Honolulu police officer Leighton Kaonohi had a vision one night in April of 1988.
And today the "No Hope In Dope" campaign is in full swing and growing in its attempt to reach out to kids from kindergarten to high school.
This week, the group went to a variety of Hawaii schools to bring to the students a fun, yet serious, competition and presentation.
It was stifling hot in the packed Farrington High School gymnasium yesterday afternoon, but the faces of the students showed that they do, indeed, care about their future - one without gangs and violence and drugs.
Among the "No Hope In Dope" participants, comprised of a combination of local professionals and athletes, were current and former NFL players Bart Oates, Rich Miano, John Wilbur, Guy Earle, Anthony Lynn, Darren Anderson and Taase Faumui.
There was a volleyball game, a 3-point shooting contest, sit-up and push-up competitions, and a basketball game between teams of students and pros.
Everyone had a good laugh when the pros let go of the rope during the tug-of-war and the students went tumbling.
But the fun was intertwined with motivation as well.
FAUMUI, a Farrington and University of Hawaii graduate, gave an especially emotional talk as the boisterous gym grew silent.
He spoke of how his cousin died from gang violence - and his determination to move his family from Kam IV housing, which he did after signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"Aim high," he told the assembly, and they listened.
"Don't abuse yourself or others," he added.
"It is important for me to come back here because I know what they are going through," said the soft-spoken, yet massive defensive lineman.
Kaonohi, who grew up in Waimanalo and graduated from Kailua High, said he uses a familiar subject to make the point that it takes time to succeed and accomplish your goals.
"Many of them are expert surfers. So I ask 'How many of you were experts the first time you went surfing?' They say 'Ah, no way, brah. It took me 15 years.' I say 'Exactly.' "
Kaonohi, a 16-year HPD veteran, said the war on drugs will be a long and difficult fight.
"It is totally, totally out of hand," he said. "In fact, it's not even a war.
"The score is 100-1 - and we're the 1."
THESE days, we read about the outrageous salaries and some of the trouble professional athletes get into.
Yet, on this steamy day in Kalihi, several NFL players - including a couple of hometown heroes - donated their valuable time in the hopes of reaching our state and country's future.
Miano made another point: "Many of you are going to have families some day. Do you want your children living in a crime- and drug-
filled community?"
Pro athletes aren't perfect, just like any other segment of society. We all make mistakes and hopefully learn from them.
And, ironically, the true heroes of our society were just a few yards away from the crowded gym.
They are the teachers, the men and women who show up for low pay and massive headaches every single day of the school year to fight at the front of the war on drugs and violence and ignorance.
"No Hope In Dope" came in a dream. Thanks to the efforts of Leighton Kaonohi and this fine group of true role models there will be hope for some of our young people - even in a society that makes it harder and harder to simply grow from a child to an adult.
The score won't always be 100-1 if they have anything to say about it.