Controversy clears
13 months after
smoking ban

Police and fine collectors say
they have no reports of violations of
the smoking ban

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

A year ago, all Mak Bowl clerk Gerry Ancog could smell during her work day was cigarette smoke.

Nowadays, with the city's workplace smoking ban in effect, Ancog can smell the gingery broth of oxtail soup wafting from the adjoining Kapiolani Coffee Shop.

Some regulars have grumbled about the no-smoking policy, she said. "But most of them say it's better, especially because we have a lot of senior bowlers, too."

The air appears to have cleared 13 months after the workplace smoking ban went into effect.

Even in bowling alleys and pool halls, compliance appears to be the norm. But the establishments are reporting that business is down by as much as 20 percent.

The American Cancer Society this week begins an unscientific phone survey of 200 Oahu businesses to look at awareness and compliance of the law in the workplace.

The law, which took effect June 15, 1997, banned smoking in indoor workplaces except restaurants, hotel rooms, private clubs and homes. The city Planning and Permitting Department handles sign compliance while the Police Department is supposed to issue violations to offending parties.

"We're focusing on small businesses of fewer than 50 employees," said Richard Texier, Environmental Tobacco Smoke Project coordinator for the Cancer Society.

Texier likely will be pleased with the results, judging by what others have been saying.

Julian Lipscher, coordinator of the Health Department's Tobacco Prevention and Education project, said he's getting maybe two calls a month asking about the ban. That's a significant drop from when the law was first passed, he said.

"We are creating very clearly a community norm," Lipscher said. "The norm has been established. For the most part, by and large, there's clean air."

City Building Safety Chief Melvin Lee said calls have dwindled to about one or two a month recently.

"Within the first couple months, we had maybe a dozen," Lee said. "We have had a few complaints but we go out and usually we get compliance."

Police Department spokeswoman Jean Motoyama reported that patrol commanders haven't

been able to recall the issuance of a smoking citation since the law went into effect.

The Traffic Violations Bureau, charged with collecting fines, also had received no reports of violations, bureau manager Milton Hee said.

Councilman Duke Bainum, a key advocate of the no-smoking law, said his office has been getting more calls of thanks than complaints.

"This tells me all that resistance we were supposed to meet never materialized," Bainum said.

Bainum said he and Councilman Steve Holmes were scheduled to go to Kauai today to talk to leaders there about a possible smoking ban. Last year, the Maui County Council enacted a ordinance that bars smoking in public-use facilities.

The ashtrays were gone but the "no smoking" signs were out at several Honolulu bowling alleys and pool halls earlier this week.

Bernard Tanikawa, a day clerk at Kalihi Bowl, said business has been down by as much as 20 percent over the past year.

A nonsmoker, he blames the poor economy and bad management as much as the smoking ban for the drop.

"This is one of the better things the city has done," Tanikawa said.

At Mak Bowl on School Street, retiree Greg Lobetos is at the back steps smoking.

A 1-1/2-pack-a-day man, Lobetos has not let the smoking ban prevent him from bowling seven days a week.

"I'm still kind of pissed off but cannot help," Lobetos said. "It's good for the nonsmokers."

His friend, Panfilo Ridao, was outside accompanying Lobetos although he no longer smokes. Ridao said he quit smoking several years ago after five bypass surgeries and one angioplasty procedure.

"Everybody's still coming; they only talk," he said, referring to smokers who had threatened to quit going to Mak Bowl.

Robert Chang, an employee at Holiday Cue, said there's been little effect on business at the Kaheka Street billiards hall.

Occasionally a pool player will begin smoking, he said.

He just tells them to go outside, he said.

At Stadium Bowl-o-Drome, manager Eddie Lum has dutifully posted no smoking signs at every door. A smoker himself, Lum said business has been down as much as 15 percent since the ban.

Grumbling bowlers, he said, are directed to read the large sign next to the cashier, which contains the telephone numbers for Mayor Jeremy Harris and the City Council's nine members if they want to complain.

"Some people are still dissatisfied with the situation," Lum said.