Posted at 2:40 p.m., Wednesday, November 7, 2001

Council kills ban on restaurant smoking

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Honolulu City Council this afternoon voted to kill a proposal to ban smoking in restaurants after rejecting a move to send the bill back to committee in an effort to shape a compromise.

Two votes were held: one to reject sending the bill back to committee for more work and a second to kill the proposal for this year.

Those who voted to kill the bill were: Romy Cachola, John DeSoto, Rene Mansho, Andy Mirikitani and City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura.

Those who voted to keep it alive were: Duke Bainum, the bill's author John Henry Felix, Steve Holmes and Gary Okino.

Of 13 people who testified on the matter, eight supported keeping the bill alive, citing health concerns.

Those opposed to the smoking ban in restaurants said it would further hurt the tourist industry, which is already reeling from the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Yoshimura told ban supporters that they should consider a petition drive allowing the matter to be placed on the ballot through citizen initiative.

Clifford Chang, director of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii, said supporters of the ban are disappointed by the council's vote, but will research the idea of an initiative drive.

"We were really hoping that the council would act," Chang said.