Pubdate: Thu, 02 Oct 2003 Source: Maui News, The (HI) Contact: 2003 The Maui News Website: http://www.mauinews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259 Author: Melissa Tanji, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Note: To read about the "ice epidemic" in Hawaii, go to http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii . RESIDENTS: POLICE DON'T DO ENOUGH TO FIGHT ICE KAHULUI - Residents expressed their frustration over police response to their community drug problems, and former drug addicts shared their stories at an anti-drug community meeting Tuesday night at the Lihikai School cafeteria. "I wish we could get more help from the police," said Maipela Kaonohi of Kahakuloa. Kaonohi and her husband, Chico, said even their small community is affected by drugs. Maipela Kaonohi said she recently had seen a group of people in a van who looked high driving through their neighborhood. Chico Kaonohi added that the van was driving erratically, down their private road, but, by the time they called police, the van was parked and the people had left. "It seems like we call in (to police), and nothing's being done," he said. The Kaonohis were among about 25 people who gathered at the meeting organized by Wailuku resident Jane Kaleikini, who has put together other anti-drug events in the past two weeks. "Even though I didn't get a big turnout, this won't be the first and it won't be the last," Kaleikini told the audience. A community anti-drug sign-waving rally was held Wednesday afternoon in front of the Kahekili Terrace housing project on North Market Street. On Tuesday night, police officer Craig Bajadali, who serves as the community police officer in Wailuku, told the Kaonohis he was not making excuses for police, but he said police are shorthanded. Bajadali fielded a number of questions, sometimes heated ones from residents saying they have called police a number of times but don't see any responses. Bajadali said he understands the residents' concerns but police have to abide by laws and need specific information in order to make arrests and do search warrants. He said if police do not get specifics or do their jobs carefully, charges against suspects will not hold up in court. In response to citizens who said they've called police a number of times and have even gone down to the Police Department and got no answers, he said people should be adamant in their efforts and keep on appealing to police or even higher government officials if they feel they are not getting results. Bajadali said if people think they are witnessing drug activity in their neighborhoods, they should take down the license plate numbers of cars and times that the vehicles appear. He also said to write down the number of people in the car. The information can then be given to police. "Whatever you do, don't confront. That's the last thing we want someone to do," he said. Recovering drug addicts and ex-addicts told their stories and gave each other support at the meeting. "Don't give up. Do what you are doing," Mariya Dones, director of forensic programs at Aloha House, a drug recovery center, told the audience, which included recovering addicts. "I am 22 years clean and sober today," she said. Dones said she used crystal methamphetamine before 1981, which was before it got the nickname ice. She said she got through her addictions with the love of her mother. "Ohana is so important. My mother never gave up on me," she said. Dones praised Kaleikini's efforts, saying organization and collaboration is power. She said that in a recent drug-recovery group meeting at Aloha House, a drug dealer told her about the "aunties," or older women, are people to be reckoned with. "Ho, the aunties, they are the worst," Dones said the dealer told her. "They call the cops like that." She appealed to the audience to "tighten the screws" and not let drugs take over their community. Dones said people should keep on calling police because "the dealers are going to be doing what they are doing." She also told residents of Kahekili Terrace to keep on their fight. Kahekili residents have been holding sign-waving rallies to get support from the community to rid their complex of drugs. Dones said that for two years she used to live next to a drug addict, who "tweaked" frequently in her back yard. "It was unpleasant," she said. Unlike Kahekili Terrace, Dones said, "I didn't have neighbors' support." Kim Mollena, a recovering ice addict, said she has been clean for four months. Now she lives at Harvest Chapel Church of God in Lahaina, where she has found the inspiration of God to help her. Mollena said in her 12 years of using ice, she has lost her children and her husband, but "mostly I lost my self-respect." She said she stole and even sold her body for drugs. But now she doesn't even "test the waters" and stays away from places and people that may tempt her to do drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk