Millions of federal dollars aimed at combating the island’s drug trade were promised to Kaua‘i Friday by Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai‘i. During a news conference at the Lihu‘e Civic Center, Inouye announced $1.5 million could be coming to Kaua‘i during
Millions of federal dollars aimed at combating the island’s drug trade were promised to Kaua‘i Friday by Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai‘i.
During a news conference at the Lihu‘e Civic Center, Inouye announced $1.5 million could be coming to Kaua‘i during fiscal year 2006-2007 to do that job.
“It is a matter of going through a formality of saying ‘aye’ (by congressional members and approval of the funds by President Bush),” Inouye said. “And I happy to tell you that you have got the $1.5 million coming now.”
Roy Nishida, the county’s anti-drug coordinator, credited Inouye with bringing to Kaua‘i $1.5 million in fiscal year 2004 for the same purpose. At the same time, Kaua‘i County will be relying on Inouye to help secure another $1.5 million for fiscal year 2005 and 2006, Nishida said.
All of the funds would be used to carry out the Kaua‘i Community Drug Response Plan, an initiative introduced by Mayor Bryan Baptiste and the Kauai Planing and Action Alliance to stem the spread of drug use on the island.
Inouye was on Kaua‘i with Jennifer Goto Sabas, his chief of staff, and was escorted around the island by Ron Sakoda, his local liaison.
Inouye said at one time, he thought he was pretty much up on the illegal drugs and how to curb their use. His views changed significantly, he said, after he began to understand the impact crystal methamphetamine has had on Hawai‘i.
“When I first learned of the crystal meth problem in Hawai‘i, it was thorough Mayor (Harry) Kim on the Big Island, and I must tell you, I thought I knew a lot about the drug problem, heroin, cocaine, marijuana. But when I learned about ice, I was just stunned,” Inouye said.
After anti-drug programs were set up on the Big Island, Inouye said he got in touch with Baptiste about developing anti-drug use program here, and “we have been partners ever since.”
Baptiste heartily applauded Inouye’s efforts to fund programs to keep youths away from drugs. “He is a statesman,” Baptiste said. “Everything he does, he puts our children first.”
Baptiste said Inouye has been very supportive in bringing funding to Kaua‘i to implement the anti-drug plan, which focuses on law enforcement, prevention, treatment and support of the community in combating drug use.
“It has been a honor to work with Sen. Inouye on the anti-drug effort. From the very beginning, he has been very supportive, getting us funding,” Baptiste said. “In fact, this coming year, we have increased funding from him for the anti-drug efforts.”
Successfully combating drug use means more than having an excellent police department, as KPD is, Inouye said.
It is about involving the entire community in the war on drugs, and that is what Baptiste, drug treatment agencies and residents have seemingly been able to do by developing and implementing the anti-drug plan, Inouye said.
“You have achieved something on this island that other communities are struggling to achieve,” he said. “And that is the spirit of working together.”
Anti-drug efforts on Kaua‘i have caught the attention of leaders in Washington D.C., Inouye said.
“You may not be aware of this,” Inouye said. “There are those in Washington who look upon this community as a community lab, to see whether intervention works, whether prevention works, whether rehab works.”
As part of the $1.5 million that was sent to Kaua‘i for fiscal year 2004, Inouye presented a check of $400,000 to Hina Mauka, an O‘ahubased drug rehabilitation center, and another $200,000 to the Kaua‘i Police Department for anti-drug use programs.
Alan Johnson, managing director of Hina Mauka, said the $400,000 will be used to bring Kaua‘i residents needing help to the organization’s treatment centers on O‘ahu and Maui and treatment centers operated by other groups.
The clients can then be sent to adult outpatient clinics on Kaua‘i for additional help, Johnson said.
Hina Mauka operates such a facility on Haleko Street in Lihu‘e.
“For Kaua‘i, there are no adolescent and adult residential treatment centers,” Johnson said. “So this $400,000 will help until one is built.”
Baptiste is proposing the construction of a $1.2-million adolescent substance abuse treatment center on the grounds of the old Kaua‘i Humane Society site in Hanapepe.
The facility would be the first adolescent drug rehabilitation center on Kaua‘i. The proposal is now before the Kaua‘i County Planning Commission.
Hina Mauka staffers conduct assessments for individuals who are between 12 and 18 years of age and individuals who are 18 years and older.
The organization currently provides services to students at six high schools and middle schools on Kaua‘i.
Johnson was accompanied to the meeting by Joshua Atkinson and Merrily Worrell, both Hina Mauka counselors on Kaua‘i.
Joining them in receiving the $400,000 check was Mardi L. Maione, a certified substance abuse counselor and chairperson of a treatment committee that was set up as part of the county’s anti-drug plan.
The $200,000 will support on-going efforts by KPD to thwart the manufacture, sale and use of illegal drugs, Inouye said. Deputy Police Chief Ron Venneman received the check on behalf of KPD.
Following his visit Friday morning, Inouye was to fly back to Washington, Sabas said.
- Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@ kauaipubco.com.
