KAPA‘A — Horns tooting in support only served to strengthen the enthusiasm shown by the middle school students, Tuesday afternoon. About 30 students from the Holomua after school program at the Kapa‘a Middle School were transported by a school bus
KAPA‘A — Horns tooting in support only served to strengthen the enthusiasm shown by the middle school students, Tuesday afternoon.
About 30 students from the Holomua after school program at the Kapa‘a Middle School were transported by a school bus to the Coconut Marketplace where the students lined Kuhio Highway, waving their “Don’t Drink and Drive” message in the brisk trades that tried to dampen the students’ spirits with bouts of showers.
But the showers only heightened the excitement of the students, who acknowledged the horn-tooting with squeals and vigorous sign-waving.
“These students need to do it at least four times a year,” said Kaua‘i Police Department Acting Captain Mark Scribner of the Traffic Unit. “They’ve done it before, but this is the first time they’re at the Coconut Marketplace.”
Scribner was joined by KPD officer Rob Gausepohl, who in answer to motorists who were undeterred from going beyond the posted speed limit, got out his laser speed gun in an attempt to slow the drivers.
Mardi Harlow of Alu Like, one of the event coordinators, said the students are from the Holomua free after school program and the sign waving is part of their Drug and Alcohol Prevention classes which are held each Tuesday and Thursday.
“Normally, we have about 15 students come out so we go to the triangle in Kapa‘a across Pono Kai,” Harlow said. “But this is the biggest group we’ve had in the three times we’ve done the sign waving so we needed a bigger place.”
The school bus driver watched from an area close to his bus, noting that this was a good message to be sending to drivers.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
