Thirty minutes after the special Drug Abuse Resistance Education celebration began Thursday, nearly 900 West Hawaii fifth- and sixth graders stood outside of the Kekuaokalani Gym and watched police respond to a hostage situation. Thirty minutes after the special Drug
Thirty minutes after the special Drug Abuse Resistance Education celebration began Thursday, nearly 900 West Hawaii fifth- and sixth graders stood outside of the Kekuaokalani Gym and watched police respond to a hostage situation.
Fortunately, the incident involving a van driver armed with a gun and his injured passenger was staged. The action-packed demonstration featured Hawaii Police Department patrol officers, the Special Response Team and its BearCat rescue vehicle, as well as the Fire Department’s medics and an airlift by a county helicopter.
When it was over, the students went back into the gym, chatting excitedly about what they saw.
Witnessing a realistic duplication of the events that occur in such a situation gave 11-year-old Manny Varela greater respect for our emergency responders, how they work together and their daily efforts to keep people safe. The Konawaena Middle School sixth-grader said the re-enactment was important because it gave students a chance to reflect on choices, particularly what happens when you make bad decisions.
Choices are something Varela, who wants to be an immigration lawyer, has thought a lot about during D.A.R.E., a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches fifth- and sixth-graders islandwide how to resist peer pressure and live productive violence- and drug-free lives.
“D.A.R.E. helps kids make smart decisions, and know the difference between right and wrong. The police officers, who are very kind and easy to communicate with, teach you to look at all your options and the consequences of each one,” Varela said. “It’s sometimes hard for me to tell people, especially friends or family, ‘no’ because I don’t want to disappoint them. But I learned I don’t want to disappoint myself, and I feel more confident about sticking up for what I think is right. I also think I can help others make the right decision, which is important to your whole life and your community.”
Community Policing Officer Tyler Prokopec said Thursday’s ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of the students who completed the nine-week D.A.R.E. program. It was meant to further encourage students to make good decisions and highlight positive activities, such as sports, surfing, dance and music they can participate in.
“Personally, I feel like if one kid is reached, then this program is effective,” Prokopec said. “We do get feedback from people in our community, who are in their 20s and 30s, that remember the program and tell us it works.”
The atmosphere was carnival-like, with blaring music and hundreds of screaming, bleacher-stomping euphoric attendees. Besides the Police and Fire Departments’ demonstration, the celebration included games, a dance contest, prizes donated from the community, pizza and a crashed car display. There were short speeches from famous surfers, including Shane Dorian, Rochelle Ballard and C.J. Kanuha. Moku Nui founder and tattoo artist Che Pilago; Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi; and Jeff Fear, of Waveriders Against Drugs, also spoke. Speakers reminded the audience to make good choices, work hard, stay away from drugs, surround themselves with good people, take advantage of the support and resources in their community, share the aloha spirit, dream big, pursue their passions and never give up.
Eleven-year-old Dawnstin Hoopai thinks the D.A.R.E. program is something all children should have to do because it teaches the dangers of drugs and alcohol, which are “really bad for you and can ruin your life.”
The Kohala Elementary fifth-grader said the best part is hearing stories from a police officer and having discussions. What Hoopai learned most was problem-solving and ways to avoid peer pressure, skills he said will help him throughout life, including in his pursuit to become a professional basketball player.
