Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jul 2003
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald (HI)
Contact:  2003 Hawaii Tribune Herald
Website: http://www.hilohawaiitribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/185
Author: Jason Armstrong, Tribune-Herald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Note: To read more about the "ice epidemic" in Hawaii, go to
http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii

PAHOA IN THE RUNNING FOR 'WEED AND SEED' GRANT 

Pahoa has been selected as the first Big Island community to compete for an
$875,000 federal anti - crime grant intended to help replace illegal
activity with social programs.

A group of police, fire, social service providers and others last week
picked the Puna town instead of Kealakehe after hearing each community's
presentation.

"I felt that Pahoa provided an opportunity for such a project to make a
difference," said police Sgt. James Sanborn, a member of the selection
group.

The distinction allows Pahoa to compete against other towns nationwide for
designation as an "Operation Weed and Seed" participant.

Run by the U.S. Justice Department, the community - based initiative is
aimed at reducing drug use, violent crime and other lawlessness in high -
crime areas, according to its Web site. It's described as an "innovative and
comprehensive multi - agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention
and community revitalization."

Criminals are "weeded out" through greater enforcement and then "seeding"
occurs with programs relating to drug treatment, intervention and education. 

A total of 351 communities participate in the program, which offers each
$175,000 annually for five years, said Maile Kanemaru, executive director of
the Oahu program.

Participants also receive preference in obtaining other federal money,
training and assistance.

"This would be the first Neighbor Island designation since this program
started five years ago in the Kalihi - Palama area (of Oahu)," Puna
Councilman Gary Safarik said. "I'm real happy about it."

The Honolulu community, which includes Chinatown, is joined by Ewa and
Waipahu, also on Oahu, as Hawaii's only Weed and Seed sites.

"It's so beneficial that we've applied for five more years to expand the
boundaries (of the Kalihi - Palama - Chinatown area)," Kanemaru said.

Various types of reported crimes there have dropped between 66 percent and
75 percent since the program began in 1997, said Mitchell Roth, Hawaii
County deputy prosecutor.

Gaining the Weed and Seed designation will still be a challenge for Pahoa.

The Justice Department last year received 150 applications, yet gave just 11
new communities the designation, Kanemaru said. Those picked this year will
start the program in February, she said.

The Pahoa community must now select a grant writer, program coordinator and
develop a strategic plan for addressing the town's problems, said Rene
Siracusa, chairwoman of the project's planning committee.

A letter of intent is due Aug. 31 and must be followed up with an official
application by Oct. 31, she said.

"We haven't gotten to that part yet," Siracusa said. "So we have a lot of
work cut out for us between now and then."

Still, Siracusa said she and others are very pleased that Pahoa is in the
running for federal aid.

"Needless to say, we're delighted that we got it because our community
really needs it," she said.

According to Siracusa, Pahoa has Hawaii's highest rate of civilian
unemployment, nearly twice the statewide figure. It also suffers from
disproportionately high rates of adults lacking a high school diploma,
welfare recipients and low birth weights.
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk