BIG ISLAND FAMILIAR WITH WAR ON ICE

State's Efforts To Halt Drug Use Mirror Those Of Hawaii County Two Years Ago

HONOLULU -- In February 2001, Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim declared a "war
on ice," pledging to combat crystal methamphetamine and saying the drug
problem on his island was "totally unacceptable."

Since then, Hawaii County has received millions of dollars in federal
funding to crack down on ice, stirred more community involvement and played
host to a major "ice summit," that was attended by hundreds.

Kim's message from then rings familiar today as Gov. Linda Lingle's new
administration and state lawmakers are vowing a similar assault on the
drug, including a statewide summit in September.

The concern is sparked by fears that Hawaii has the worst ice problem in
the nation, with tens of thousands of hard-core users tearing island
families apart.

Kim said the state's effort was welcome news and "not too late" but
acknowledged that even his less-publicized efforts -- more than two years
ago -- were overdue.

"I know we're late, I can't pussyfoot that," he said. "I was just fortunate
because I was hit on the head with it as soon as I came into office by a
friend who said, 'Please look into it because it's a severe problem.' "

On Thursday, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, a former judge who set up the
state's drug court program, announced he is organizing the September drug
summit to focus on the soaring use of ice in Hawaii.

Last week, House and Senate leaders also declared war on ice and announced
the naming of a rare joint House-Senate committee that will hold hearings
statewide.

"I appreciate what is happening. Unfortunately, the focus on it now is so
huge because the problem is so huge," Kim said.

He said the destruction caused by the highly addictive drug has been known
by residents for more than a decade, long before the recent attention given
by the news media and politicians.

"A lot of people who are reading what's going on now are probably saying,
'Duh,' " Kim said. "A lot of times, we in government are so slow in waking
up to things.

"From the very beginning, it has been the communities that have been
screaming at us that this is a problem."

Police and federal drug agents informed Kim, when he took office in
December 2000, that the ice problem was an "epidemic" and fueling crime.

Meanwhile, deaths, crimes and hospitalizations related to crystal
methamphetamine have been surging every year -- as well as the number of users.

Elaine Wilson, head of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the state
Health Department, said ice has become the primary drug used by adults
admitted to state treatment centers.

Alcohol, the most widely abused substance for decades, has dropped to
second, Wilson said.

"Ice is Hawaii's largest illicit drug problem," said Keith Kamita,
administrator of the state's Narcotics Enforcement Division. "Marijuana use
is high, but when we look at the threat assessment in Hawaii, I would say
crystal meth is higher because it causes so much damage."

Kamita, who gave an ice presentation at the State Capitol last week at the
request of Republican lawmakers, said he's not surprised by the recent
attention on the drug.

"I think the public is finally sick and tired of this, and they want
something done," he said.

Ice is a freebase form of methamphetamine that looks like a piece of rock
salt. It is colorless and odorless. When smoked, a single "hit" can produce
an intense high that lasts for several hours, Kamita said. Ice use has
devastating effects on the body, especially the brain, and can cause
violent behavior, mood swings and permanent psychological problems. Most of
the ice in Hawaii is imported from the West Coast. Some ice coming into
Hawaii is being manufactured in Mexico and shipped through the United
States, Kamita said.

While methamphetamine in a powdered form, which is often injected or
snorted, is common on the Mainland, the smokeable ice is preferred in Hawaii.

"It's funny, Hawaii people don't like the powdered form," Kamita said. "It
doesn't sell as well. It's just packaging. It's basically the same thing."

U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. has said Hawaii has the worst ice problem in
the nation, and that 40 percent of the people arrested in Honolulu tested
positive for methamphetamine use, 30,000 Honolulu residents are hard-core
users and that it's associated with most confirmed child-abuse cases.

"This drug is directly linked to the destruction of families and a
deterioration of the social fabric in Hawaii," Kubo said.

Despite the grim numbers, Kim said the battle is not lost, especially on
the Big Island.

As evidence, he points to new drug programs, legislation and increased
enforcement, which has led to more arrests and seizures.

Communities also are becoming more involved and organized -- whether it's
town-hall meetings, sign waving demonstrating unity and spreading
awareness, or people with bumper stickers on their cars that read, "Let's
kick ice." Now, similar community efforts are spreading across Oahu.

Kim is reluctant to take any credit for the improvements over the last two
years, saying the praise should go to law enforcement, the community and
Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, who helped get $4 million in federal funding
for the Big Island.

"In regard to what the Lingle administration and the Legislature is doing,
it's welcome participation," Kim said. "I'm sure the entire state welcomes
seeing government waking up to a problem that they've known for years."