HONOLULU -- The state has launched a new media campaign to beat tobacco companies at their own game of advertising to make smoking look cool. The State's newest TV commercial uses rap music, child actors, and animation to portray smoking as harmful and ugly.

Video

Video Report

A group of Hawaii kids viewed the new anti- smoking commercial Monday and they liked what they saw.

Honolulu youth saw the new anti-tobacco commercial at the Boys and Girls Club. The commercial features a catchy rap song and smoking kids who morph into cartoon characters only to be captured by a monster but then saved by attractive teens.

Manoa Quebatay, 12, was one of the actors playing a cool teen in the commercial. He likes its anti-smoking message.

"It makes smoking really ugly. It makes it so ugly that it would just make the world rot!" he exclaimed.

The health department will spend nearly a million dollars of Tobacco Settlement money this year to advertise against smoking, especially trying to reach out to the very young.

"About fifth grade and older is when they start making serious commitments to do things, like smoke," said Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino.

The youngest audience members seemed to absorb the anti tobacco message.

"It's bad because you'll get cancer," one youngster said.

"I think it is bad for your health; cigarettes make your lungs black," another child said.

Debbie Park, a teen club director is happy with the commercial. "A lot of kids are noticing that commercial because of the special effects, " she said.

Park says the commercial succeeds because it entertains rather than preaches.

The new anti-smoking commercial will run through May.