Question: Could you clarify the state Department of Education’s policy on smoking on public school campuses? I was at Aliiolani Elementary School attending a craft fair and noticed a few people smoking electronic cigarettes on campus. When I asked the special-duty officer on site about it, he said, "It’s OK, as long as it does not contain nicotine." When I said that I thought that all types of cigarettes were banned on campus, he said, "I really don’t know what the rules are."

Answer: Smoking "regular" cigarettes is prohibited on all public school campuses and in all buildings and facilities assigned to the Department of Education, no matter whether school is in session or not.

That policy applies to everyone — students and nonstudents, teachers and visitors, said DOE spokesman Alex Da Silva.

"E-cigarettes have been prohibited as contraband for students since February on all campuses," he said.

But there currently is no such policy for anyone else.

"The DOE is working on a policy to ban e-cigarettes to teachers, administrators or anyone else, either during or after school hours," Da Silva said.

The DOE has had a "tobacco-free school system" for more than 20 years.

Since September 1993 smoking and any other use of tobacco products has been prohibited at all times on public school campuses, school vehicles and off-campus sites under the operational control of a principal or designee and in all DOE buildings and facilities, Da Silva explained.

Under Section 8-31-3 of the DOE’s Hawaii Administrative Rules, the prohibitions apply to all persons, including students enrolled in community schools for adults, school employees, authorized school visitors and guests; persons participating in or attending a nonschool activity or event conducted on the school campus when school is not in session; and employees, visitors and guests of district and state offices.

Da Silva said schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi sent a memo Feb. 5 to all school leaders and those at public charter schools clarifying that e-cigarettes are to be included on the list of contraband at school campuses, and that students and families were to be notified. The memo asked that the actions be taken by Feb. 28. So, as of Feb. 28, 2013, e-cigarettes are considered contraband at all DOE campuses.

The DOE’s policy regarding smoking can be found at www.hawaiiboe.net/AdminRules/Pages/AdminRule19.aspx#8-19-18.

Question: Back in December we went to a soccer tournament at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park. We went around the parking lot no less than six times, even waiting for a space to open up. We ended up parking across the street. My husband has a handicap parking placard, but it is very difficult to find parking when there is a tournament. My concern is that a concession van was parked in a handicap stall. Did they have permission to do so?

Answer: The vendor had a temporary concession permit but did not have permission to park in that stall, said Toni Robinson, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

"The tournament director was contacted and advised that future infractions will result in enforcement by HPD," she said.

If you see a vehicle parked in a handicap stall without a placard, Robinson said to notify parks staff or call police.

Mahalo

To two people who came to my aid when I lost consciousness and fell to the floor while eating breakfast at the food court at Pearlridge Center on Jan. 2. A young woman wearing a Footlocker uniform took charge, woke me up, turned me onto my back and called for an ambulance. Her quick thinking and take-charge skills got me the help that I needed. Then an older gentleman comforted me, stayed by my side until emergency medical technicians arrived, stroking my forehead and telling me that I would be OK. I believe he also offered to ride with me to the hospital. You both are my saviors and in my prayers. I was checked out at the hospital and was given a clean bill of health. God bless you.

— Melanie M. Ochmann, Ewa Beach

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