KANE'OHE — More than two dozen Windward residents and police officers stood along the sidewalk on Kea'ahala Road on Tuesday, waving posters that read "No Hope in Dope" and "Hugs Not Drugs" to passing motorists in a rally against crime and drug abuse at Kane'ohe Community Park.

"During the summer, we noticed that there was an increase in some reports of drug dealings, graffiti was more common and we had some fights at the park — so that was too much," said Linda Liu, Kane'ohe Complex supervisor for the city Department of Parks & Recreation.

Since the park is heavily used by youth and senior citizens, Liu said, she and her staff felt compelled to do something about it.

In partnership with Kane'ohe police, they organized a local National Night Out, a nationwide program spreading awareness about crime and drug prevention.

After waving signs, organizers continued the event with sporting activities and sign-ups for DARE, Keiki IDs and a park watch group.

But by the time the evening was over, only two people had signed up for a citizens patrol, pledging to adopt Kane'ohe Community Park and watch for and report suspicious behavior and illegal activity. Officials hope more people will volunteer.

Graffiti has been a concern in the community at large, too. In March alone, four adults and seven juveniles were arrested for graffiti, according to the April minutes of the Kane'ohe Neighborhood Board meeting.

Last month, Liu discovered graffiti on the park's pavilion and bathroom walls along with evidence of drinking and drug dealings at night — incidents that happened "on and off." The electrical room was also broken into for use as personal storage, she said.

Liu made three police reports in a month, which is unusually high, she said.

"So before it got anywhere, we wanted to stop it," Liu said.

Those who volunteer for the park watch "become the eyes and ears of the community," said Alfred Sonny Kanoho, Community Policing Team District 4 police officer, before Tuesday's meeting.

The children who use the park for sporting events and the people who live nearby will benefit the most, he said.

"They are the ones that should really be taking a real interest in this," said Kanoho.

Margaret Pekelo, 70, came all the way from Waimanalo to lend her support.

Pekelo came with four other senior citizens, all of whom take part in a Waimanalo Beach patrol. Pekelo, the watch coordinator, has patrolled the parking lot of Waimanalo Beach for the past seven years and said there hasn't been illegal activity in her area thus far.

"It does work, really does, because people see you there, nothing happens," Pekelo said. "But when we're not there is when it happens."

Kane'ohe resident Kylie Lum, 20, hasn't seen illegal activity in the Kane'ohe park, but said she knows it goes on. The park is a "sketchy area" and she doesn't use the facilities unless she needs to.

Lum has made a total of 10 to 20 trips to the park for Summer Fun, a recreational childcare program.

"I wouldn't come here alone, unless I had to be here for something," Lum said. "Otherwise I would try and avoid this place."

But Kane'ohe Little League president Alan Segawa, 61, said his more than 700 children use the park every day during the summer for practices.

He's more concerned about the drinking that happens in the parking lot, which makes it an unsafe environment for the kids.

There are limited parks available in Kane'ohe, he said, so he came out to express his concern by waving a "Drink H2O" sign.

"We need the park," Segawa said. "Because without the park, the kids cannot play."