Surfrider's Oahu Chapter Helps Pass Smoking Ban!

In 2011, during meetings with the Hawaii Dept. of Health about the statewide bag bills, we began talking about a possible ban on smoking. The Oahu Chapter joined with other groups like Sustainable Coastlines and the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii to lobby for Bill 72 to ban on smoking on Oahu's South Shore beaches and parks. When this bill passed the Honolulu City Council in the Spring of 2013, the coalition widened and began pushing for an island-wide ban. After months of lobbying, the City Council voted unanimously to pass Bill 25 on Wed., July 10. Following the lead of the Big Island, Oahu will become the second county in Hawaii to ban smoking in all of its public parks and beaches!