Weed & Seed cleanup planned
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
A major "seeding" effort will be held to clean up neglected areas of Kalihi as part of the plan to expand the Weed & Seed law enforcement program from Kalihi-Palama/Chinatown west into Kalihi Valley and east into Ala Moana.
Between 200 and 300 volunteers are expected to take part in the June 28 effort, which will include garbage pickup, abandoned vehicle removal, painting over graffiti and cutting back overgrown weeds and grass.
Called a "roll-out," the work day will focus on the areas around the Kapalama Canal, King Street, Pua Lane and Kanoe Street and is intended to demonstrate to federal officials the widespread community support for creating the new Weed & Seed district. The U.S. Department of Justice requires active community support before granting official Weed & Seed recognition.
• Who: Weed & Seed Hawai'i community cleanup day • When: June 28. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Ka'iulani Elementary School. Work will be from 9 a.m. to noon. • To help: Residents, businesses and community groups can help by providing workers or donating trash bags, gloves, paint and painting equipment, gardening tools and refreshments. Cash donations are also welcome. • Call: Reina Miyamoto at 845-6033 to volunteer or donate supplies.
"It's encouraging to see people showing pride and confidence in their communities," said Maile Kanemaru, Hawai'i Weed & Seed executive director. "But for continued success, everyone must be involved — regardless of whether it's the area you live in or not. By strengthening our 'at-risk' neighborhoods, we're making Hawai'i a better place for all of us."
At a glance
Pua Lane, next to Mayor Wright Homes, had among the highest crime rates in the city before Weed & Seed was created. Senior citizens were afraid to take their early morning walks, and students at Ka'iulani Elementary School across the street from the housing project had to run a drug dealer gauntlet going to and from school every day.
Weed & Seed has had tremendous success since it began in Hawai'i in 1998, Kanemaru said. Kalihi-Palama/Chinatown, the first location, has seen a 70 percent drop in crime in four years. A second site was designated in late 2000 in Waipahu, where drug crimes have fallen by 78 percent.
The 'Ewa site, the third on O'ahu, got started in September. There are more than 351 Weed & Seed sites in 46 states.
The Justice Department has approved the plan to expand the Kalihi Weed & Seed program pending an on-site visit by a federal official expected next month. Official designation would bring federal money to fight crime and toughen federal penalties for violations in the area — the "weed" side of the equation — combined with crime prevention and efforts at intervention, treatment and neighborhood revitalization to "seed" a safer community.
Kanemaru said this will be the largest Weed & Seed community work project since Aloha United Way organized 1,000 people for a cleanup when the program first started.
Rep. Ken Hiraki, D-28th (Iwilei, Downtown, Makiki) said there will be more roll-outs in other areas of the expanded district with the next one planned for Kapi'olani Boulevard. A Web site is being set up to keep volunteers informed, and a video will be made of the cleanup efforts.
"Recent new reports have been all about crime rates going up," Hiraki said. "This is one of the first activities we can point to that really works to bring crime rates down."
