Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green on July 7 signed into law complementary measures aimed at regulating tobacco use and mitigating its effects.
Hawai‘i Senate Bill 2175, which became Act 189 with Green’s signature, and Hawai‘i House Bill 1573, which became Act 190 upon the governor’s signature, demonstrate the state’s commitment to reducing harmful impacts of disposable electronic smoking devices and ensuring products sold in Hawaiʻi meet federal standards.
Safety concerns surrounding nicotine and tobacco intensified in recent years as companies increasingly marketed to younger generations and failed to comply with federal safety standards.
The growing use of electronic smoking devices produced additional challenges because of their widespread accessibility and materials used in their production, including single-use plastic and lithium batteries. These hazardous materials pose significant health and environmental risks and are linked to landfill fires, excessive litter and pollution as well as water contamination.
“Hawaiʻi has been a leader in this fight for years,” said Green in a state release. “It is more important than ever to preserve the health of our environment and ensure the health of our keiki. We have seen the effects and now we are taking action.”
SENATE BILL 2175: RELATING TO DISPOSABLE ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES
Prohibits the sale, offer for sale or distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The measure establishes penalties for violations, with violators subject to fines of up to $100 per day for each violation.
This measure marks a significant policy-driven change in Hawaiʻi to address the harmful impacts of electronic smoking devices. The measure helps safeguard Hawai‘i’s ʻāina and communities from the adverse effects of disposable electronic smoking devices.
HOUSE BILL 1573: RELATING TO HEALTH
Strengthens oversight of electronic smoking devices and e-liquids sold in Hawaiʻi by ensuring products comply with federal and state law. The measure establishes a certification process requiring manufacturers to provide documentation demonstrating U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization for their products.
It also requires Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General to create and maintain a publicly available directory of compliant products. Manufacturers that fail to comply with certification requirements, as well as entities that acquire, possess, transport, keep, sell or offer for sale products not included in the directory, will be subject to penalties.
By establishing a state-managed directory aligned with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and providing the state attorney general with enforcement authority, the measure helps remove illegal tobacco products from Hawaiʻi’s marketplace and strengthen protections for consumers.
Lawmakers and advocates agree that reducing youth access to unauthorized and flavored vaping products is a critical step in protecting keiki from predatory practices and building healthier communities.
“For years, the tobacco industry has used flavors, packaging and marketing tactics to attract young people to vaping products,” said chairperson of the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce Oʻahu state Rep. Scot Matayoshi in the state release. “These tactics have addicted another generation to nicotine, with all of the health, economic and educational consequences that come with it. I’ve found used, flavored vape cartridges in elementary school playgrounds, and vaping is a top concern for many of our principals. This bill helps close loopholes by requiring manufacturers to verify that their products meet federal requirements before they can be sold in Hawaiʻi.”
Eliminating disposable electronic smoking devices from the marketplace and developing cross-checked regulations for all other electronic smoking devices, Hawaiʻi is taking a coordinated approach to combat this issue.
From protecting public health and safety for residents of all ages — from keiki to kūpuna — to safeguarding the state’s environment, these measures reflect the success of collaboration throughout government and community partners.
“The passage of these bills reflects meaningful leadership in addressing the pono ʻole of electronic smoking devices — products that have harmed our ʻāina, our kai and the lungs, hearts and minds of our young people for far too long,” said Hāmākua-Kohala Health Public Relations Director Kai Carvalho in the state release. “I will never forget meeting a sixth-grade student who shared that she had been vaping regularly since she was just 8 years old. Her story is only one of hundreds that strengthened our resolve as community partners worked tirelessly to educate, raise awareness and protect the families of our beloved Hawaiʻi.”
