Health Risks of Secondhand Smoke
Living at Hokuloa, we love our community. But since it was built in the 70's, secondhand smoke drifts through cracks in the dry wall, electrical outlets, light fixtures and plumbing gaps, We can't feel safe in our own home. We want to protect all our neighbors, kupuna and our keiki from the hidden dangers that come with shared air.
According to the Surgeon General, sealing cracks or using air filters cannot completely eliminate the dangers of drifting smoke.
The Drift Effect: Up to 60% of the air inside an attached dwelling is shared between units. When someone smokes indoors, everyone nearby rebreathes it in.
Instant Toxicity: Secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemials, including dozens of known carcinogens and heavy metals like lead and arsenic.
We are calling on every resident to sign our petition for a smoke-free Hokuloa Townhouse. Your voice is essential in creating a healthier environment for our families.
Impact on the Heart and Lungs
When smoke enters our homes, it instantly puts a strain on everyone's hearts. Breathing this air daily can hurt blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks, even for those who have never smoked themselves.
Secondhand smoke is also a known cause of lung cancer and COPD.
Stroke and Heart Disease:
Longterm exposure increases the risk of developing coronary disease by 25-30% and significantly raises the risk of ischemic stroke by 20-30%.
Lung Cancer:
Secondhand smoke increases lung cancer risks by 20-30%.
COPD:
1 in 4 people who develop COPD have never smoked. Passive or Secondhand smoke is one of the causes.
Eliminating Catastrophic Fire Risks
Caring for our Kupuna
Smoking products are the leading cause of residential fire deaths.
A single discarded cigarette on a lanai puts the entire complex at risk.
Going smoke-free ensures a safer sleeping environment for every resident, knowing that a neighbor's unattended smoking material won't trigger a fast-moving sturcture fire.
Lower Insurance Costs:
Insurers typically offer a 5-20% discount on individual condo insurance if the unit is smoke-free.
Protect and Boost Property Values
HIGHER RESALE VALUES:
Over 80% of modern buyers explicitly look for smoke-free environments.
REDUCE LITIGATION COSTS:
AOAO's face increasing legal costs defending against secondhand smoke lawsuits. A clear policy completely eliminates this financial liability.
Our older residence face the most immediate, severe health consequiences from involuntary smoke exposure:
Instant Heart Attack Risk:
Within just 5 to 10 minutes of breathing secondhand smoke, blood platelets become sticky, drastically increasing the risk of blood clots, stroke and sudden heart attacks.
COPD and Lung Decline:
Drifting smoke triggers agonizing breathing flare-ups for seniors managing COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.
Cognitive Impact:
Long-term exposure is linked to accelerated cognitive decline and about a 30% higher risk of dementia in older adults.
Compounded Frailty
Studies have shown that secondhand smoke accelerates geriatric frailty. Leaving Seniors highly vulnerable to falls, disability and general decline.
Aloha,
I am Bill S., and together with my wife, we have cherished our home here at Hokuloa for over two decades. Sadly, our quality of life changed nine months ago when new neighbors began smoking pakalolo daily and at all hours. My wife is extremely sensitive to this drifting smoke; she suffers from severe nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Our physician has even certified in writing that her respiratory health is being compromised. My wife is 65 yeaars old and I am 70 years old, a stroke survivor and have a pacemaker. Other kupuna nearby are also struggling, as the smoke travels freely between our homes.
We have gone to extremes to protect ourselves, sealing our windows with plastic and running four air purifiers constantly. Even while gardening, my wife must wear a face mask to filter the smoke and the heavy fragrances used to mask it. We reached out to our neighbors, pleading for empathy, but were told they would simply do what they wanted. We even begged them to smoke in a more 'pono' or respectful manner. Unfortunately, our private efforts failed, which is why we must now advocate for a smoke-free Hokuloa to ensure our family's safety.
We have Learned:
Hokuloa was built in the 1970s when the risks of smoking weren't widely recognized. Because these units lack modern vapor barriers, smoke easily migrates through drywall cracks, electrical outlets, light fixtures, and shared plumbing gaps. Just as you might smell dampness on a rainy day, that same path brings toxic air into your home. The original house rules reflect a 50-year-old mindset, but medical science has since proven that secondhand smoke is a major threat to our keiki and kupuna. Along similar lines, do you remember if DDT was a good idea? How about Tab soda with cyclamate sweetener? Or leaded gasoline? These were thought to be good ideas initially, but now we know how toxic they are to our health.
Let's Grow as a Community:
Today, we understand these risks far better. Smoking is prohibited in public workplaces, federal and state buildings, public transportation and airports not to punish smokers, but to protect the right of everyone to breathe clean air. It is time for our community to reflect these modern safety standards. It is no longer acceptable for hazardous smoke to drift from one unit to another, and our rules should be updated to address this reality.
Let's Adjust:
So lets make an adjustment to what we thought was a good idea 50 years ago, when we didn't give a second thought about smoke drifting from one unit to another. We now know that it is a bad idea, and we need to update our house rules to reflect this reality.
Beyond health, a smoke-free policy eliminates the primary cause of residential fires. This transition also makes financial sense; insurance providers often offer 5-20% discounts for smoke-free complexes, providing significant relief during these inflationary times. For those who smoke respectfully and have never received a complaint, this policy changes very little, as enforcement is primarily complaint-driven. If your habits aren't bothering anyone, there is no violation to report.
Let’s stand together as a Hokuloa Ohana! For the protection of our Keiki, the health of our Kupuna, and the financial well-being of every resident, please join us in making our community smoke-free.
Join the Clean Air Movement
Protect Our Keiki
For our neighbors with asthma or young children with developing lungs, drifting smoke makes every breath a struggle. It triggers painful attacks and can lead to permanent respiratory issues that affect a child’s daily life.
Respiratory Illnesses:
Increased rates of Bronchitis, Pneumonia and Asthma. It can cause sudden airway inflammation resulting in severe asthma attacks, chronic wheezing, and acute respiratory infections.
Stunted Lung Growth:
Slows down normal lung development, casuing lower lung capacity.
Brain Development:
Secondhand smoke effects the brain development of infants and young children.
Resources
Secondhand Smoke Health Risks
Learn about the scientific evidence and health impacts of secondhand smoke exposure.
Financial Incentives to a Smoke Free Policy
Access free resources and tools to help you understand the financial benefits of a smoke free policy.
Hawaii Department of Health
Review the DOH's stand on secondhand smoke.
Join the Movement
We are dedicated to creating a healthier environment for our community. Reach out to us to discuss our campaign and how you can help implement a smoke-free policy in your townhome.
Hokuloacleanair@gmail.com
