Film describes dangers of ice

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

Filmmaker Edgy Lee wants to reach as many people as possible with a simple message about Hawai'i's "ice" epidemic: "It's not just those people on Hotel Street."

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, and the entire evening will feature real talk from real people and their experiences with ice. Lee said she interviewed a wide spectrum of people, including a schoolteacher who used ice for fun and a lawyer who was ruined by it. By the end of the evening, the hope is that people across Hawai'i will understand that the ice problem touches everyone.

"Those ladies who lunch at Neiman Marcus, those are the people I'm trying to reach as well," said Lee. "They don't think Punahou has it or don't think that it's in their neighborhood."

The special showing of Lee's film and the accompanying events will add another dimension to a series of grassroots campaigns that began in March and have galvanized communities across the state in an effort to wipe out drug use.

Lee arranged the showing of her film with the TV stations, and the other elements were built around that through the efforts of 'Olelo Community Television, Sassy and G Magazine, PBS Hawai'i, various community groups, including Community Works in 96744 — a coalition of organizations dedicated to reducing substance abuse among school-age children from Kane'ohe to Kahalu'u — and Richard Turner, a member of Community Works who owns the consulting company commIuniIvision.

Since March, when the Kahalu'u community decided to take a stand against ice use in their neighborhoods, other groups have formed across the Islands, generating action from residents, nonprofit providers, law enforcement, legislators, City Council members and most recently the lieutenant governor's office, which hosted a three-day summit on the issue last week.

Babba Willett, a recovering drug addict from Wai'anae lost his family and freedom because of drug use. He said the attention given to the drug problem will help in the struggle to overcome it, and he hopes the campaigns aren't just people "fluffing their feathers to get attention."

"I hope this thing continues on and it's not just a political thing for votes because drugs and alcohol have been here forever," said Willett, who manages a transition home for recovering men. "It's always going to be a problem."

Wednesday's town hall meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. at three locations: KEY Project in Kahalu'u, Wai'anae High School and Leeward Community College. Those at the meetings will watch the broadcast of Lee's film and follow that with discussion.

People at the different meetings will be able to talk to one another, said Turner, whose company is helping to link the three locations via Internet technology and cable TV lines in what is called "Breakin' The Ice: A Virtual Town Hall Meeting."

"We thought it was time to try to connect the various communities together so they could share some of the things that are working as well as some things that aren't working and really know they're not in it alone," Turner said.

Television stations across the state —KBFD, KFVE, KGMB, KHET, KHNL, KHON, KIKU, KITV, Oceanic 16 and 'Olelo Community Television Channel 54 — will air Lee's documentary at 7 p.m. Following the film, at 8 p.m., KFVE will feature teenagers talking about the issue on "Breaking The Ice," and KHON will feature a panel including Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona.

Also at 8 p.m., 'Olelo will air the town hall meetings.

On Thursday there will be a statewide sign-holding event aimed at discouraging drug dealers and users.

John Fink, general manager for KHNL and KFVE, said when Lee approached him to air her film for free he agreed immediately and he believes other stations followed suit because of the importance of the issue.

"It's totally being done in the community's interest," Fink said. "My personal goal is if we can get a bunch of people aware, if we can get more action, if people can get more help, we've done our job."

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, who hosted a drug and alcohol summit last week, said the film, the panels and the sign waving are encouraging because it means the commitment to drive drugs out of neighborhoods is still alive.

People's response to the summit has been fantastic, Aiona said. "I'm overwhelmed by everything and I'm committed," he said. "We're going to do the best we can with this and hopefully everybody will join with us."

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