, well-being, and future of our keiki should take precedence over corporate interests. By passing Bill 156, we can take a critical step toward addressing this pervasive issue and shielding the next generation from the harmful effects of flavored tobacco products.
I strongly urge you to consider the far-reaching consequences of inaction. Our youth deserve a community that prioritizes their health and safety, and Bill 156 represents a meaningful effort to achieve that goal.
I deeply thank you for your attention to this matter.
Ciana Cooper
Coalition For A Tobacco-Free Hawai'i Youth Council
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Hawai‘i
Strong Support for Bill 156
Support for HIPHI's language amendments
Liza Ryan-Gill
Campaign Manager
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson and members of the Committee.
My name is Keshia Madriaga and I strongly support Bill 156 To end the sales of flavored tobacco products in Maui County.
I am a 6th grade student at Kanu O Ka ‘Aina and also a youth advocate with Hawai’i Island Youth Academy who recently passed a similar bill in Hawai’i County.
Flavored tobacco products, such as menthol cigarettes and fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, are enticing and attractive to young people. Studies have shown that flavored tobacco products make it easier for young people to start smoking, and once they start, it becomes incredibly difficult for them to quit. This is particularly troubling as tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our country.
It is crucial that we take action to protect our young people from the harmful effects of tobacco use. Banning flavored tobacco products is a step in the right direction towards achieving this goal. By removing these enticing products from the market, we can prevent young people like myself from ever starting to use tobacco in the first place.
I urge our policymakers to recognize the urgent need for action and to support Bill 156. By ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, we can protect our young people, improve public health, and create a brighter future for our community. Let's work together to make Maui County a place where healthy living is prioritized and where our young people are not lured into a dangerous and addictive habit.
Mahalo for your time!
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson and members of the committee,
I, Kealoha Madriaga support Bill 156 to prohibit retailers from selling flavored tobacco products. I strongly support the end of flavored tobacco products because they pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of our young generation. Flavored tobacco is a powerful tool that entices young people to start smoking or vaping, often without fully understanding the long-term consequences. These products are marketed in ways that appeal to youth, masking the harshness of tobacco and making it easier for them to become addicted. Once hooked, many of these young users are set on a path that leads to lifelong dependency on nicotine, and they risk developing severe health problems, including lung disease, heart disease, and cancer.
By removing flavored tobacco products from the market, we can help protect our youth from falling into this cycle of addiction. We can prevent future generations from becoming permanent customers of an industry that profits from their poor health. The stakes are too high to ignore—this is about ensuring that our children grow up with the opportunity for a healthy, fulfilling life, free from the destructive influence of tobacco.
I strongly advise you to take this measure seriously. If you care for our future generations please make the right choice to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products.
Mahalo nui!
Aloha,
I am a student at Seabury Hall and I am in strong support of bill 156. As a high school student, there is a lot of vaping that I know of from other students. I can see why others are so enticed to begin vaping with all of the fruity flavors, which is what has caused most of them to start. The addictiveness has taken them away from other activities that they did, and the health risks that are associated with vaping are what scare me for the sake of my classmates. Please support this bill for the health of students so they have fewer distractions by flavored vapes and more time for school and sports.
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and Committee Members,
The Committee is considering Bill 156 (2024), which aims to ban the sale and marketing of flavored tobacco products, including menthol and products producing cooling sensations, while preventing the mislabeling of nicotine-free products.
I am writing to express my strong support for this bill. As a parent of children at an age especially vulnerable to these products, I am deeply concerned about their potential health impacts and the role flavored tobacco plays in youth nicotine addiction.
Health research, including studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has shown that flavored products attract youth and often lead to nicotine addiction. The CDC has highlighted how these products mask the harshness of tobacco, making them more appealing and dangerous to our keiki (children).
By implementing this ordinance, we are taking an important step to protect our youth and reduce the appeal of harmful nicotine products. This measure also aligns with Hawaiian values such as mālama, reflecting our collective duty to care for our keiki and community, and kuleana, our responsibility to safeguard the health and well-being of our ‘ohana (family) and future generations.
I ask for your support in passing this ordinance, ensuring transparency, accountability, and better health for our community.
