COMMUNITY TALKS FOR HOURS ON MARIJUANA REMOVAL PROGRAM

Most Residents Who Spoke Talked Against The Program

HILO -- Sensing the Hawaii County Council might reverse action it
took two weeks ago to remove federal marijuana eradication funding
from the proposed 2007-08 budget, marijuana advocates attended
Friday's regular meeting and talked to the legislative body for
nearly five hours.

One resident at one point called Hamakua Councilman Dominic Yagong
"cocky" and apparently looked at him in a threatening manner.

Resident Randy McDowell, while commenting on the proposed operating
budget and his opposition to the marijuana eradication program,
apparently got out of line, calling out Yagong, speaking to him in
what Yagong perceived as a threatening fashion.

Yagong told McDowell to "be careful" and said, "Don't look at me like that."

Yagong stood up and took off his suit jacket and warned McDowell he
should never mess with someone who hails from Honokaa.

McDowell apologized, and then it was back to business.

The council two weeks ago voted 5-4 to remove nearly $600,000 from
the proposed operating budget that is used for the marijuana
eradication program and vote on it as a separate measure when the
Police Department receives it later this year.

A majority of the 80-plus residents who testified on the budget spoke
against the program, particularly the use of helicopters to search
for marijuana plants, which opponents believe infringes on people's privacy.

There were a handful of testifiers, however, who spoke in favor of
the program, including Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna.

Mahuna told the council the money should be restored to the budget.

He said many residents have told him recently it is a good program
and that he "believes citizens are much safer because of the
eradication" program.

Mahuna said that if the council doesn't accept the money, federal
officials will take control of the program, and county officials will
have no say as to how it operates.

When the council finally voted on the second reading of the operating
budget, no amendment was brought forward to insert the marijuana
eradication funding back into it.

With that in mind, when the Police Department receives the federal
money later this year, the council will vote on it as an issue
separate from the budget.

After approving various amendments to both the operating and capital
budgets, the Council passed both on second reading late Friday.