INOUYE HEARS HOW FUNDS HELP ISLE YOUTH

HILO - The day after he attended an ice summit in Waikoloa, U.S. Sen. Daniel
Inouye went to Puna for a presentation on how federal dollars are being spent
addressing the island's crystal methamphetamine problem.

Eight organizations comprising Pulama I E Na O Pio (Embrace our Youth) gathered
Tuesday morning at Keaau Bay Clinic to share with Inouye, D - Hawaii, how $1.5
million handed down by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration
(SAMSA) has been spent in the last year.

Inouye promised that money to the Big Island at last year's ice summit. The
money is funding the "Pulama project," which is being described as a
partnership between the organizations to "help youth."

Inouye was reportedly moved by an 18 - year - old's testimony, thanking him for
his support of Kuhaaheo, an academic monitoring program that helped the young
man become the first in his family to graduate from high school.

Kuhaaheo, the Bay Clinic, the Big Island Substance Abuse Council, Alu Like, the
Neighborhood Place in Kona, Hamakua Health Center, Hui Hoola, or the Drug
Addiction Services of Hawaii (DASH), and Family Court all received SAMSA funds
in the last year.

The money reportedly went toward four new BISAC drug counselors in Hilo,
Laupahoehoe, Honokaa and Kealakehe High Schools and both vocational training
and Hooponopono (mediation) from Alu Like. The Neighborhood Place in Kona also
reported it provided mentoring and after - school partnerships with Hui Laulima
and an organization made up of 57 West Hawaii social service - related
organizations, individuals and businesses focused on the youth, including faith
- - based organizations.

Part of the SAMSA money is also going toward the renovation of the former Wiki
Wiki convenience store in Keaau into a youth center designed by Keaau High
School students. Inouye took a tour of that building after the Bay clinic
presentation.

On Monday, Inouye reiterated another pledge he made last year that the Big
Island would receive $4 million from the feds toward combatting crystal
methamphetamine.

Billy Kenoi, executive assistant to the mayor, said Tuesday the money is to be
handed down through the federal Department of Justice in the form of a
Community - Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant to the Hawaii Community
Foundation, a non - profit organization that has an office on the Big Island.

Kenoi said the money will be used for an adolescent residential treatment
program here, along with law enforcement, and "programs addressing drug court,
domestic violence, mentoring initiatives, youth activities, media, community
outreach, Native Hawaiian cultural healing, making resources available for
community - based grass roots initiatives."

He added that $500,000 would likely be earmarked for the latter.

According to Kenoi, a site has not been selected for the residential treatment
program but it will be "mauka to makai."