Mahalo for considering this important step to protect Maui County and our keiki.
Sincerely
Lalaine Pasion
Parent Advocate
Maui, Hawai’i
I am a long-time Kauai pediatrician, and I am writing in that role to strongly support Maui County Bill 156 banning flavored tobacco products . We are in the midst of a vaping epidemic in Hawaii, with startling statistics – 1/3 of high school students and about 1/5 of middle school students are regular vapers. E-cigarettes and other flavored products are purposely made attractive to our keiki by their fruit, candy, and menthol flavors. They are, in effect, attractive starter drugs for nicotine inhalation. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances, especially for children, and by exposing young people early, they are easily hooked for life. Vaping products contain much higher nicotine concentrations than individual cigarettes, which is a strategy put forth by tobacco manufacturers to hook vulnerable teens and preteens and maintain nicotine dependence for life. Menthol is particularly harmful in vaping liquids and cigarettes because of its ability to mask the harshness of tobacco, thereby making it more palatable. This is a recipe for ever increasing medical costs to treat the long-term consequences of nicotine addiction long into the future. The most practical and expeditious way to prevent introducing vaping liquids to children is to prevent the sale of flavored tobacco products in the first place.
Menthol is also a health equity issue. In Hawaii, 78% of native Hawaiians and Pacific Island smokers use menthol cigarettes. Tobacco companies particularly target specific ethnic groups and children in advertising menthol. Shockingly, 42% of Native Hawaiian students use e-cigarettes.
Our neighbor island keiki are vaping flavored nicotine at an even higher rate than statewide, and the counties at present do not have the power to control tobacco use because of preemption, which occurred in 2018 in the State Legislature at the behest of the tobacco lobby. Once all of the counties pass flavor bans, there will be pressure on the State Legislature to finally repeal preemption. At present Kauai has been lagging at introducing a flavor ban bill to the County council, which will hopefully occur on 12/18/24. We are hoping that Maui will be the third county to pass the flavor ban, thus encouraging Kauai to follow suit.
There is a clear-cut way to greatly reduce flavored tobacco use by our most precious resource – our keiki. That is to eliminate access to all flavored vaping liquids and menthol by legislation. There is absolutely no reason to avoid this responsibility. We owe it to our children.
Sincerely,
Linda Weiner, MD
Kauai Pediatrician, retired
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee Members:
As a health care professional committed to disease prevention, I am strongly in SUPPORT of Bill 156.
Most vapes contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical that has numerous known adverse health effects. Not only does nicotine use put youth at increased risk of smoking cigarettes and future addiction to other drugs, it can also harm the parts of the developing brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. (CDC, 2024)
We have an epidemic in youth vaping/e-cigarette use in Hawaii and statistics show that 80% of youth who vape say that they started with a flavored product. The sweet flavors- some of them locally themed like Maui Mango and Hawaiian POG and coming in deceptive packaging that looks like candy- lure kids in, decrease perception of harm, and then they become addicted to nicotine.
As a Nurse Practitioner trained to provide Tobacco Cessation Treatment, I’ve seen first-hand how challenging it is for individuals to quit once addicted. As a Nursing Instructor who teaches in our Maui hospital, I see the suffering and expense that tobacco product use has inflicted on our community, especially in its contribution to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
We have an opportunity to intervene in this unfolding public health crisis in Maui by passing a bill banning flavored tobacco products to protect our youth. As a nurse I am confident it is the right thing to do; as the parent of a 15- year-old, I am passionate about urging you to act without delay.
Mahalo,
Kathleen Hagan, MS, APRN, ANP-BC
Paia, Maui, Hawaii
Aloha Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and honorable members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee,
My name is Katie Folio and I am the mother of two girls, ages seven and ten. I am a former teenage smoker and, as a result, a strong advocate for anti-tobacco legislation, especially that which will protect youth, so I strongly support bill 156 to prohibit retailers from selling or marketing flavored tobacco products and mislabeling products as nicotine-free.
