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KEEP ALOHA SPIRIT ALIVE The Honolulu City Council is considering a restaurant smoking ban. It would even include outside areas of restaurants. Since September 11 our tourism industry has been hit especially hard. Hawaii is probably more dependent on tourism than any other state. In fact our state legislature convened a special session on October 22 to consider ways to help the depressed economy. This makes the restaurant smoking ban all the more absurd. Hawaii is very dependent on the Japanese tourists, and most of them smoke. Will they want to come to a city where they cannot be comfortable and smoke? The governor and state leaders have just returned from a trip to Japan to encourage the Japanese to visit Hawaii. You can help by emailing the city council members to tell them you will not come to Hawaii if you cannot smoke in the restaurants. You might tell them you have been here before and enjoyed visiting Hawaii, but you will never come again if you cannot smoke in the restaurants. It is not just the restaurants that would suffer, but all businesses dependent on tourism. This bill will be on the agenda at the next council meeting. Email your comments to the council members listed below before November 7. Click on "All Councilmembers" to reach them all or send to them individually. Be sure to include your full name and address. Please also take the time to email the mayor, governor and state representatives. |
