STEPHANIE FRANKLIN photo Maui members of REAL, an anti-tobacco youth group, held a Kick Butts Day in Hana this spring at the old Hana School. Shown are Grant Lopes of King Kekaulike High School; Hannah Fuqua, Alex Halley and Monica Medrano of Baldwin High; and Brandon Antonius of Kihei Charter. They did leadership training, presentations on how tobacco companies target youths with their advertising and sign-waving in the East Maui community with Alu Like Hana youths.

WAILUKU — In conjunction with the 34th Great American Smokeout, Maui Community College volunteers will staff an Information and Quit Station from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Thursday at the MCC Pa‘ina Building. Quit kits will be available, courtesy of American Lung Association, and the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association will provide information. The American Cancer Society marks Thursday as Great American Smokeout day, encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. According to the society, smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and even long-term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years. Smokers who want to quit can call the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline at (800) 784-8669 for tobacco cessation and coaching services.