PO‘IPU — Gary Shimabukuro, who has given drug-awareness talks and training seminars on just about all of the continents in the world, wants the next generation to step up. “My hope is for there to be a surge in the
PO‘IPU — Gary Shimabukuro, who has given drug-awareness talks and training seminars on just about all of the continents in the world, wants the next generation to step up.
“My hope is for there to be a surge in the number of programs where the younger generation teaches their peers about the dangers of ice and other drugs,” remarked Shimabukuro.
“I think that they would want to hear it from people their own age rather than from an old person, like myself. The slide show is a presentation of the surface of the truth,” said Shimabukuro, who teaches and advises on drug-awareness matters through his O‘ahu-based company, Laulima Hawai‘i.
“The real thing is found in autopsies and case files. That’s the real reality,” he said while conducting free, drug-awareness seminars at the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa.
“Laulima” is “cooperation” in Hawaiian.
In the wake of Hawai‘i’s massive drug problem, many men and women remain vigilant in the war on drugs.
Taking his words and images to the Neighbor Islands with regularity is Shimabukuro, president of Laulima Hawai‘i. He is infamous for his hard-hitting, fast-paced, and slightly humorous slide-show presentations, which expose to attentive audiences the gruesome truths of Hawai‘i’s current condition concerning narcotics and crystal methamphetamine, or ice.
Shimabukuro presented three drug-awareness sessions yesterday in the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa ballrooms, and is giving three more today, Saturday, June 25, at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Po‘ipu hotel.
His audiences yesterday were diverse, including hotel employees, K-PAL (Kaua‘i-Police Activities League) players and coaches, and Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football parents and players. The variegated crowd was largely the work of Stella Burgess, a manager at the Hyatt Regency Kauai and board member of K-PAL, who was asked by Shimabukuro to coordinate the event.
“Gary called me up and asked if a presentation at the Hyatt could be arranged,” said Burgess. “I was interested, of course, especially for our employees to learn about the threatening effects of ice and other drugs in the community and in the workplace. And since drug training is mandatory for all K-PAL coaches, I figured that it would be good for them to also participate in this event,” Burgess said.
“We sent out fliers, e-mails, and public-service announcements as means of promotion. The Hyatt paid for the room and meals, and through a grant from county anti-drug coordinator Roy Nishida’s office, the airfare, ground transportation and other expenses were taken care of.
“It’s scary to know just how close to home the drug problem hits,” continued Burgess. “Our staff learned that hotel guests can contaminate their rooms with drugs anyway possible. They informed us of how some people use coffee makers to ‘cook’ ice, and the remaining stench finds its way into the vents and desecrates the rest of the hotel. I never even thought such a thing was possible.”
A drug-specialist speaker since 1978, Shimabukuro has had lots of experience presenting reality to the masses. Recently, he spent 10 days in Australia and New Zealand, teaching police task forces there about the dangers of ice.
“I’ve been doing a lot of presentations on Kaua‘i,” said Shimabukuro. “Earlier this week I paid a visit to PMRF, spoke with employees of Hawaiian Telcom, and addressed a whole bunch of other business entities. The goal, or the intent, to strive for as of now, is to spread the word about the ice epidemic to smaller businesses on the Neighbor Islands,” he said.
“We are currently achieving our objective, to target larger, Neighbor Island businesses, such as the Hyatt Regency Kauai. But we want to make sure that as much businesses as possible are aware of the consequences of ice.”
For now, the specifics of Shimabukuro’s schedule for the next four to five months are pending. “I’m waiting for Roy Nishida to come back from Hong Kong,” added Shimabukuro. “As soon as he arrives, we’ll plan more events. I will also be working with the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce to integrate drug-training seminars for multiple businesses, including the Marriott, and set up presentations with different companies.”
Accompanying Shimabukuro was Keith Kamita, chief of the state narcotics-enforcement division. Kamita manned the popular narcotics-display table viewed by interested audience members following the presentation.
Spread out over two tables in neatly arranged plastic divisions were samples of a varied assortment of narcotics, including ecstasy, marijuana, heroin, opium, cocaine, animal tranquilizers, injectable steroids, anabolic steroids, GHB, and accessories. No question was left unanswered, as intrigued attendees inquired Kamita about every item on display.
“You know Gary has the easy job,” laughed Kamita. “His presentations are roughly about an hour long, then he gets to rest. But for me, I always end up standing around after the presentation for a couple of hours answering questions.”
Listening in on the intent question-and-answer session, Shimabukuro recalled a recent, shocking, drugrelated find.
“On Kekaulike Street in O‘ahu, there used to be a wall where all of the ice and drug addicts would sit and rest on. Prompted by concerned citizens, they tore the wall down and found several feet deep of syringes. That was an eye-opener,” Shimabukuro said.
For more information on today’s seminars, please call Burgess, 240-6369.
