Program warns kids about the dangers of marijuana

PUHI — Over 300 people overflowed the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria for a program illustrating the harm of using marijuana Wednesday evening.

“We had a little over 300 people registered,” said Mark Ozaki, director for the Kaua‘i Police Activities League, one of the event’s hosts.

Gordon Isoda, acting deputy chief of the Kaua‘i Police Department, said the event was also a part of their gang resistance program GREAT that is presented to middle school students.

Parents and coaches from the K-PAL program were encouraged to attend as part of their ongoing drug awareness education program.

For K-PAL and Lihu‘e Pop Warner Association coaches, the drug education program is a mandate.

Children overflowed the cafeteria and frolicked about the lawn areas as the adults and a lot of the students attentively watched and listened to the hour-long program presented by KPD Special Resource officers from both Waimea and Kaua‘i high schools.

KPD sergeant Dan Miyamoto stood by for questions at the special display set up on the far end of the cafeteria.

For most of the parents, the presentation was enlightening as Applegate and Rodrigues used actual news clippings from local newspapers to illustrate the harm of marijuana usage.

This was expanded on as they utilized a variety of newsclips and video presentations to show the longterm impact of marijuana usage, one clip showing how the impact doesn’t show up until the next generation of children.

While there are a lot of presentations centering around the use of crystal meth, or ice, Isoda was glad there was a big turnout for the marijuana presentation.

“This is big,” he said. “It’s the unknown giant.”

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.