About 350 students from the three high and middle schools congregated at the Kauai Marriott Tuesday morning to learn lessons on leadership, making differences in our community and the violent effects of drug abuse. According to high school students the
About 350 students from the three high and middle schools congregated at the Kauai Marriott Tuesday morning to learn lessons on leadership, making differences in our community and the violent effects of drug abuse.
According to high school students the lessons dealing with drugs, especially crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” were the most interesting.
Gary Shimabukuro, drug awareness educator of Laulima Hawaii, presented a computer slideshow dealing with the violent effects of ice. He focused on the how the drug leads people to abuse their family, children, friends and even strangers.
Kapa’a High 11th grader Elizabeth Kain said, “it was a life-changing experience. My perspectives on drugs really changed and we got to see the real effects.”
She and several of her friends, who were invited through their involvement with sports, all agreed that the information they got from school and their parents was not believable.
“It’s a different way of teaching us,” Elizabeth and her friend Wika said.
They worried that Kapa’a High has a reputation for drugs and alcohol on campus, but agreed that their School Resource Officer, Mark Ozaki, must be doing a good job if the other schools are “not reporting so many things.”
They also wondered about incoming freshmen from Kapa’a Middle School who seem to bring such problems to the high school campus. An 8th grader on that school’s student council admitted that many of her classmates drink alcohol and do drugs on campus while student leaders are trying to spread the word against doing drugs and drinking.
In a session led by “Positive Connections” founder and educator Allan Silva, he asked about 75 high school students: “What is your vision for Kaua’i in regards to drugs?”
“I don’t want to see people dying,” said one girl who volunteered to stand up and share her thoughts.
“What happens after this session is up to you,” Silva said. He outlined a way for the students to make their goals come true: Plan; think about the positive and negative outcomes; work with other people; and decide when to start and finish.
Mayor Baptiste in a lunchtime address to the 350 students, said: “The battle goes into our parks, our schools, our community…What we will be doing is calling each and every one of you to make a plan for a solution. The war starts today,” he said, “We go forward in this life trying to make a difference.”
“I want you to leave here today with the lessons you’ve learned. Reach out to a friend and let them feel the high of your friendship and not the high from drugs and alcohol-they are not needed,” Baptiste said.
“I knew about the drugs but I never seen them before,” said Chelsey, a 10th grader at Waimea High School. Her classmate, Jessica, said that “in order to achieve a drug-free Hawai’i, everyone has to work together to stay drug free.”
The state Department of Education’s Kaua’i Complex Area sponsored the event. Last year, the Kauai district received a federal grant through the Safe and Drug-Free Communities program. Principals and school staff from all high schools were asked to come up with ideas. Waimea High Principal Bill Arakaki’s idea was chosen, and the youth conference was organized.
“This encompasses all different groups, clubs and athletics,” said Deron Doi, from the state Department of Education, Kaua’i District office.
“They have a message and as adults, we have to learn to step back. We’re conditioned to tell them how to do things,” Arakaki said.
Student peer educators helped develop an action plan for their schools. Students were invited based on their involvement with school activities and their leadership potential, Doi said. Each high school had 75 students attend, and each middle school had 25.
Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 252).
