Thumbing through posters created by Waimea High School students, a local business employee found one she liked. It said, “No smoke hea,’” set against the backdrop of the Hawaiian state flag. She asked Rebecca Smith, WHS anti-smoking coordinator, if she
Thumbing through posters created by Waimea High School students, a local business employee found one she liked.
It said, “No smoke hea,’” set against the backdrop of the Hawaiian state flag.
She asked Rebecca Smith, WHS anti-smoking coordinator, if she could have it.
“This is perfect for our workplace,” the employee said.
Coming on the heels of the implementation of the state’s Hawai‘i Smoke Free Law, the students at all three public high schools engaged in a variety of anti-smoking activities ranging from sign-waving to poster-making for the Great American Smokeout Friday at Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
“A lot of the students were inspired by everyday events that take place at school,” Smith said. “One student said smokers usually hide. That led to the creation of ‘No hide and smoke.’”
Mary Williamson of the American Cancer Society, which spearheaded the event, was pleased all three high schools were active and participated in this year’s national observance.
“When Cathy Murashige of Kaua‘i High School — which doesn’t have an anti-smoking program — heard about it, she just ran with it,” Williamson said.
Valerie Saiki of the Kapa‘a High School REAL group brought students to set up no smoking pledges for shoppers to sign.
One pair of freshmen students came equipped with a 20-foot crocheted line to measure off where the designated no smoking area is in front of doorways and windows.
Smith, who has been visiting various community organizations to talk about the new smoking ordinance, said most of the reception has been good.
“This is the 30th anniversary of the Great American Smokeout,” Williamson said. “Imagine 30 years ago when smoking was allowed in small grocery stores, movie theaters and elevators. Now, these areas being smoke free is the norm.”
Williamson feels the implementation of the new law should go smoothly. She added they have been talking to the community groups like the Rotary Clubs and the Lions about the new law.
“This law is not a ban on smoking,” she said. “It’s an expansion of smoke-free areas.”
To help people with the new smoke-free law, Tobacco-Free Kaua‘i offered lengths of yarn, some of which were equipped with chalk at one end to help mark off the designated nosmoking areas.
Williamson said Sandy Higgins of the Wilcox Hospital’s quit smoking program was on hand to help smokers kick the habit if this was the right time for them.
“We have a lot of free resources people can use to help kick the habit,” Williamson said. “Kenn Firestone will have his martial arts students come in and do some ‘kick butt’ demonstrations and there are cold turkey sandwiches from Star Market for those who complete the Passport to Clean Air.”
A completed passport also earned a free fountain drink from Quizno’s with the purchase of a sandwich.
The process of completing the passport took shoppers through each of the vendor’s stations and gave them ample opportunity to view the display of 60 assorted pairs of footwear representing the 60 deaths each year on Kaua‘i from tobacco-related illnesses.
Some of the vendors offering the resources included Tobacco-Free Kaua‘i, Tar Wars, Malama Kaua‘i and the American Lung Association in addition to representatives from the three public high schools.
“We have a lot to celebrate,” Williamson said. “And we’re also helping the mall to celebrate its smoke-free status through its ‘Friday Night on the Mall’ program.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
