Ask The Mayor: When Is The Smoking Ban Going To Be Enforced?

Photo by Wendy Osher.

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q: I know a smoking ban was passed on Maui and I’m wondering when that is going to be enforced? I know it is a huge task, but even signs would be helpful. I get tired of stepping over cigarette butts that are left behind, as well as the offensive smell of smoke. Thank you!

A: Thank you for checking. First, a point of clarification: It is not a smoking ban, it is a tobacco ban. Secondly, it’s important to note that the County Council’s bill did not include any enforcement support or funding.

To date, funding has not been provided by the County Council for permanent signage as a part of this campaign. The County Council’s committee chair and the bill’s organizers had said this initiative was intended to be “self-policing” by the community, and that the education of the public would be an important part of its implementation.

That being said, our parks department staff have posted temporary signs in the parks, and we are currently working on finalizing new signs that will include all park prohibitions. After these new comprehensive signs are installed, many of the individual signs for individual prohibitions will be removed. This means that while signs specific to the tobacco prohibition will not be installed, the new comprehensive signage will include the “No Tobacco” information.

It should also be noted that technically speaking, county parks include only the beach park areas, i.e., grass areas and parking lots, not the sand. All in all, I would hope that instead of stepping over cigarette butts left behind, we can all help be a part of the solution by taking a moment to pick them up and dispose of them properly.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.