Islandwide drug fight “summits”set

An islandwide series of five drug problem “summits” is being scheduled by Mayor Bryan Baptiste.

The mayor is hoping that the meetings will help in creating a plan to solve Kaua’i drug abuse problems.

Baptiste said the meetings are being held to “educate residents and discuss current efforts to address the drug problem on Kaua’i.”

The series begins Saturday morning at the Hyatt Regency Kaua’i Resort with a talk by Mike Young of Wave Riders Against Drugs at 8:30 a.m.

The second meeting is set for the Radisson Kauai on Tuesday, May 20 beginning at 5:30 p.m. “Ice” abuse expert Gary Shimabukuro of Laulima Hawaii is the scheduled speaker.

Congressman Ed Case is the featured speaker at the third meeting, set for the Prince Clubhouse at the Princeville Resort on Saturday morning May 24 beginning at 8 a.m.

A talk on the federal “Weed and Seed” anti-drug, community development program is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kapa’a Elementary School Cafeteria.

Details are still being worked out to have Hawai’i’s Federal Prosecutor Ed Kubo speak at the Kapa’a meeting.

In an interview with The Garden Island, Kubo said a local community organization must request federal assistance in order to have the “Weed and Seed” program implemented locally.

Roy Nishida, the head of the mayor’s anti-drug campaign, said a cooperative effort would be needed to organize community groups before the program could come to Kaua’i.

The “Weed and Seed” program has been a success in Chinatown and other neighborhoods in Honolulu.

The fifth and final meeting in the series is set for the Waimea Plantation Cottages on Saturday morning May 31 beginning at 8 a.m., with Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona set to speak.