BIG ISLAND MARIJUANA WAR LOSES DEA GRANT

HILO, Hawaii -- In what could be a major blow to the war against marijuana
growers on the Big Island, the Hawaii County Police Department has returned
a $265,000 federal drug enforcement grant because of the potential
political fallout from marijuana eradication efforts.

The move "cripples" the department's 24-year war against Hawaii's most
enduring illegal cash crop, said Big Island Lt. Henry Tavares Jr., who is
in charge of the Operation Green Harvest marijuana eradication project for
the eastern half of Hawaii County.

The decision "has taken away our tools," Tavares said. Most of the money
was earmarked for operating drug-enforcement helicopters and paying
officers overtime.

Operation Green Harvest began on the Big Island in 1976 with as many as 75
federal, state and local narcotics officers backed by police and National
Guard helicopters. Its peak came in the 1980s when officers seized more
than a million plants each year.

The county council had tentatively accepted the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency grant last month on the condition that they use a portion of the
money for an insurance policy to protect themselves against potential legal
attacks.

Six council members underwent an impeachment attempt last year in an action
brought by critics of the eradication efforts. That action ultimately was
thrown out of court. But the council members said they do not want a repeat
of that scenario, especially since they were personally responsible for
their individual legal fees in the case.

Under the Big Island county charter, council members may be represented by
county attorneys if they are sued or threatened by recall, but they must
provide their own defense in impeachment actions.

County purchasing agent Bill Gray told the council Wednesday he was unable
to find coverage, and the grant would have to be returned immediately.

Police Chief Wayne Carvalho said Drug Enforcement Administration Special
Agent Tommy Aiu took the check back after a meeting yesterday morning in
Hilo. Carvalho said the DEA wanted the money back immediately so it could
be redistributed in other jurisdictions willing to step up enforcement
against marijuana.

Carvalho said the situation looks "bleak" for a large-scale marijuana
eradication program, but he said officers will maintain some level of
surveillance and enforcement.

Marijuana proponents, who had threatened new impeachment action against the
council if the grant had been accepted, are cheering the return of the grant.

Roger Christie, who has a pending federal court suit against the county for
his arrest for importing hemp seeds, said years of protesting and lobbying
have finally paid off and that Big Islanders will see the restoration of
their privacy and civil rights.

County Councilman Curtis Tyler, who voted against the grant, said it simply
means police will have to refocus their efforts.

"With the limited resources we have to fight drugs on this island, you have
to establish priorities," he said. "They should be going after the hard
drugs, the clandestine labs. I choose to see this as the glass being
half-full."

The chief said he hopes to regain use of the money by asking either a state
agency or the Honolulu Police Department to administer money on his
department's behalf to keep the pressure on Big Island marijuana growers.
Carvalho plans to meet early next week with Honolulu chief Lee Donahue to
discuss a strategy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.