Ka'a'awa rallies to support coalition
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KA'A'AWA — Dozens of people rallied last night in support of an organization seeking to drive drug dealers out of this small Windward community, motivated in part by a possible threat against one of its members.
Nine months after it began an antidrug sign-waving campaign, the Ka'a'awa No Drugs Coalition called its first community-wide meeting at Ka'a'awa Elementary School last night, bringing in representatives from the U.S. attorney, the state attorney general, the city prosecutor's office and the Honolulu Police Department.
The coalition called the meeting in response to what it believes is retaliation for its antidrug crusade, said Reb Bellinger, a coalition member. The situation has galvanized the community in its effort to rid the neighborhoods of drugs, Bellinger said.
"The whole tempo here is a united front working together for common good and a common cause," he said. "We're going to continue pushing and pushing until we get results."
Ka'a'awa resident and coalition member Dee Dee Plunkett said that earlier this month she awoke at 3 a.m. to find her truck on fire. She believes it was deliberately set by someone who wants to stop the antidrug campaign. Police are investigating. Her dog, which she said would never leave the yard by itself, is also missing.
The fire has left the grandmother of three traumatized and scared but she said she wouldn't be deterred from her goal of ridding the small town of its drug problems.
"I'm bound and determined not to stop this fight I started," Plunkett said. "I need your support because if we hide behind our house, behind the window, behind the walls, we're no better off than them that come out at night like cockroaches and maggots."
More than 60 people showed up at the hastily called meeting. State and city law enforcement officers told them that they are the best resources for making a case against a drug user or dealer, but added that residents must be patient because making charges stick takes time and good investigation.
Some progress has been made in closing down drug houses during the past year. Officers said such places in Kalihi, Wahiawa and Lanikai are no longer in operation because the community stepped forward.
"I'll be very blunt," said Mark Miyahira, with the attorney general's office. "Law enforcement by ourselves, we cannot begin to turn the tide on the war on drugs. We need the help from the community."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at 234-5266 or eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.
