Smoking might be a hard habit to break, but if health reasons haven’t been incentive enough, a financial one might help.

The state Legislature is considering an increase in the cigarette tax, for the public-health goal of reducing smoking plus the financial tax boost to recipients such as the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and smoking-cessation programs. Senate Bill 2690 initially proposed the per-pack tax to go from $3.20 to $4, but the amount now is in flux.

Now might be a good time to check out the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline (hawaiiquitline.org or 1-800-QUIT-NOW).

A smoother ride into Nanakuli

Afternoon commuters heading west into Nanakuli are expected to get some relief starting this summer when the state Department of Transportation implements a contra-flow lane on Farrington Highway from Piliokahi Avenue to Helelua Street from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays. One eastbound lane would be turned westbound for the 1-mile contra-flow, DOT said.

Meanwhile, work continues on a Farrington Highway widening project from Nanakuli to Haleakala avenues to add a new lane for left-turning vehicles. Residents have been calling for improvements for decades and, finally, the squeaky wheels are getting the grease.