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HRS §245-15

Where cigarette tax money goes

This section says where cigarette tax money must be sent. Most goes to the state treasury, but specific amounts go to special funds for cancer research, trauma care, community health centers, and emergency medical services. The department must report these distributions to the legislature each year.

state agencies

The statute, as written — Disposition of revenues

All moneys collected pursuant to this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury as state realizations to be kept and accounted for as provided by law; provided that, of the moneys collected under the tax imposed pursuant to: (1) Section 245-3(a)(5), after September 30, 2006, and prior to October 1, 2007, 1.0 cent per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, established pursuant to section 304A-2168, for research and operating expenses and for capital expenditures; (2) Section 245-3(a)(6), after September 30, 2007, and before October 1, 2008: (A) 1.5 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, established pursuant to section 304A-2168, for research and operating expenses and for capital expenditures; (B) 0.25 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the trauma system special fund established pursuant to section 321-22.5; and (C) 0.25 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the emergency medical services special fund established pursuant to section 321-234; (3) Section 245-3(a)(7), after September 30, 2008, and before July 1, 2009: (A) 2.0 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, established pursuant to section 304A-2168, for research and operating expenses and for capital expenditures; (B) 0.5 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the trauma system special fund established pursuant to section 321-22.5; (C) 0.25 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the community health centers special fund established pursuant to section 321-1.65; and (D) 0.25 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the emergency medical services special fund established pursuant to section 321-234; (4) Section 245-3(a)(8), after June 30, 2009, and before July 1, 2013: (A) 2.0 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, established pursuant to section 304A-2168, for research and operating expenses and for capital expenditures; (B) 0.75 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the trauma system special fund established pursuant to section 321-22.5; (C) 0.75 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the community health centers special fund established pursuant to section 321-1.65; and (D) 0.5 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the emergency medical services special fund established pursuant to section 321-234; (5) Section 245-3(a)(11), after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2015: (A) 2.0 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, established pursuant to section 304A-2168, for research and operating expenses and for capital expenditures; (B) 1.5 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the trauma system special fund established pursuant to section 321-22.5; (C) 1.25 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the community health centers special fund established pursuant to section 321-1.65; and (D) 1.25 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the emergency medical services special fund established pursuant to section 321-234; (6) Section 245-3(a)(11), after June 30, 2015, and before January 1, 2026: (A) 2.0 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, established pursuant to section 304A-2168, for research and operating expenses and for capital expenditures; (B) 1.125 cents per cigarette, but not more than $7,400,000 in a fiscal year, shall be deposited to the credit of the trauma system special fund established pursuant to section 321-22.5; (C) 1.25 cents per cigarette, but not more than $8,800,000 in a fiscal year, shall be deposited to the credit of the community health centers special fund established pursuant to section 321-1.65; and (D) 1.25 cents per cigarette, but not more than $8,800,000 in a fiscal year, shall be deposited to the credit of the emergency medical services special fund established pursuant to section 321-234; and (7) Section 245-3(a)(12), after December 31, 2025, and thereafter: (A) 4.0 cents per cigarette shall be deposited to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, established pursuant to section 304A-2168, for research and operating expenses and for capital expenditures; provided that, until June 30, 2030, of each amount deposited under this paragraph to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, 4.0 cents per cigarette shall be used exclusively for debt service of capital expenditures and building maintenance; provided further that beginning July 1, 2030, of each amount deposited under this paragraph to the credit of the Hawaii cancer research special fund, 2.0 cents per cigarette shall be used exclusively for debt service of capital expenditures and building maintenance; (B) 1.125 cents per cigarette, but no more than $7,400,000 in a fiscal year, shall be deposited to the credit of the trauma system special fund established pursuant to section 321-22.5; (C) 1.25 cents per cigarette, but no more than $8,800,000 in a fiscal year, shall be deposited to the credit of the community health centers special fund established pursuant to section 321-1.65; and (D) 1.25 cents per cigarette, but no more than $8,800,000 in a fiscal year, shall be deposited to the credit of the emergency medical services special fund established pursuant to section 321-234. The department shall provide an annual accounting of these dispositions to the legislature.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§245-3 Cigarette and Tobacco Excise Tax

§304A-2168 Hawaii cancer research special fund

§321-22.5 State fund for trauma care and how hospitals get paid

§321-234 Emergency medical services special fund and how it is used

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.