U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Hawai’i

Last updated November 29, 2011

  FY2012 FY2011
State Rank 3 3
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $10.7 million $9.3 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($15.2 million)		 70.3% 61.1%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Hawaii spend $15.2 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program. Hawaii currently allocates $10.7 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation. This is 70.3% of the CDC's recommendation and ranks Hawaii 3rd among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs. Hawaii's spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 5.7% of the estimated $187 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: Hawaii's tobacco prevention programs are funded with federal, state and trust fund dollars. The dollars received through the master settlement with the tobacco industry, by law will become the tobacco settlement special fund. A portion of this fund is used by the Department of Health for health promotion and chronic disease prevention programs, including tobacco control programs. Another portion is deposited into the Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund which provides funding for activities such as the Hawaii Quitline, media campaigns and community intervention grants.

The FY2012 budget enacted includes $10.7 million for the tobacco program, $1.4 million more than the state spent on tobacco prevention and cessation in FY2011.

In addition, Hawaii is receiving $1.3 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $926,456 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2011 (from annual appropriations).

  • $80,274 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law.

  • $252,151 from the Food and Drug Administration for enforcement of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, including the provision regarding tobacco sales to minors.