While I didn’t realize it at the time, there were two primary contributing factors to my picking up smoking as a teenager - media and flavors, particularly menthol. No one in my family smoked. I was not influenced by my family to smoke in any way, if anything, I was educated on the harms of smoking and I knew it was not good for my health. However, I was raised in the era of Joe Camel, and smoking was in movies, television, and smoking ads were posted at eye level in grocery stores and gas stations. Eventually, and without my really being aware of it, the advertising worked.
The first cigarettes I ever tried were flavored and menthol. Unflavored cigarettes were not very appealing to me as a teenager and were very harsh to smoke when I did eventually try them, but flavored cigarettes, including strawberry and vanilla, were very appealing to us as teenage girls. Thankfully flavored cigarettes other than menthol were eventually banned, but I blame menthol for my nicotine addiction, which took ten years to beat. Sadly menthol is still addicting youth, and it breaks my hear that Maui has the highest rate of teen cigarette smokers who smoke menthol cigarettes (18.5%), surpassing the Hawai‘i State average (15.8%).
I became an advocate for tobacco control as an adult because of my experience as a teenager. I don’t want to see other kids end up in the same situation, or worse, because of nicotine addiction. I don’t want to see my girls end up where I did, or die from cancer too early. I was one of the lucky ones - I was able to eventually quit. Not everyone can, and that is what big tobacco and the vaping industry rely on. It’s how they are so powerful, how they make such ridiculous amounts of money by literally killing people, simply by addicting them as early as possible. It’s unacceptable, and it needs to stop.
We know that tobacco control legislation works. Our youth smoking rates dropped significantly from the 90s once we started passing comprehensive legislation. But our progress is being undone by the popularity of vaping with youth. We can’t allow flavored tobacco products to continue to be on the market, in any form. Vaping products are tobacco products and most often contain extremely high levels of nicotine. One cigarette contains 10 mg of nicotine in a freebase form that makes it harsh to inhale (which menthol helps to mask). Disposable vaping products popular with youth often contain up to 50 mg of nicotine in a salt formula that makes it smoother (i.e. easier) to inhale. They are designed to make it easier to get addicted to nicotine, creating lifetime users.
My friend’s son, at seven years old, was carded at the Volcano vape kiosk at Maui Mall when he approached and asked for a watermelon apple juice box. He was just a little boy who wanted a juice box, and he had no idea what he was looking at was actually a highly addictive nicotine product. But the industry knows exactly what they are doing, knows that in order to have customers for life, they need to addict kids to nicotine when they are young, and they are doing it very much on purpose.
I want to see see this bill passed for the sake of our kids and their futures. Please let this be the year that Maui takes this much needed step. We thank you for listening to our health experts and organizations, and to our youth who have been asking for these protections for years.
Mahalo nui loa,
Katie Folio
Kula, Maui, Hawaii
I support this bill and hope you do too. We need to always strive to keep the next generation nicotine free - Its a terrible addiction and way harder to beat than nearly any other I've worked with people on leaving behind.
As someone who keeps up with the Hawaii Youth Network bulletins, I've seen that the youth have been trying and trying for the past 6 years to have their bills that address these issues heard - but have been stopped by Finance not hearing them each year. (I don't even see flavored tobacco, vape etc on their list of priorities this year, so am afraid they may have given up.) I saw their disturbing discussions about seeing second graders having "vape coughs..." I am hopeful that to have these priorities addressed at the County level may prove encouraging to them in their efforts. Mahalo! Colleen O'Shea Wallace, MPH, CFLE
Aloha, Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee, my name is Violet Kato. I strongly support Bill 156 in ending the sale and marketing of flavored tobacco products in Maui. As a current high school student, I see the adverse effects Tobacco products can have on my peers, and helping to end the selling of those products as a whole, and not just in kids, would significantly change the lives of many of those students. When I think back to my experience with flavored Tobacco products, I immediately remember the time in middle school when I had to go to the bathroom so badly that I went during my school’s recess period. Ordinarily, I try not to go to the restroom during school hours because I know what I will find, yet I was still shocked at the number of artificial sick flavors that hit my nose as soon as I stepped inside. There were about four girls, all so consumed with gossiping while smoking their e-cigarettes that they did not even notice when I immediately turned around to leave. I never went to that bathroom again, but I still think about how they were smoking something they knew was not allowed in a public school bathroom. It was almost as if it was normalized in middle schools where most students are ages 11 to 14. A couple of those girls go to my high school and passing this bill will put an end to their illegal substance abuse, which in turn will lead to more students making the right choices for their bodies.
