Leeward grads urged to avoid alcohol, drugs

By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer

With graduation ceremonies at both Leeward Coast high schools taking place this weekend, area residents hope the weekend passes with no injuries attributed to drinking and driving.

Nanakuli High and Intermediate and Wai'anae High each will have Project Graduation parties — all-night, alcohol-free events held graduation night to keep students from being tempted to drink and drive — but attendance has been historically low at both schools.

Kehau Naeole, the senior class adviser and Project Graduation organizer at Nanakuli High School, said only about 30 of the 151 graduates are participating in the event this year.

"We never get a good turnout," Naeole said. "Students overcelebrate during graduation, and this is an attempt to prevent them from getting into accidents after drinking and driving."

On April 9 of last year, Patrick Brock, a senior at Wai'anae High School about to graduate, was killed in a one-car accident.

According to police, Brock was driving on Farrington Highway near Ma'ili Point about 12:51 a.m. when he passed another car, lost control and hit a utility pole. Alcohol was a factor in the accident, police said.

In all, 12 people died in traffic accidents along the Wai'anae Coast last year.

Police roadblocks will be set up all weekend on Farrington Highway to check for people driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Moma Cambra, co-chairperson of Wai'anae High's Project Graduation, said about 100 of the school's 350 graduates will participate in their event this year.

"Alcohol is always a problem," Cambra said. "Kids say they give money to people that are older to buy it for them. We want to keep the kids, at least for one night, drug and alcohol free. Even if it's only one night, it makes a difference."

Wai'anae resident William Aila Jr. is a volunteer with the Wai'anae Graduation Committee, which had been considering what could be done to help keep this weekend safe.

Last week, he and about 40 other residents picketed outside a Wai'anae store that they say sells alcohol to minors.

Aila said that at graduation parties, teens often think drinking is the adult thing to do.

"They get it in their heads that adults do these type of things, but most adults don't do irresponsible things," he said. "They need to think about the effect and impact on other people. I hope we get through graduation at both Nanakuli and Wai'anae incident-free. That there is no sad news, no losses in the community."

Ngoc Nguyen, an exchange student from Vietnam attending Nanakuli High, will attend the Project Graduation party and said he also hopes no one is injured in a traffic accident.

"This is the last time we can get together and have fun," Nguyen said. "And we have adults there to prevent any drinking."

Leeward graduation weekend

• Wai'anae High School will hold its graduation ceremony on the football field starting at 5 p.m. today. The Project Graduation party is being held at a secret location so that no one can crash the party.

• Nanakuli High and Intermediate School will hold its commencement at 5 p.m. Saturday on campus. Their Project Graduation party will include dinner at Germaine's Luau, but because a donor backed out, the school is trying to raise money quickly to make the event happen. To help, call Kehau Naeole at 668-5823.

Project Graduation

The drug-free, alcohol-free graduation celebration has grown this year in Hawai'i, with more schools taking part. Janice Meeker, who coordinates the program for the state Department of Education, said about 35 of the 43 public high schools will participate, plus 10 or 11 private high schools.

For more information on Project Graduation, call your high school, or call Meeker at 394-1348.