A total of 136 stores of the 1,028 visited across the state were caught selling tobacco products to minors since September 2008, Lt. Gov. James �Duke� Aiona Jr. said today.

That amounts to a statewide violation rate of about 13 percent, Aiona said.
The Hawai�i state Department of Health Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division works year-round with county police departments on Kaua�i, O�ahu, Maui and Hawai�i to monitor the sale of tobacco products to underage buyers, Aiona said in a news release.
Oahu had the highest violation rate. Of the 586 stores visited, 84 were issued citations for selling tobacco products to underage customers, a violation rate of 14.33 percent, Aiona said.
In Hilo, 123 stores were visited and 15 were cited for a violation rate of 13.27 percent.
In Kona, 14 of the 110 stores visited were issued citations for a rate of 12.76 percent.
On Maui, 123 stores were visited, 14 were cited, and the violation rate amounted to 11.38 percent.
Ninety-six stores were visited on Kauai, nine were cited, resulting in a violation rate of 9.38 percent, according to the figures provided by Aiona.
�Although most retailers and store clerks check ID and do not sell tobacco products to minors, some are failing to comply,� Aiona said in a news release. �Hawai�i�s current retailer violation rate is higher than the national average. I strongly encourage merchants to utilize the educational and training materials crated by the state to help them comply with the law and keep our youth from picking up a deadly habit.�
Smoking and tobacco use continue to be the leading cause of preventable illness in Hawai�i and the nation, said state Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino.
�Over 80 percent of current smokers started smoking before they were 18,� Fukino said. �If we can keep cigarettes out of the hands of our youth, they are much less likely to become smokers later in life.