Please support Bill 156, Thank You for Reading,
Violet Kato
To Chair Sinenci, Vice Chair Johnson, and members of the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee:
My name is Jeremiah Jacinto, and I am a high school student attending H.P. Baldwin High School in the Maui district. I also serve as a member of the youth council for the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Hawai'i. I am writing to express my strong support for Bill 156, which seeks to protect youth from the tobacco industry's predatory marketing practices.
I have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of vaping. A close friend, someone I grew up with and cared deeply about, turned to vaping as an escape during a difficult time in their life. It quickly became apparent that vaping offered no solace; instead, it worsened their struggles. Tragically, this friend ultimately succumbed to the mental health challenges they were facing, leading to their suicide. This heartbreak has left an indelible mark on me and reinforced the urgent need to address vaping among youth.
Beyond the personal toll, vaping has severely disrupted our schools. Many students, myself included, feel anxious even entering school bathrooms. Administrators frequently close restrooms to curb vaping, leaving us with limited options and heightened discomfort. Those that remain open often carry the fear of walking into groups of students vaping. This issue is not only distracting but also a direct threat to the learning environment and well-being of students.
Bill 156 is essential for protecting students like me and others across Maui County. By restricting the ability of the Tobacco Industry to market and prey on young, impressionable minds, we can take a critical step toward safeguarding our health and future. Passing this bill sends a clear message that our community prioritizes the well-being of its youth over corporate profits.
I urge you to stand with us and pass Bill 156. For the sake of my peers, for the memory of my friend, and for the health and safety of generations to come, we must act decisively.
Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Jeremiah Jacinto
Executive Student Council at H.P. Baldwin High School
Coalition For A Tobacco-Free Hawai'i Youth Council
Aloha, please find attached, a copy of Hawai'i Public Health Institute's testimony in support of Bill 156. Mahalo, Leslie Garo -Maui County Tobacco-free Coalition Coordinator
Aloha! I am a 24 year old college student. I support Bill 156, to prohibit retailers from selling or marketing flavored tobacco products and mislabeling products as nicotine-free.
From the time I've been in middle school, I have seen first hand the influence flavored tobacco products and so called "nicotine-free" vapes have, especially on the youth. Their "trendy" flavors named after sweets, candies, fruits, and the stylish vapes make them very appealing to young kids. Because of this, smoking and secondhand smoking have gone up and it sets them up for long lasting health side effects. By supporting this bill, we can further protect kids from the dangers of smoking flavored tobacco products and misleading products as nicotine-free.
Vapes and flavored tobacco products are also bad for the environment, from production to "decomposition". By supporting this bill, we can further protect our environment, our beaches, our oceans, our wildlife, our ocean life, and streets and keep them clean of tobacco products.
It's also clear from other testimonies that this bill will further protect kids from smoking, keep our environment clean, and hold the retailers responsible accountable. Please pass Bill 156. For our keiki, for our community, for our ocean, for our ʻāina.
Please find the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i Youth Council's testimony in support of Bill 156 attached.
Mahalo for your support.
I am submitting this testimony to urge this Committee to advise the Maui County Council to take immediate and decisive action to improve enforcement of the tobacco-free ordinance enacted in 2014. This law prohibits smoking and vaping in all county parks, beaches, and recreational facilities. While it was a landmark effort to protect public health and our environment, its intended benefits are being undermined by widespread noncompliance and insufficient enforcement.
Despite clear prohibitions and penalties ranging from $100 to $500, vaping and smoking in public parks and beaches remain ongoing, visible, and unaddressed. This issue is especially troubling as it sets a poor example for our keiki (children), contributing to the normalization of tobacco use among youth and adults alike. Furthermore, the environmental damage caused by cigarette butts and vaping cartridges littering these spaces contradicts Maui's commitment to sustainability and the preservation of its natural beauty.
The enforcement of this ordinance offers numerous benefits. First, it protects public health by reducing secondhand smoke exposure, which is particularly hazardous to children and families using these recreational areas. Additionally, enforcement serves as a deterrent, discouraging tobacco use in public spaces and promoting healthier behaviors.
