Parents are invited to attend one of the two free presentations by some of the top experts in the field of drug and alcohol abuse, pharming (perscription drugs) and Internet safety. Coordinated by the county’s Anti-Drug office, the first workshop
Parents are invited to attend one of the two free presentations by some of the top experts in the field of drug and alcohol abuse, pharming (perscription drugs) and Internet safety.
Coordinated by the county’s Anti-Drug office, the first workshop will be today at the Waimea Canyon Middle School cafeteria, with the first 150 attendees being treated to a light dinner, courtesy of the school.
Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. with resource vendors opening at 6 p.m. The presentations start at 6:30 p.m.
Parents needing to bring younger children along will have a separate venue available with child activities.
Gary Shimabukuro of Laulima Hawai‘i will be the keynote presenter on underage drinking and drug abuse. Martin County (Florida) Sheriff’s Detective Mark Middleton will lead the presentation on Internet safety.
Middleton, who was here earlier to present to the police department’s DARE educators, is most knowledgeable in the field of Internet safety and has a variety of tips and information on how parents can protect their children from Internet predators.
This presentation comes on the heels of a recent conviction on O‘ahu for electronic enticement.
Theresa Koki, the county’s anti-drug coordinator, said at the WCMS presentation there will be a presentation for graduating Waimea High School parents for students having to deal with graduating without Max Agor, a senior who was killed in a recent one-car crash, and graduation in general.
Koki said last year a student killed himself on graduation night because he did not get to walk at the ceremonies.
On Monday, Shimabukuro and Middleton will be spending the day presenting materials to students at both the St. Theresa School in Kekaha as well as WCMS.
Tuesday night, the parent presentations move to the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e. Vendors and exhibits will open at 6 p.m. with the presentations to start at 6:30 p.m.
A separate venue for children will also be available at the free CKMS presentation.
Koki said any school or business wanting a presentation by Shimabukuro and Middleton on Tuesday should call her office to make arrangements.
Wednesday, the pair travels to Hanalei School for presentations to students in the 6th through 8th grades during the day.
A parent presentation Wednesday night is limited to parents of students at Hanalei and Kilauea schools.
For more information, or to schedule a presentation on Tuesday, call Koki at 241-4925, or e-mail tkoki@kauai.gov.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
