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My thanks to the state senators, representatives and their assistants for their service and dedication to us. The farewell speeches of the final day of the legislative session were moving and underscored the sincerity of our legislators to serve the needs and secure the future of the people of Hawaii, often at personal and family sacrifice.
As a legislative assistant to former state Sen. T.C. Yim, I observed that the majority of those in political office do so out of a public-service commitment to make Hawaii a better place for all of us to live.
Yim shared how he grew up poor, got a scholarship to Kamehameha Schools and how he unexpectedly ended up in public office.
His Hawaii was like a plantation with limited social and economic mobility until the World War II GI Bill allowed many 442nd and 100th Battalion veterans to become college-educated, prompting many to successfully run for public office, which democratized Hawaiis political landscape.
My father was one of those veterans. Truly, education is the equalizer of people.
John Nakao
Ala Moana
Education can combat dangerous teen vaping
Since elementary school, I knew the world was corrupt: People did bad things, and drugs were bad. Its no surprise that kids my age are vaping. What hurts the most is what little is being done to prevent these middle- and high-schoolers from hurting themselves at the expense of an overglorified trend.
Its not like they dont have a moral compass, either; they hide their habits from their parents and comprehend that what theyre doing is wrong. They do it mainly because peer pressure, flavors and vaping is a lesser evil when compared to cigarettes.
Schools should educate us more on this subject by applying it to the curriculum. I believe if students knew the irreparable damage from the scientific yet real-world experience of guest speakers, it would prevent them from becoming addicts in the future and would make them think twice about their decisions.
Yixssya Sanchez
Wahiawa
Build pedestrian bridges where really needed
Once again, taxpayer money is being wasted, this time on the pedestrian bridge across Ala Moana Boulevard serving the rich luxury-condo owners in the Ward area and the Howard Hughes Corp. (Ala Moana Boulevard pedestrian bridge construction to begin, Star-Advertiser, May 2). Whos getting kickbacks on this one?
The money would be better spent on several pedestrian bridges across the Pali Highway in Nuuanu and across Farrington Highway in Waianae, Nanakuli and Maili. Thats where many pedestrian deaths have been recorded, crossing those busy highways.
Delwyn Ching
Mililani
Vacation rental law limits travelers options
As an overseas traveler (Australian), I am very upset that I can no longer stay in private accommodation in the Kailua area. I love the interaction and personalization of this type of accommodations. Plus the insight to island life and culture makes it a pleasant learning experience.
I work in international travel and heartily dislike hotel-type accommodation for my breaks of a month or more when I come to Hawaii.
The new law really disadvantages those of us who want to live like a local in affordable accommodations (Mayor Rick Blangiardi signs short-term rental bill, Star-Advertiser, April 27). This is about my 50th trip to Hawaii and now it seems I have to look elsewhere for travels, as the cost will now double. I would not consider paying $4,500-plus for a studio for a month. Plus, a 90-day rental is out of the question for most travelers.
Hopefully more hosts will sign up for AirBnb to offer affordable accommodation for 30 days or less and allow those of us who love regular visits to our sweet spots to continue.
Lyn Schuemaker
Gosford, Australia
30-day rentals make sense; 90 days doesnt
The 30-day vacation rental was a good compromise. A 90-day vacation rental was aimed to kill the vacation rental business.
Why didnt the city go after all the no-host, out-of-state vacation rental owners? The city said that the majority of vacation rental owners were from out of state. People doing responsible hosting got penalized. The city took a one size fits all solution. Now the visitors can go to Waikiki and get shot, stabbed, beaten up and robbed. Another person just got beaten up recently. Im sure visitors reading this do not want to stay in Waikiki.
Whats the alternative for them? Maybe city officials and hotel industry lobbyist can open up their homes for guests, family and friends for 90 days.
Wouldnt that be something?
