Days may be numbered for restaurant smoking

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

City and county lawmakers from across the state say they think the time for banning smoking in restaurants is coming soon.

Members of the City Council and county councils from Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island gathered this week in Waikiki for the Hawai'i State Association of Counties meeting. County leaders are grappling with the issue because the state Legislature has steered clear of the the controversy.

Kaua'i County Council Chairman Ron Kouchi said he hopes to be able to pass a smoking ban in restaurants with a unanimous vote. "We know it's the right thing to do," Kouchi said. "The time has come."

Kaua'i County Councilman James Tokioka, who owns a restaurant/nightclub called The Terrace at the Ka Kaua'i Lagoons Hotel, said he sent surveys about the issue to 200 restaurants, got back 40 and only two expressed concerns about the idea.

Tokioka said he wasn't sure what to expect when his business banned smoking in the nightclub, but has been pleased by the reaction. He thinks most people are ready to go further.

"We think it's the right thing to do," Tokioka said.

City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura said he was talking with his colleagues from other counties because it's become clear that restricting smoking is an important public issue. "It is time now that we work aggressively toward coming up with some policy to prohibit smoking in restaurants," he said.

Yoshimura said his position in voting against anti-smoking laws three previous times has been misunderstood. "I am not pro-smoking," he said. "I am still pro-business."

The council has rejected smoking bans three times in the last five years.

Big Island Councilman Gary Safarik said it's not clear to him if there's enough support for smoking restrictions in his county to move forward as quickly. "We haven't gone as far as the other counties." He said some business people have been nervous about the issue.

Maui County Councilman Dain Kane said officials there are planning to send surveys to restaurants on Maui, Lana'i and Moloka'i and may have public meetings on the emotional issue by early February.

Kane said it's clear that "the health of all of the workers in our restaurants" is an important concern.

The county officials don't yet have a model bill that they hope to pass.