Anti-tobacco groups will ‘kick butts’ on Feb. 24

If you have been impacted by tobacco or can help advocate to protect funding for tobacco prevention and control, join the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, REAL and the Department of Health, Tobacco Prevention and Education Program at the Hawaii State Capitol for the annual "Kick Butts Day," Wednesday, Feb. 24.

The groups will partner to bring together youth and adults for a day at the Legislature, where funding for tobacco prevention and control is at stake.

To register for the Youth Summit please click here. To register as an adult, click here to download the registration form. Organizers will schedule appointments with all Legislators and say volunteer participation is important. 

The key message for these meetings is funding for tobacco prevention and cessation is important -- it saves money and lives. To participate, RSVP to diane@tobaccofreehawaii.org by Monday, Feb. 15.  The day’s events include a youth summit (for youth and advisors only), an adult briefing in Room 423, a rally with youth, lunch, meetings with lawmakers and a 2 p.m. press conference.

In addition, there will be an advocacy training on Monday, Feb. 8 and a legislative breakfast on Tuesday, Feb. 9. RSVP no later than Wednesday, Feb. 3, for the advocacy training. Advocates are encouraged to attend all events. 

From 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9, there will be a breakfast with lawmakers in State Capitol room 329 with meetings with lawmakers to follow. Following the breakfast, volunteers will visit lawmakers and deliver a report, “10 Years of Tobacco Prevention and Control: We've Come a Long Way, Hawaii – But We're Not There Yet.” The program will highlight the successes of our tobacco prevention and quit-smoking programs over the last ten years and how they have impacted us all.

There is limited funding available for flights and hotel stays, although due to limited funding travel scholarships have been significantly reduced.  Contact Diane at (808) 946-6851, ext. 200 or diane@tobaccofreehawaii.org to RSVP, for more information or if you have any questions. Indicate whether you prefer a vegetarian meal.