Great American Smokeout Maui Style

By Wendy Osher

The University of Hawai’i Maui College campus hosts the American Cancer Society’s 37th Annual Great American Smokeout health awareness fair tomorrow, November 15, 2012.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and features live music by Lia Live and the Kryptones, and access to basic health resources and information.

The event is one of several planned across the state this month to encourage smokers to start their new year’s resolution early and quit smoking, or make a plan to quit.

Officials with the American Cancer Society of Hawai’i say tobacco remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US.  “The Great American Smokeout is a perfect opportunity for smokers to take that important first step, make their New Year’s resolution a little early and kick the habit now,” said Jackie Young, PhD, chief staff officer, American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific.

Held on November 15, 2012, the Great American Smokeout is an annual nationwide event created by the American Cancer Society to encourage smokers to quit smoking.

Over the weekend, the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai’i hosted a film screening on Molokai about tobacco addiction.

Other events planned across the state include:

• OAHU: Thursday, November 15: University Health Services-Manoa Health Promotion Office will host the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout health fair themed, “Clean Air, Clean Aina.” The event will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the UH Campus Center Mall and will feature interactive games, displays, free giveaways and prizes. Other participating organizations include Hawaii Tobacco Quitline, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, University of Hawaii School of Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii Student Recreation Service, UHM Public Health Hui Ola Pono, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Waikiki Health Center, Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry and Blood Bank of Hawaii. 
• KAUAI: Wednesday, Nov. 28: Great American Smokeout and Tobacco-Free Kauai are teaming up to host the annual meeting from 5 to 6 p.m. at Kalapaki Joe’s in Lihue.

Free help is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for smokers who wish to kick their habit. The Hawaii Tobacco Quitline – 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) – is a free and confidential statewide telephone service for Hawaii tobacco users who want to quit.

The Quitline provides individuals who are ready to quit with free nicotine gum or patches, free access to Quit Coaches as well as referrals to other community cessation services and information for family, friends and health care providers who are interested in helping others quit smoking.

Another free resource for smokers, ClearTheSmoke.org, offers information about the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline, as well as educational and interactive features such as a quiz to test if a smoker’s addicted to nicotine, and calculator which shows how much money can be saved from quitting tobacco.