Hawaiʻi Kids Urge Lawmakers to Increase Tobacco Purchase Age

Cigarette butts collected from Maui beaches. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

Hawaiʻi kids will stand up to Big Tobacco today as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 20th annual Kick Butts Day.

More than 1,000 events are planned nationwide for this day of youth activism, sponsored by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Youth with the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaiʻi in Honolulu participated in the event by visiting the State Capitol to educate legislators and empower their peers to advocate for bills to raise the tobacco age of sale in the state to 21.

Youth across the state are also participating by sign waving, posting to social media and meeting with legislators in support of the bill.