HANAMA‘ULU — After months of hard work, committee meetings and planning, volunteers working to put together a county comprehensive drug plan were rewarded to a lunch yesterday. But lunch was not the only course of action taken Tuesday at the
HANAMA‘ULU — After months of hard work, committee meetings and planning, volunteers working to put together a county comprehensive drug plan were rewarded to a lunch yesterday.
But lunch was not the only course of action taken Tuesday at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort, as county leaders unveiled the first draft of their plan, a 115-page report of the five-year schematic to combat drug abuse.
Nearly 200 Kaua‘i residents in the audience, which was also sprinkled with a dozen politicians, were asked to give feedback on the proposed plan, to be finalized by May 23, said Roy Nishida, the county anti-drug coordinator.
After six months of meetings, the four committees: enforcement, prevention, treatment, and community integration, outlined their proposals, and gave specific courses of action that they believe will curb the ice (crystal methamphetamine) epidemic on the island.
The group was joined by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai‘i, who announced he had secured $1.47 million in federal funds to support the county’s plan. He was the luncheon speaker.
U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Neighbor Islands-rural O‘ahu, stopped in for a quick visit as well, to show his support, and to tell attendees he is by their side in the war on drugs.
The entire County Council was there, and Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste personally gave thanks to all in attendance.
“Five months ago, I was with many of you,” said Inouye, referring to a meeting in November when the committees formed to start building the plan.
“In five months, you got a plan.
“I think it’s going to be successful,” he said.
“It takes more than money to fight this curse,” Inouye continued.
“I’m the bag man. You do the work,” he said.
“We can provide you with millions that can go down the drain.
“The best-made plans,” like this one, he said, “are made in Hawai‘i, for Hawai‘i, and by Hawaiians.
“The beneficiaries will be the people of Kaua‘i,” and the state as well.
But all agreed there is still much work to do.
Representatives of each committee outlined their five-year plan, and took questions and criticisms from the audience.
The information gathered will be used to revise the draft, said Nishida.
After lunch the work started, as Dianne Zachary of the Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance outlined the next set of goals the volunteers hope to achieve, chiefly implementing the finished plan.
Representatives of each committee will now form a “Drug Action Team,” which will be responsible for securing funding for each of the proposed initiatives, adopting a management system to implement the plan, developing and making available information on community resources by designing a resource guide, getting information out about activities, and heightening awareness to the public.
Each of the groups will also continue to meet to monitor the progress and coordinate activities.
“We all know ice is a symptom. We all know this is the beginning, not the end,” said Kelvin Taketa, president and chief executive officer of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, the after-lunch speaker.
“You are the heart and soul of this document,” Baptiste told the audience.
“Headlines fade, but the problems remain. Make sure this document comes to life,” he implored.
“Make sure it does not end up on a shelf. There is a lot more work to do.”
When the final draft is finished in late May, the public will be encouraged to view it, said Nishida.
Special briefings on the plan for groups will also be available, and volunteers for committees are always needed and encouraged, he added.
Interested people may call Nishida at 241-6312.
Next week, The Garden Island will take closer looks at all components of the plan, and its implementation.
Staff Writer Tom Finnegan may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
