Posted on: Monday, January 12, 2004

Big Island restaurants prepare for smoking ban

Associated Press

HILO, Hawai'i — A smoking ban that will outlaw lighting up at many Big Island restaurants and other establishments takes effect Feb. 1.

The legislation passed in July by the Hawai'i County Council is actually a watered down version of a smoking ban that would have been the most restrictive in the state.

The original version of the measure would have banned smoking in nearly all public places, though the bill approved on final reading includes exemptions for bars and nightclubs.

Still, the ban will affect all sorts of places from hotels and banks to elevators and bathrooms — if they aren't already designated nonsmoking.

The most notable change will be at restaurants, which must convert to nonsmoking establishments Feb. 1, unless they contain bar areas, where smoking will be permitted for the next six months.

Under the bill, business owners who want to continue to allow smoking after Sept. 1 must separate their smoking and nonsmoking areas, not only with solid walls between them, but with entrances at least 15 feet away from each other.

Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, who first proposed the Big Island ban in September 2002 and is now interpreting the ordinance as deputy corporation counsel, admitted there are problems with the language of the legislation.

"It's essentially forcing you to have separate establishments," she said of the rules on smoking and nonsmoking sections.

Businesses throughout the Big Island have been working to comply with the new law.

At Korner Pocket Bar and Grill in Kealakekua, the new year was rung in by converting to a nonsmoking establishment.

Teru's II Restaurant and Bar in Kailua, Kona, plans to renovate.

And at Quinn's in Kailua, Kona, owner Jim Hansel said employees have been trying to wean customers from smoking by putting signs on tables.

"If there's not a lot of people here, we don't hold it to a hard and fast rule," Hansel said. "Come Feb. 1, there won't be any choice."

The new ban also prohibits smoking in private homes used as a child-, adult- or healthcare facilities during their hours of operation. And it outlaws smoking in many public areas, such as those in shopping centers, condominiums and hotels.

Restaurant and bar owners had opposed a complete county smoking ban, saying it would be intrusive and would hurt business.

O'ahu, Maui and Kaua'i counties also have some type of smoking bans.