Second, it helps curb youth tobacco use. Public smoking and vaping normalize these behaviors, making them more appealing to impressionable youth. By ensuring compliance with the ordinance, Maui County can reinforce its stance against tobacco use and contribute to reducing vaping rates among young people.
Third, enforcement supports environmental preservation. Cigarette butts and vaping cartridges are among the most common forms of litter found in parks and beaches. This litter harms marine life and detracts from the natural beauty of Maui's public spaces. Strong enforcement would help maintain these areas in a pristine condition.
Fourth, enforcing the ordinance demonstrates accountability. The absence of citations since the law's inception highlights a lack of enforcement, which undermines public trust in the county's ability to uphold its rules. Active enforcement will restore confidence and demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of residents and visitors.
Lastly, while revenue generation is not the primary goal, fines collected from violators could support educational campaigns, enforcement efforts, and park maintenance, creating a positive feedback loop for community benefits.
I recommend allocating resources to increase enforcement through park rangers or other dedicated personnel. Launching public awareness campaigns to emphasize the tobacco-free law and its benefits for health and the environment will also support compliance. Collaborating with schools and community organizations to educate youth about the harms of smoking and vaping is crucial. Finally, periodic reporting should be introduced to track enforcement efforts and assess their impact.
By prioritizing enforcement of this ordinance, Maui County can reaffirm its commitment to public health, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. I urge the council to act on this matter and ensure that our public spaces remain safe, clean, and enjoyable for all.
Mahalo for your attention to this critical issue.
Renee P Kaiama
My name is Rick Collins and I'm a resident of Pukalani. As a father of two children, I fully support this bill. It's clearly evident that e-cig products are attractive to youth and have led to a nationwide epidemic of youth smokers. This is one of the strongest legislative policies known to curb youth e-cig/vape use. As the future of our community, we owe it to our youth to provide them with a safe environment, free from these types of harmful products that prey upon them and have lifelong, lasting health impacts. I know that this type of legislation can feel controversial for lawmakers such as yourselves. This was the same case years ago when legislation was passed that banned Fred Flinstone from smoking, banned TV commericals, and made it unlawful to smoke in hospitals, restaurants and planes. I appreciate Council member Sugimura and the committee for addressing this issue and taking courage to pass legislation that will create healthier youth and save numerous young lives for years to come. Mahalo for the opportunity to provide testimony and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Mahalo, Rick Collins
Aloha,
I am a writing in support of Bill 156. As a tobacco treatment specialist of eight years, health educator to youth in the schools, licensed clinical psychologist to youth clients, and as a community member of Lanai, I am seeing first-hand how youth are drawn to try e-cigarette devices as they are enticed by the flavors (flavors that are clearly marketed towards youth with their catchy names and desirable flavors) and eventually become hooked on the nicotine making it difficult for them to stop using the product. As we know, our youth are vulnerable as nicotine, as well as, other chemicals in e-cigarettes can be harmful to the developing brains in our youth. 36.6% of teens in Maui County have tried e-cigarettes in 2021, surpassing the Hawaiʻi State average (32.4%) (2021 YRBS). The FDA (2024) indicates that flavored products are driving this epidemic, where 87.6% of youth e-cigarette users use flavored products. Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco will advance health equity – disparities in tobacco use are due to the tobacco industry’s history of marketing menthol cigarettes to youth and people of color. In Hawai‘i, 80% of Native Hawaiian smokers and 70% of Filipino smokers use menthol cigarettes (Hawai‘i BRFSS, 2022). Mint and menthol-flavored e-cigarettes are the most popular flavors among youth. Please consider passing this bill. By doing so, you will be putting the health of our keiki first and letting tobacco companies know that it is not okay for them to target youth with their products. Thank you for your time. Please support Bill 156.
Aloha Kākou,
I work for a youth-serving organization. Last year, a seven year old child was caught vaping near our facility in Wailuku. Upon being questioned, the child would not disclose how and where he got the device, but when asked why he likes to vape, the two-word answer was telling and simple, "Taste good". I support the passing of bill 156.