E. Kwon Chung
Manoa
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See more here:
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- Costa Rica Bans Synthetic Nicotine in Vaping Products : - The Tico Times - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Alarming Rise of Electronic Vaping Use in U.S. Adolescents - Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report - South Florida Hospital News - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- The important conversation: Nebraska students reveal how to talk - News Channel Nebraska - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- ANOTHER VIEWPOINT: Vaping punishment counterproductive | Opinion | thefacts.com - Brazosport Facts - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Vaping Rates Fall Among Teens, But Still Too High - Griffin Daily News - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Ireland is getting stricter on cigarettes. But is vaping a more urgent problem? - The Irish Times - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- The Takeaways Tobacco Reporter - Tobacco Reporter - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
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- Students caught for first-time vaping offences could face up to S$2,000 fine, according to MOH and HSA - Yahoo Singapore News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- OSF adds more STEAM to American Heart Association's anti-vaping/smoking and nutrition efforts - Newsroom OSF HealthCare - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Quitting Vaping Doesn't Need to be Hard. The SCPC is Here to Help. - Wyo4News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Smoking cigarettes can destroy lungs, but shocking new study reveals why vaping can harm the heart - Fox News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Lawrenceburg HS to Host Parents Against Vaping Event This Thursday - Eagle 99.3 FM WSCH - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Parents urged to talk to young people about vaping Spice dangers | HSC Public Health Agency - Public Health Agency - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Smoking/vaping is now outlawed at most of Twin Hills Park - Crestview News Bulletin - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Events - Free Program to Quit Smoking or Vaping - Brookdale Community College Newsroom - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Vaping trend among Welsh youth focus of anti-vaping campaign - Yahoo News UK - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Demand for new youth anti-vaping program surges as Parliament considers world leading vaping reforms - Department of Health - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Experts warn of youth lung injury crisis due to vaping - pna.gov.ph - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- EXCLUSIVE: Next Big Thing In Vaping? New Leader Has Clues - Benzinga - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Most smokers wrongly believe vaping is at least as harmful as smoking, says study - Medical Xpress - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Proposed bill strives to clarify legal vaping products in Georgia - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Smoking compared with vaping what both do to your body from the first puff - The Telegraph - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Local teen shares story after nearly dying due to vaping - KOKI FOX 23 TULSA - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Vaping can increase susceptibility to infection by SARS-CoV-2 - UC Riverside - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- As youth vaping skyrockets, SC bill aims to crack down on sales of illegal e-cigs - News From The States - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Whether anti-vaping activists like it or not, vaping helps smokers quit - OCRegister - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Adults in England wrongly think vaping is worse than smoking - study - Euronews - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Iowa vaping bill draws opponents from retailers, health care groups - Southernminn.com - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
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- Fargo Cass Public Health taking action after growing concerns with teen vaping - INFORUM - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- ATS The Bridge tells Rotarians of youth vaping risks - Cleveland Daily Banner - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Kids are doing this everywhere: New Zealand wrestles with rise of primary school vaping - The Guardian - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Iowa vaping bill draws opponents from retailers, health care groups - Blackchronicle - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Could messages from social media influencers stop young people vaping? A look at the government's new campaign - The Conversation - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Vaping is finally on a downward trend in schools - Lootpress - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban? - BBC - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- The Canadian Vaping Association calls on the federal government to maintain science-based vaping regulations - GlobeNewswire - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Doctor shares what happens to your body if you stop vaping - starting after just 30 minutes - The Mirror - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- New study adds more smoke to the vaping debate - Cosmos - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Disposable vapes to be banned in Scotland under new legislation - Yahoo News UK - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Iowa Is One Of The States Working Hardest To Quit Vaping - B100 - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Single-use vapes to be banned in Scotland next year - The Times - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
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- Officials warning teens of the dangers vaping following incident at Smiths Station High School - WTVM - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Spice: the 'zombie drug' being found in some vape liquids - The Conversation - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Siouxland District Health offers new vaping prevention curriculum for youth - Sioux City Journal - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
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- Vaping's negative impact on fertility - FOX 26 Houston - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
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- The World's Quickest Car And Vaping Have A Lot In Common - Motor1 - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
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- Schumer and anti-vaping zealots should stand down - Washington Times - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Miracle recovery: Teen beats vaping-induced coma, returns to the court - Examiner Enterprise - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Southern 7 Health Department seeing increase in teen vaping - KBSI Fox 23 Cape Girardeau News - KBSI Fox 23 Cape Girardeau News | Paducah News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Abilene ISD reports surge in on-campus vaping, 150+ THC incidents - Yahoo News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- DHS awards $830k to Wisconsin organizations to address youth vaping - WMTV - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
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- Vaping's Hidden Hazard: Study Questions Safety of Nicotine Inhalation - SciTechDaily - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]