Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has signed Bill 72 (2012) into law, which makes it now illegal to smoke at Sandy Beach Park, the Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Beach Park, Kuhio Beach Park and three sections of Kapiolani Park. Under the law, violators would be subject to fines of up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second violation within 12 months and $500 for subsequent offenses. However, the actual enforcing of the law would have to wait until the Honolulu City Council creates another bill to allow the city from prohibiting smoking on state property, which most of those beaches are on. City Council members vow to make that change quickly.
Mayor Caldwell stated, “I believe it’s the right thing to do from a health point of view. I believe it’s the right thing to do from an environmental point of view.” Caldwell added that a beach smoking ban may also enhance the visitor experience as opposed to discouraging them from coming to Hawaii. City Councilman Ikaikai Anderson had hoped to apply the no-smoking ban to all city parks and beaches. However, other council members stated that they would prefer to wait until all see the public’s reaction to these initial beach parks prior to including the entire island of Oahu.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-9-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
