On November 16, 2006 (American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout), Hawaii becomes the 14th, state to implement a comprehensive statewide law prohibiting smoking in all enclosed or partially enclosed places of employment as well as places open to the public. Smoking will be prohibited in all enclosed or partially enclosed buildings and vehicles owned, leased, or operated by the State or any County, including all airports from the curb to the cabin.

The Hawaii State Legislature recently passed the “Healthy Air & Workplaces Law” – a smoke-free ordinance implemented to protect the health and wellbeing of people from the risks of secondhand smoke. This law, which goes into effect on November 16, 2006, prohibits smoking in places open to the public and places of employment, and requires clear designation of areas where smoking is permitted.

In recognition of the growing preference for non-smoking accommodations by clients and in accordance with this new law, each of Starwood’s hotels in Hawaii will have designated areas where smoking will be permitted on hotel property. The hotels will also have a limited inventory of smoking rooms.

In response to the strict guidelines set by the law and the need to keep non-smoking rooms free of smoke residue, each hotel will assess a reconditioning fee to a guest if a non-smoking room is found to have been compromised. This fee will cover the cost of deep-cleaning required to restore the room back to its non-smoking condition.