Project breath
of fresh air

By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

At least 200 local families so far are looking for someplace to breathe clean air this New Year's Eve.

That's what the American Lung Association has found since it asked the public about the need for places, such as movie theaters, where people with chronic lung ailments can escape the fireworks smoke anticipated to come with the new millennium.

"I think people are terrified about what's going to happen this year," said Allison Beale, director of environmental health for the American Lung Association of Hawaii. "Last year was just horrific. People know this year is going to be worse."

The association started planning its Save Haven 2000 project to give people with conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and emphysema a refuge from the smoke.

The plan is to encourage movie theaters to stay open until the smoke clears. They are the most desirable venues because they are enclosed and air-conditioned, and have entertainment, food, restrooms, comfortable seating and parking.

The association said it has contacted the three theater chains here -- Consolidated, Wallace and Signature -- and response has been positive, although no commitments were made.

Collectively, the theaters on Oahu can seat about 6,000 people. If the demand exceeds theater capacity, other venues, such as shopping malls, will be explored.

Beale said after fireworks created a dense fog of smoke last New Year's Eve, she received numerous phone calls from depressed and angry people who didn't feel they could survive the smoke again this year.

"There are a lot of people out there who are potential sufferers during the New Year's Eve madness," said Austin Dias, a member of the Safe Haven 2000 committee.

Almost 200,000 people in Hawaii suffer from lung ailments.

People who are interested in Save Haven 2000 can call 537-5966, Ext. 304.