Happy To Share Some Good News
Officer Luke Hamberg, Sgt. Ken Carvalho and Chief Darryl Perry at the conference to prevent youth drinking
One of the things MidWeek editor Don Chapman told me when I started writing for the paper is that “MidWeek is known for good news.” I liked that, and we have plenty this week …
Mahalo to companies giving back to the community in the spirit of the Easter and spring season. Hawaii-grown Easter lily plants will be on sale at both Foodlands (Princeville and Waipouli) through April 24, as part of the 11th annual “Lilies for Abilities,” a statewide benefit for Easter Seals. The plants are grown on the Howard’s Nurseries farm in Kula, Maui, and a portion of each plant sale will go toward the 26 Easter Seals Hawaii programs and services for children and adults with disabilities throughout the state. For more information, call 536-1015 or visit online at eastersealshawaii.org…
Safeway Hawaii also is raising funds this month to not only benefit Easter Seals Hawaii, but Special Olympics and several autism-related organizations as part of its “campaign for people with disabilities.”
Customers wanting to participate can add a donation to their purchase, or drop donations in the canisters located at each checkout stand …
Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. and several grant-funded staff members spoke to prevention and enforcement workers at a breakfast workshop, proclaiming April as Alcohol Awareness Month. Referencing April Fool’s Day, Carvalho told youths in attendance, “Don’t be a fool, drinking isn’t cool,” a message that wasn’t lost on the keiki. Carvalho, whose wife Regina and granddaughter Welena accompanied him that morning, made a poignant point when he thanked the youths, who joined the breakfast during their spring break from Kamehameha and Waimea and Kapaa schools, that drug and alcohol prevention should start early and involve every house, every friend.
Participants included policy makers such as County Councilmembers Derek Kawakami, Mel Rapozo, JoAnn Yukimura and Dickie Chang, thanks to CMCA coordinator Brenda Jose, who is truly trying to make a dent in our island’s under-age drinking problem, educating everyone from mo’opuna to kupuna and beyond on everything from whipped cream with alcohol to 30-proof Monster-like drinks. Jose said Kaua’i youths came up with the idea of a new initiative to put stickers on the coolers many of us use for house parties, designating separate storage for wine and beer for adults and juice and water for keiki.
Elton Ushio, Karleen Abalos, Kylan Dela Cruz, Mark Marshall, Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr., Dr. Gerard Fryer, Chelsie Taroc and Shelly Ichishita at the tsunami awareness meeting
Key players who brainstormed with keiki included County Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Carvalho and her first deputy Jake Delaplane, as well as Police Chief Darryl Perry, Sgt. Ken Carvalho, anti-drug coordinator Theresa Koki and liquor investigator Lorenzo Moises. Delaplane made a presentation of a responsible Kaua’i alongside Kamehameha Schools student Rachel Buratti.
Well done. What an inspiration …
And speaking of April designations: Carvalho also proclaimed April Tsunami Awareness Month following a March meeting with county and state officials. Kylan Dela Cruz, manager of the Kaua’i Civil Defense Agency, said the department has taken a proactive approach to helping Kaua’i prepare for severe weather threats, and that the county has been designated as TsunamiReady and StormReady by the National Weather Service. This means the community’s scores for insurance may be applicable to lower national flood insurance rates and that residents living in special flood hazard areas can apply for reduced National Flood Insurance Program premiums …
About three years ago I covered a case of a 15-year-old from the North Shore who fatally overdosed on Oxycontin, which was not only a tragedy, but highlighted a frightening trend toward prescription drug abuse on-island. While it’s still a major problem, kudos to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for continuing prosecution and drawing attention to such cases, including the recent five-count indictment against Sean Scates, Zack Naea and David Harville, alleging that on April 16, 2009, the trio broke into the North Shore Pharmacy in Kilauea and stole copious amounts of Oxycodone and Oxycontin pills, as well as Oxycodone powder. Mahalo, Shaylene Carvalho. We’ve got to protect our keiki …
It’s not yet Mother’s Day, but mark your calendars for a project by Women in Need (WIN), Kaua’i Drug Court Program, Hope, Help & Healing, and Child and Family Services as they spend a day recognizing mothers who are in recovery from substance abuse. WIN and Boston Hair Design are partnering from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 30 to treat these moms to a full day of services, including haircuts, manicures, massages and facials at Boston Hair Design, 3-1866 Kaumualii Hwy. (above the Harley Davidson Shop). For more information, call 241-7575 …
Kaua’i High School golfers were victorious at Kaua’i Lagoons with the following scores: Pono Tokioka, 69; Braeden Robley, 77; Reyn Morioka, 82; and Kai Adachi, 85. It was tough match, as the Kaua’i High team beat Kapa’a High School by nine strokes. Kaua’i High School has earned a berth in the state tournament, to be held May 10 and 11 at Waikoloa. Congratulations, too, to coach Glenn Tamagawa for all his hard work …
Boston Hair Design owner Ann Marie Semonian
Congratulations also to the winners of Niumalu Canoe Club’s Randy Machado Race April 2 at Kalapaki: Na Molokama Canoe Club Senior Master’s Men, 1:24:42; Na Molokama Canoe Club Novice Women, 1:30:50; Niumalu Canoe Club Open Women, 1:21:29; Kaiola Canoe Club Senior Master’s Women, 1:41:02; West Kaua’i Canoe Club Mixed Open, 1:28:55; and Kaiola Canoe Club 40+ Mixed Master’s, 1:21:03. Well done …
So sorry to hear about the recent passing of Kendall Struxness, about whom I wrote while he was struggling in his noble fight against cancer. Struxness passed away April 2. Friends called him one of those rare individuals who took the struggles, misfortunes and trials of life and rose above them. …
