Question: I was in Windward Mall and passed an e-cigarette kiosk where I saw a bunch of younger people puffing away on their e-cig devices. Then I noticed that they also have a table with seats right next to the e-cig kiosk, and there were four or five more young people puffing away on their devices. I’m sure that they thought they were really cool, but the people walking by didn’t. Is it legal to smoke or “vape” in the mall?
Answer: It is not legal to smoke conventional tobacco cigarettes inside the mall, and as of Jan. 1 it won’t be legal to “vape” e-cigarettes there, either.
Last legislative session, lawmakers passed and Gov. David Ige signed into law a measure that bans the use of electronic smoking devices, or e-cigarettes, anywhere smoking is illegal. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 328J, that includes enclosed or partially enclosed public places and places of employment such as the Kaneohe mall. However, Act 19 does not take effect until Jan. 1, so the e-cig enthusiasts you saw were not in violation.
As for the smokers’ apparent youth: The legal age of sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, rises from 18 to 21 on Jan. 1. Hawaii is the first state in the nation to raise the smoking age to 21.
Policymakers acted to treat electronic smoking the same as combustible tobacco in light of research that showed many Hawaii young people were picking up the e-cig habit. Under the expanded law, “electronic smoking device” means any electronic product that can be used to aerosolize and deliver nicotine or other substances to the user, a category that includes electronic cigarettes, cigars and pipes; hookah pipes and pens; and other products.
Q: I live in the home I own and claim the owner-occupant real property tax exemption. If I add an accessory dwelling unit to the property and rent it out, will I still get my exemption?
A: Yes. You can continue to claim the exemption as long as you live in one of the dwellings on the property, according to Gary Kurokawa, deputy director of the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services.
The potential tax implications of ADUs are of high interest to Kokua Line readers. We will stay on top of this issue and let you know as additional information is forthcoming.
Q: Given that it is hurricane season, does the state have a specific evacuation plan for the Kakaako homeless camp? If so, what is it? Where will the people go if a major storm hits? What will happen to their stuff?
A: Jun Yang, executive director of the city Office of Housing, responds: “The city, through the leadership of the Office of Housing and the support of other city departments such as the Department of Emergency Management, Department of Transportation Services, Department of Parks and Recreation, Honolulu Police Department, Department of Community Services and other appropriate departments, has been working to coordinate and provide emergency services to unsheltered families and individuals. This includes timely notification regarding available shelters and evacuation transportation services, to assist and facilitate safe and efficient evacuation to designated city facilities in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster. Additionally, the Office of Housing works closely with service providers to notify unsheltered households in areas of high concern such as flood-prone areas and stream banks.”
Mahalo
The Kao/Rosenfeld family would like to send our aloha nui back to the teens at the bus stop in front of Punahou who came to my paraplegic husband’s rescue when he fell from his wheelchair in our van, and we had to hold up traffic Sept. 3. They sprang into action, knocked at the window, and a strong young man helped my husband from the floor back to his chair, when I could not reach or help him. We had to leave right away to unblock traffic and did not have time to thank them properly. My husband sustained a broken leg but is slowly recovering.
We are so grateful for the quick, coordinated and thoughtful response of these wonderful young people.
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