A total of 136 stores of the 1,028 visited across the state were caught selling tobacco products to minors since September 2008, Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona Jr. said today.

That amounts to a statewide violation rate of about 13 percent, Aiona said.
The Hawai‘i state Department of Health Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division works year-round with county police departments on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i to monitor the sale of tobacco products to underage buyers, Aiona said in a news release.
Oahu had the highest violation rate. Of the 586 stores visited, 84 were issued citations for selling tobacco products to underage customers, a violation rate of 14.33 percent, Aiona said.
In Hilo, 123 stores were visited and 15 were cited for a violation rate of 13.27 percent.
In Kona, 14 of the 110 stores visited were issued citations for a rate of 12.76 percent.
On Maui, 123 stores were visited, 14 were cited, and the violation rate amounted to 11.38 percent.
Ninety-six stores were visited on Kauai, nine were cited, resulting in a violation rate of 9.38 percent, according to the figures provided by Aiona.
“Although most retailers and store clerks check ID and do not sell tobacco products to minors, some are failing to comply,” Aiona said in a news release. “Hawai‘i’s current retailer violation rate is higher than the national average. I strongly encourage merchants to utilize the educational and training materials crated by the state to help them comply with the law and keep our youth from picking up a deadly habit.”
Smoking and tobacco use continue to be the leading cause of preventable illness in Hawai’i and the nation, said state Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino.
“Over 80 percent of current smokers started smoking before they were 18,” Fukino said. “If we can keep cigarettes out of the hands of our youth, they are much less likely to become smokers later in life.”