Wai'anae Coast to join ice war

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

Residents from Nanakuli to Makaha will add their voices to an anti-drug crusade spreading across O'ahu.

"Bring Out the Sun and Melt the Ice" follows similar town meetings in Kahalu'u, Hale'iwa, Mililani and Kailua, where people have banded to create a strong front in their efforts to rid their communities of illegal drugs, particucrystal methamphetamine, or ice.

City Councilman Mike Gabbard is co-sponsoring the event along with service providers in the community and churches, said Patty Teruya, who works in Gabbard's office and is a member of the Wai'anae Coast Neighborhood Board.

Teruya described the drug problem along the coast as "big time."

"Our parks are infested with drugs," Teruya said. "Drug distribution at night is something else, and the parks are not safe."

Homes are burglarized and cars are stolen to get money for drugs, Teruya said.

"Then you see domestic violence and child neglect," she said. "They would rather buy drugs than feed their babies dinner."

M.P. "Andy" Anderson, chief executive officer for Hina Mauka, said a lot of the problems in Wai'anae are related to the area's low income level.

Hina Mauka, which is co-sponsoring the anti-drug event, has treated 305 people from the Wai'anae area in the past three years out of a total of 5,000 at its Kane'ohe treatment facility. But treatment also is offered at the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and Ho'omau Ke Ola, Anderson said.

Participants will be served a chili dinner between sign-waving event and the community forum, which Teruya said will give residents a chance to tell federal, state and city officials what is happening in their neighborhoods.

"We want federal, state and city government to help us clean this drug out of our community, and after that the economy can grow," Teruya said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.