FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
At a community rally against crystal methamphetamine yesterday at Waianae District Park, Michael Haleakala gave testimony about his involvement in the drug known as "ice."
‘Ice’ boils Waianae
About 1,000 residents gather to
condemn the devastating drug
Nanakuli resident Gertrude Apio points to a simple watch on her wrist and explains how all the other jewelry that her husband bought for her had been stolen by her grandson who needed money to buy crystal methamphetamine.
"I had to put my grandson in jail for stealing," Apio said as she sat holding her great-grandchild outside the multipurpose room at Waianae District Park, where a meeting and rally against the drug "ice" was held last night.
"I know what it's all about. It happened in my family," she said. "It breaks your heart when you raise them and they steal from you."
Apio was among the overflow crowd of roughly 1,000 Waianae Coast residents interested in ridding their community of the drug.
"It's good people try to get together and get rid of all this drug," Apio said.
Speakers told lawmakers, educators and law enforcement officials about how ice has broken up families. There were also stories about addiction and recovery.
"I'm sick and tired of the Waianae Coast being used as a drugstore," one speaker said to loud applause.
Before the meeting, residents lined Farrington Highway from Nanakuli to Makaha, holding signs saying "Buy rice, not ice," "Ice destroys families" and "Ice, ice not nice."
City Councilman Mike Gabbard, who helped organize the meeting, told the community that "our tropical paradise is being covered by the deadly glacier of ice."
"We must all join hands ... in order to beat this," Gabbard continued.
Before the meeting, Gabbard said bringing the community together is just a first step.
He said he hopes the meeting will lead to an effort to lobby lawmakers for solutions like stiffer penalties.
He also said bringing churches, businesses and schools together may lead to after-school programs and other activities to keep children busy and away from drugs.
U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo, who attended the meeting, said community rallies and meetings send a message to drug users and "empowers the community."
Kubo said "the proof is in the pudding," noting that crime went down after a similar meeting in Kahaluu.
