SMOKE, BUT NO FIRE OVER PRO-POT SIGN

Downtown Hilo business owners are being asked to oppose the
pro-marijuana "cannabis college" that recently put up its shingle on
Kamehameha Avenue.

"We need more attractive storefronts and positive community role
models," states an anonymous, one-page letter that several shop owners
said they received Tuesday.

A spray-painted sign displayed in the vacant storefront "gives a low
first impression of our great city," the letter adds.

The "cannabis college" is located on the ground floor of the Moses
Building at 94 Kamehameha Ave. and is part of the THC Ministry, which
has its headquarters on the second floor.

The Rev. Roger Christie, who has rented space in the building for the
past five years, runs the ministry. He promptly removed the sign
Tuesday after being shown a copy of the letter.

One sign read "cannabis college," while on the floor was a second sign
stating "cannabis cup," which is an international competition to
select the most potent and desirable pot strain. Each was about 20
square feet.

Pro-marijuana literature also was posted on the windows.

"I've exceeded the comfort level of some in the community, and, for
that, I apologize," Christie said while sitting next to two immature
pot plants growing on his desk, which also contained small amounts of
dried marijuana.

"I want to comfort this anonymous person," he said. "At the same time,
I want to stay here."

Christie said the "college" was a one-day seminar held Oct. 3 as a way
of trying to promote business in the former art gallery. Participants
paid $100 apiece to learn marijuana-growing techniques, he said.

"We had standing-room only," Christie said of the turnout, adding he
had opted not to buy a professional sign he commissioned to advertise
the event.

Wanting to promote "ganja-nomics" as a way of improving the island's
economy through greater use of cannabis, Christie said he's
considering using the space for a marijuana museum, gift shop, weekend
"college," and Sunday church services.

Whatever the operation, he vowed to display a sign that reflects the
"beautiful nature of the neighborhood."

"To the best of my abilities, I'm a good neighbor," he
added.

But apparently not to the person or people behind the letter, which
encourages business owners to contact "your state/county office or
mayor. We did."

Shop owners interviewed Tuesday said they won't follow that
advice.

"Sounds like a Republican ploy, doesn't it?" asked Nelson Makua, owner
of the Na Makua Hawaiian clothing store on Waianuenue Avenue.

Noting he's a graphic artist, Makua said his daily commute takes him
past the building, and he would have noticed the sign if it was blatant.

"Freedom of speech. I mean, come on," Makua added about the letter
found at his door Tuesday.

Its author or author drew no sympathy from James Stoeckel, who owns
Frame It! Hawaii Inc. on Waianuenue Avenue.

"To me, anybody who opens their mouth about marijuana is a good guy,"
said Stoeckel, adding he's been a medical marijuana patient "since the
beginning" of the program.

Stoeckel complained that the letter he found when opening his shop
Tuesday included Mayor Billy Kenoi's office number, but not the
author's number.

"This is really manini, and it's cowardly," Stoeckel said. "I'm not
calling the mayor."

About a week ago, Kenoi's office received one call "from somebody who
was unhappy with (Christie's) operation," said Kevin Dayton, one of
Kenoi's executive assistants.

Janet Louise, owner of the Village Toy Shop located next to Stoeckel's
store, said she also won't complain about the sign or activities.

"I don't like tacky signs, but I have no problem with Roger Christie,"
she said.

The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce is located next door to
Christie's ministry, but did not receive the letter opposing his
operations, said Mary Begier, chamber president.

Begier said some people have asked her what she thinks of Christie's
sign.

"It's their building, and it's a free country," she
said.

Layne Oki, owner of Cronies Bar & Grill, which is the ministry's other
immediate neighbor, declined to comment on the letter.

Efforts to identify who wrote the letter were unsuccessful.

It didn't come from the Downtown Improvement Association, said
Kauilani Perdomo, DIA administrative aide.

"I don't really know anything about this," she said.