LIHUE — Nine Kauai Drug Court graduates were honored Friday as the 21st class to graduate in the past decade, with testimony about how the program and the volunteers helped them to recover their lives and begin again. “This is
LIHUE — Nine Kauai Drug Court graduates were honored Friday as the 21st class to graduate in the past decade, with testimony about how the program and the volunteers helped them to recover their lives and begin again.
“This is always a good event,” said Chief Judge Randal Valenciano. “These are good people that got into bad situations.”
The judge said May is a graduation month, and said the message to the drug court graduates is much the same as to high school students: It is not an end. It is a transition.
U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was present at the graduation. She challenged the graduates to use the tools and support they received to help others.
“Know as you go forward that there are so many people who stand with you and behind you,” she said.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. thanked the family and friends of the graduates as people who stood by during a recovery period, even though there could be relapse and failure before the loved one they knew returned to them. He said the drug court is a spiritually driven program that allows the graduates to find inner light, the naau that guides their choices.
“That feeling in the heart that tells you it is the right thing to do,” he said. “You have got to get back to that place.”
Some of graduates are on a track two program where successful completion can result in the court dismissing the charges against them. It gives the graduate a much needed boost in starting again.
County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said it is not every day that a prosecutor comes to court happy to dismiss a case. “This is one of those days and we are very proud of the graduates,” he said.
Drug Court Administrator Joseph Savino encouraged the graduates to have an “active recovery” and to attend a drug court hearing and group sessions. He said it helps new clients to face their challenges when they can meet alumni who serve as role models.
“This is the 10th anniversary of the drug court program, and May is National Drug Court Month,” Savino said. “It is fitting that we hold this graduation ceremony on the last day of the month.”
Drug Court has three major community service projects that are not funded by the judiciary. The nonprofit Friends of Drug Court and volunteers and funding from United Way of Kauai and Visitor Industry Charity Walk, along with other business and faith-based organizations, support their efforts.
The 21st Drug Court Class included Rose Kealoha, Sevika Sivanathan, Wenona Camara, Veronica Medeiros, Crystal Mundon, Federico Corona, Samuel Amonette, Clifford Ramirez and Brandon Mariano-Hardy. For some, the program took less than a year, and for others, it took two years to complete.
Each graduate spoke and thanked court staff, sponsors and family for help them regain control over their lives. They spoke of losing jobs, family, children and friends as drugs and alcohol took over their lives.
The graduates all spoke about regaining their self-esteem, re-establishing relationships with parents and children, and the joy of trusting new friends that do not center their lives around drugs.
Amonette said the program put them in a position to face their fears and addictions without being able to run away.
Sivanathan said that jail is not enough to help someone stay clean. Drug court provided the support to help her deal with the struggle to stay clean while starting again in the work world and rebuilding her relationship with her daughter and family.
Camara said that life is still not perfect but it is a hundred times better now with support.
Corona said that learning the effects of drugs on the mind and body made it easier to embrace the tools to stay clean. “This has been one of the best learning experiences of my life,” he said.
