STATE ASKED TO TURN UP THE HEAT ON 'ICE'

The state legislature's House health committee is scheduled to hear two
bills today aimed at tackling the Big Island's crystal methamphetamine - or
"ice" - problem.

One bill would establish an adolescent drug treatment facility on the Big
Island and the other would set up a community anti - drug fund.

Both bills were drafted by Mayor Harry Kim's administration and co -
introduced by all six Democrat state representatives from Hawaii County.

Two years ago, Mayor Kim declared a war on ice.

"This is going to be a long, long trail of many things," Kim said Wednesday.
"This is part of that trail."

Kim's executive assistant, Billy Kanoe, said he would fly to Honolulu to
testify in favor of the bills, co - sponsored by Representatives Dwight
Takamine, Eric Hamakawa, Bob Herkes, Helene Hale, Cindy Evans and Jerry
Chang.

"These are two critically important elements in our community's attempt to
stem the tide of ice," Kanoe said in an e - mail message. "One will address
the need for an adolescent treatment facility so we are not sending our
children off island for treatment, and the second will allow our diverse and
unique communities to access resources for local, grass roots initiatives
without complicated and time consuming grant processes."

Kanoe said he hopes the federal government will match the $250,000 sought in
the second bill.

Kim said that money would be used to carry out solutions to be identified
from brainstorming at an ice summit held last year in West Hawaii. Those
solutions have yet to be spelled out but participants filled out
questionnaires, which are now being analyzed to determine the most feasible
tactics.

Meanwhile, the funding bill is purposely vague.

Rep. Dennis Arakaki chairs the health committee, which meets today to
consider both bills.

Andy Levin, Kim's executive director, said he spoke with Arakaki's office
manager, who agreed to put the bills at the end of the agenda to allow Big
Island residents time to fly to Oahu and testify.

Rep. Helene Hale is the only Big Island member who sits on the health
committee. She said she intends to vote for both measures. "Certainly, I
hope we get them passed," Hale said. She added that the difficult task will
be acquiring funding from the finance committee.

Meanwhile, another drug bill is moving through the legislature. House Bill
297, drafted by Rep. Bob Herkes, would establish a "Drug Busters" program
run out of the Attorney General's Office to combat the sale and distribution
of illegal drugs.

Herkes said the plan is to hire retired police officers under contract to
work on a drug strike force. Money they seized in drug forfeitures would pay
for community rehabilitation and education.

"The bill has passed almost as is out of the judiciary," Herkes said. "And
now it goes to finance."

Herkes noted that the state attorney general opposes the bill.

"Don't just say, 'No.' Tell us what your solution is," Herkes said. "We have
said consistently that the status quo is not acceptable."