Hawaii Highlights

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Hawai‘i. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Hawai‘i's elected officials:

The 2025 legislative session in Hawai‘i started on January 15 against a backdrop of significant federal uncertainty, including funding freezes and threats to social services, which fostered a reactive and challenging environment for advancing public health measures. This climate resulted in a mixed outcome for tobacco control, marked by disappointing setbacks but also demonstrating a resilient commitment at the local level.

A primary focus of advocacy efforts was addressing the dramatic shift in nicotine use, particularly the surge in e-cigarette, or "vape," popularity among youth. Progress on this front remains stalled by a 2018 state law that preempted counties authority to regulate tobacco products, stripping local governments of a critical tool to protect their communities. A key legislative priority, House Bill 380, which would have restored this local control, unfortunately failed to pass.

Equally concerning was the failure of House Bill 756. This vital legislation sought to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products statewide, a measure aimed squarely at curbing the industry's strategy of using flavors to attract and addict young people. The defeat of these two bills represents a significant missed opportunity to protect the health of Hawai‘i's youth and reduce the burden of tobacco-related disease.

House Bill 441 did successfully increase the state cigarette tax from $0.16 to $0.18 per cigarette or 40 cents per pack of 20. While the increase will likely have a minimal impact on smoking levels, it will provide much-needed revenue for the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center, which has been impacted by declining cigarette tax revenues over the years.

In response to the state's inaction on flavored tobacco, Hawai‘i's counties have boldly stepped forward. On December 23, 2024, Maui County joined the City and County of Honolulu and Hawai‘i County in passing a "trigger law" (Bill 156) that will end the sale of flavored tobacco products as soon as the state's preemption law is repealed. The unanimous passage of this bill, championed by youth advocates and community partners, signals a powerful, unified local movement ready to act decisively once granted the authority.

Looking ahead to 2026, the American Lung Association in Hawai‘i and its partners will continue to champion comprehensive tobacco prevention policies. Our key priorities remain clear: restoring the authority of counties to regulate tobacco sales, eliminating all flavored tobacco products from the market, and advocating for increased, stable funding for prevention and cessation programs. We are committed to highlighting the profound health and economic benefits of these proven policies to build a healthier, tobacco-free future for all of Hawai‘i.