U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Hawaii

Last updated December 04, 2012

  FY2013 FY2012
State Rank 5 3
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $8.9 million $10.7 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($15.2 million)		 58.8% 70.3%

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 $8.9 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation.  This is 58.8% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Hawaii 5th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Hawaii’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 4.8% of the estimated $186 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Background and Recent Developments: Hawaii’s tobacco prevention programs are funded with federal, state and trust fund dollars received through the master settlement with the tobacco industry.  A portion of the trust 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 FY2013 budget includes $8.9 million for the tobacco program, $1.8 million less than the state spent on tobacco prevention and cessation in FY2012.

In addition, Hawaii is receiving $1.0 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $786,135 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2012 (from annual appropriations).

  • $252,477 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.