HONOLULU -- There was some promising news Monday from the latest survey of illegal tobacco sales to minors.

Each year, teams of students go to stores around the state and try to buy cigarettes.

This year's survey showed illegal sales to minors were down from 11 percent last year to only 6 percent this year.

Hawai'i is below the national average of 9.9 percent.

Cigarette smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States, and 80 percent who smoke, began before the age of 18.

"The tobacco manufactures keep trying to get our children hooked," said Dr. Chiyome Fukino.

The tobacco industry, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission spends about $42 million a year annually on advertising and promoting tobacco products in Hawaii alone.

To combat tobacco advertisement and keep decreasing the number of tobacco sales to minors state health officials continue to enforce mandatory ID check with a no ID, no sale rule.