LIHU‘E — More than 800 fifth-grade students converged Thursday at the War Memorial Convention Hall to celebrate the completion of this year’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. “You are important and the lessons you have learned are important,” said Mayor
LIHU‘E — More than 800 fifth-grade students converged Thursday at the War Memorial Convention Hall to celebrate the completion of this year’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
“You are important and the lessons you have learned are important,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., who welcomed the students to the celebration. “I want you to share those messages of staying away from drugs and gangs and encourage you to make healthy good choices.”
Carvalho was just one of several dignitaries to offer congratulations to the students in Kaua‘i’s public schools and several private schools that took advantage of the D.A.R.E. program headed by Kaua‘i Police Sgt. Ken Carvalho.
Sgt. Carvalho, who earlier in the year spearheaded the D.A.R.E. educators conference here, spent the last three days and nights with Gary Shimabukuro of Laulima Hawai‘i and Det. Sgt. Mark Middleton of Florida as the pair traveled from Waimea to Hanalei with presentations on drug abuse, underage drinking, pharming and Internet safety.
“I want to congratulate you for your commitment to be drug free,” said Kaua‘i Area Complex Superintendent Bill Arakaki. “Dawn Vess (performing a hula/gymnastics routine as the first runner-up of the Miss Kaua‘i Filipina scholarship pageant) is an example of what can be done when you’re drug free.”
Vess recently accepted a full ride to the University of Hawai‘i as a cheerleader, said Allen Silva, the emcee of the event.
“I want you to continue to be drug free because one day I’m going to be old and gray and you will be the leaders,” Arakaki said. “I want to thank the police chief, the mayor, the D.A.R.E. officers and the teachers for allowing you to learn about the dangers of drug abuse.”
In addition to the day-long celebration that featured performances from a variety of teen celebrities, support for the program was demonstrated as Taylor Shigemoto of the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union presented a check for $2,131.32 to Sgt. Carvalho, Daren the D.A.R.E. mascot, and the D.A.R.E. officers.
“This represents contributions from KCFCU members who donated to the D.A.R.E. program during the Credit Union Week celebration earlier this year,” Shigemoto said. “It shows how much the credit union members care about the program and their support.”
Daphne Sanchez, a Kapa‘a High School student, had just returned from performing before crowds that topped 11,000 people during the Golden Week in Japan, said Kaua‘i film commissioner Art Umezu.
“And here she is with Kiren Caberto, performing for our own kids. This is quite an honor,” Umezu said.
Other performers included Nicole Kaui, Miss Garden Isle 2009, doing a touching rendition of “Nani Kaua‘i” by Teresa Bright, Tashana Valmoja, Miss Kaua‘i Filipina 2009, getting the help of D.A.R.E. officers in her rendition of “I Don’t Want to Go,” Haila Parish, Ms. Hawai‘i Outstanding Teen, Jaylee Fuselier, Ms. Diamond Head, Dominique Pascua doing a series of martial arts demonstrations, and Greg Gabaylo, “World’s Fastest Juggler, Magician and Hypnotist,” closing the celebration.
D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles and has proven so successful that it is now being implemented in 75 percent of our nation’s school districts and in more than 43 countries around the world.
It is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug- and violence-free lives, states the D.A.R.E. Web site.
“Right now we only work with the fifth-grade students, but we have lesson plans from kindergarten,” said Mark Ozaki, a D.A.R.E. officer and coordinator for the Kaua‘i Police Activities League.
For more information, visit www.dare.com
