Casting call
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Something smells fishy, and for once, law enforcement officials are enjoying it.
Photos by Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
In the wake of Hawai'i's rising crystal methamphetamine problem, law enforcement and education officials have developed an anti-drug project that has hooked hundreds of Ma'ema'e School students on the sport of fishing at Nu'uanu Reservoir.
Jhana Young, 11, shows off the catfish she caught.
"Fishing is just one part of the lesson plan," said officer Ron Imoto of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. "If they like it, fine. They can continue it. Hopefully, it gives them some type of alternative, some type of choice besides being bored an having somebody tempt them with drugs or alcohol."
Various activities
Since last year, about 300 Ma'ema'e fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students have gone through the hands-on project designed to provide students with an alternative to drug use and to expose them to Hawai'i's natural resources. As part of the project, students learn fishing fundamentals such as how to tie hooks and fish identification. They also produce artwork, making Japanese-style fish prints (gyotaku) and greeting cards decorated with pressed flowers.
Early exposure
The pilot project was organized by the school, the Honolulu Police Department, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Hawai'i National Guard.
"Some of these kids don't get to see the outdoors in this type of setting," Imoto said. "If these kids don't experience this now, they have nothing to relate back to. We're trying to expose them to the outdoors and give them a choice."
Kalihi police Sgt. Harvey Hisatake said in addition to the anti-drug lessons, the field project — which emphasizes nature and animals — can help students choose a career path.
"Maybe one of these days, one of these kids will be a state biologist or oceanographer, or be involved in aquaculture or even become veterinarians," Hisatake said.
Hisatake said the project aims to reach students when they're young and impressionable.
"If you don't, as they get older, they'll probably get sucked into bunches of kids who are going on the wrong path," Hisatake said.
Sixth-grader Shevis Ishihara, 11, said she's never taken illegal drugs and has no intention to after finishing the anti-drug portion of the project.
"They told us drugs can kill you and it's not healthy," Ishihara said. "When we were in the fifth grade, they would tell us about different types of drugs and what the causes would be if we started taking drugs."
Ma'ema'e principal Beatrice Zane called the anti-drug project one of the most valuable lessons in her school's curriculum.
"We connect that to our drug abuse resistance education program because the outcome in making good choices," Zane said. "What do you do with your leisure time? What do you do when you want to enjoy life and feel the joy of succeeding. I think if children don't experience the joy of success, they turn to some other negative options."
Outdoor lessons
In addition to learning about fishing, students learn about such things as the reservoir imbalance in tilapia and catfish, water pollution, and native and non-native plants.
"Some people might think that it's just a fishing trip, but it isn't," Zane said. "When you read the journals of the students, and see what they do when they go back into the classroom, it's so positive. You can see they are applying their learning to actual life.
"It's not just vicarious learning from a book, reading or watching a film," Zane continued. "They actually come and experience it. It's hands-on experience."
