"When thousands of us bought our homes in various subdivisions and estates in Pearl City, we had dreams of a nice, safe community. But like other neighborhoods, we are now plagued with signs of human decay: crime, irresponsible neighbors - and graffiti.
"On June 9, some concerned citizens of Pearl City did a graffiti paint-out on upper Waimano Home Road and Komo Mai Drive. One week after, graffiti reappeared. Recently, after the shooting of a youngster in a stolen vehicle in the Hekaha Street area of Waimalu, graffiti has quadrupled - all within a 1.5-mile radius of the Pearl City Police Station.
"It is unbelievable that all of this graffiti that has made our streets so ugly can be tolerated day in and out by the good citizens of Pearl City. Since we outnumber these graffiti artists by a ratio of thousands to 1, these are odds that even Las Vegas can't match.
"But you would be amazed at how many excuses people have for not being available to help us eradicate graffiti during scheduled paint-outs. They are too busy, too tired, whatever. Yet when it happens to their property, they are the ones to scream the loudest.
"I say that these people are just as much to blame if they do not get involved or volunteer their efforts in keeping their own streets clean and safe. It is so easy to be a good neighbor - by being alert and, in the case of graffiti, volunteering to assist in painting or removing graffiti from fencing, property, etc.
"When we started this program, the only real requirement was one hour of volunteer time a month and a signature on a waiver form required by the HPD and the city. In Palisades, with some 4,000 residents, only 45 have signed up.
"When we go door-to-door to register volunteers, we don't need excuses as to why they can't join in helping to fight back. If they gave up one hour of TV or skipped shopping for an hour every month, so much could be gained.
"Government can't solve this problem. HPD can't be on every street. It is up to all of us to get involved.
"What do you think of our war on graffiti? Do you think it will succeed? And what can we do to sign up more troops?"
Signed, Tom Sugita, Co-chairman, Palisades Community Police Watch Program.
DEAR Tom. You and the rest of the graffiti-busters deserve medals for your determined efforts to literally clean up this island. I think you will succeed, and here's why.
First, there's strength in numbers. There are lots more good guys than spray painters. It's just a matter of outlasting them. They deface, you erase. They deface, you erase. Pretty soon, they'll become more frustrated than you.
Second, in my dreams, the spray-painters themselves will eventually join your work force. If citizens will alert police, these hooligans can be caught in the act and sentenced to staff the paint-outs for you! Now wouldn't that be fitting punishment.
Finally, don't despair. Your army of painters will grow, because homeowners DO want to protect their property values and enhance their public safety. They can accomplish this by banding together to take back the streets.
They also know that, by leaving the graffiti untouched, it sends the very clear message that they have given up.