Merchants plan to retake Nu'uanu
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Nu'uanu Avenue shop owners and residents will continue their battle to get drug dealers and users off their street with a sign-waving demonstration May 13 aimed at drawing attention to the problem.
The recently formed Nu'uanu Merchants Association met last week to develop strategies to rid themselves of the problem and sought advice from U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo; Maile Kanemaru, executive director of the Weed & Seed Program; Maj. Michael Tucker, police commander for the area; and George Lindsey, chief of staff for Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona Jr.
"We are here to try and find a way we can all exist and have our businesses succeed without this blight of the drug culture," said Hank Taufaasau, the association's vice president and owner of Hank's Cafe. "We would like the police and prosecutors to give us some guidelines on what they want us to do. We are all working toward a common goal."
Police have acknowledged that the block of Nu'uanu between Pauahi and Hotel streets, which is inside the Kalihi/Palama/Chinatown Weed & Seed crime-fighting district, is infested with illegal drug use despite the presence of a police substation just a block away.
Drug dealers have created a virtual drive-through service in the area, with specific spots on Nu'uanu, Pauahi and Smith streets where they station themselves and wait for customers to pull up.
"We are thrilled the merchants are working together," Kubo said. "We are concerned because being part of the original Weed & Seed site, we need to keep up the maintenance part to get the merchants feeling secure once again."
Association members plan to work with the area Neighborhood Watch program to patrol the street and will call 911 every time they see drug deals or other crimes taking place to document the level of activity.
The 30 members at the meeting agreed to attend a training class next month on how to observe criminal activity and assist police. Law enforcement will begin looking into the possibility of confiscating property that landowners allow to be used for drug operations.
Tucker said he would like to place a police officer on every corner to solve the problem, but the increase in taxes needed to pay for that makes it impossible.
"With the participation and commitment you've shown here today, we don't have to do that," Tucker said.
Weed & Seed is a nationwide program intended to weed out drug dealers and violent criminals while fostering a sense of communal responsibility. The "weed" portion applies federal law enforcement to rid communities of gangs, drug dealers and repeat and violent offenders. The "seed" part applies crime prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood revitalization to make a safer community.
Kim Coffee-Isaak, managing director of The ARTS at Marks Garage and secretary of the merchants association, said there are many ongoing "seeding" activities, including the First Friday downtown gallery walk, the development of a culture and arts association, and special festivals and activities that draw new customers to the area.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
