Life's Choices Kauai - Empowering our community to be drug-free.

Advisory Committees

 

Life's Choices Kauai oversees and supports the effort of four Advisory Committees that provide assistance in finding solutions to the drug problem and serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor. These committees have been developed to pursue solutions in dealing with the island-wide drug problem and its negative consequences. They are comprised of representatives from government, social service agencies, judiciary, education, community, and businesses. 

 

Drug Action Team

The Drug Action Team (DAT) monitors and oversees the implementation of the goals, action steps, and timelines contained in the Kauai Community Drug Response Plan 2015-2020. The DAT is comprised of the Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons from each of the four committees: Prevention, Enforcement, Treatment and Integration. The Life's Choices Kauai Coordinator serves as its Chair and facilitator.

 

Drug Action Team:

  • Russell Goo, Enforcement Committee Chair, Deputy Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  • Tiffaney Kaaihue, Prevention Committee Vice Chair, Community Outreach Educator, Planned Parenthood
  • Theresa C. Koki, CPS, Life's Choices Kaua'i Coordinator, Life's Choices Kaua'i, Office of the Mayor
  • Maile Murray, CSAC, Treatment & Community Integration Chair, Substance Abuse Counselor, Child & Family Service 
  • Mark Ozaki, Enforcement Committee Vice Chair, Lieutenant, Kaua'i Police Department
  • Vonnell Ramos, CSAC, Treatment & Community Integration Committee Vice Chair, Assistant Director, Parents and Children Together
  • Leialoha Sanchez, Prevention Committee Chair, Youth Service Coordinator, YWCA Youth Services

 

Prevention Committee

The Prevention Committee serves as a central body to reduce and prevent drug abuse on Kauai through awareness, education and action. The group meets monthly to discuss how to implement planned activities, monitor and coordinate all funding opportunities, prevention programs and address island-wide issues to build stronger families and foster a healthier community.

In 2010, the Committee successfully responded to a $1.2 million Strategic Prevention Framework Grant Proposal to fund and provide evidence based prevention programs for Kauai.

 

Prevention Committee:

  • Wanda Aki, Puna Moku
  • Kallie Alexander, Kauai Drug Court 
  • Brian Alston, Mutual Housing Association of Hawaii
  • Rob Anderson, Malama Pono
  • Bill Arakaki, State of Hawaii Department of Education
  • Mistee Bailey-Myrick, Malama Pono
  • Nicole Benton, Hina Mauka Teen Care
  • Judy Cano, State of Hawaii Department of Education
  • Nicolas Clarke, Hina Mauka/Waimea Canyon Middle School
  • Mitchell Collier, Kauai Police Department 
  • Kaulana Finn, Kauai Big Brothers Big Sisters
  • Roy Goo, Department of Pharmacy 
  • Kahealani Hamakua, ALU LIKE, Inc. 
  • Asaka Herman, Boys & Girls Club Lihue
  • Michelle Jenkins, State of Hawaii Department of Education
  • Brenda Jose, Kona Moku
  • Kathleen Kikuchi-Samonte, QLCC
  • Tiffaney Kaaihue, Planned Parenthood
  • Pualei Kaohelaulii, Department of Health
  • Tom Lindsey, KCCC
  • Larry Moises, County of Kauai- Liquor Control 
  • Maile Murray, Child & Family Service
  • Kevin Myrick, Wilcox Memorial Hospital
  • Lani Nagao, McKenna Recovery Center
  • Lea Nuesca, Boys & Girls Club Hawaii
  • Jaylyn Oyama, Boys & Girls Club Hawaii- Kapaa Clubhouse
  • Mark Ozaki, Kauai Police Department
  • Solange Patrick, University of Hawaii
  • Vonnell Ramos, Parents and Children Together
  • Leialoha Sanchez, YWCA Youth Services
  • Uma Sivanathan, Mānā Olana Center
  • Kymm Solchaga, Malama Pono
  • Anna Spivak, Child & Family Services
  • Martin Steinhaus, Kauai Drug Court
  • Tiffany Wienand, Legacy of Life Hawaii
  • Patricia Wistinghausen, Kauai Violence Prevention Coalition

 

Enforcement Committee

The Enforcement Committee meets to discuss a full range of drug-related matters and is responsible for implementing the Kauai Community Drug Response Plan to provide a coordinated focus for development of strategies that can minimize the harmful effects of drugs use on Kauai. The committee's work also focuses on the complex drug and alcohol issues, existing policies and works cohesively to implement policy changes and testimony to State lawmakers.

As part of its efforts, the Committee submitted testimony in opposition to the several bills relating to the decriminalization of marijuana during the 2011 Legislative Session. In addition, the Committee assisted the formulation a statewide informational brochure regarding the risks of marijuana use.

 

Enforcement Committee: 

  • Kenneth Carvalho, Kauai Police Department 
  • Kimberly Foster, Judiciary- Adult Client Probation Services
  • Russell Goo, Attorney General's Office 
  • Tina Higashi, Court User Services- Juvenile Client & Family Services
  • Sara McNamee, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney 
  • Francis "Bully" Mission, DLNR
  • Larry Moises, County of Kauai- Liquor Department
  • Jason Overmyer, Kauai Police Department- Traffic 
  • Mark Ozaki, Kauai Police Department
  • Larry Ross, County of Kauai- Parks & Recreation 
  • Gary Saiki, Kauai Sheriff's Office
  • Joanne Sheng, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
  • John Thompson, Coast Guard

 

Treatment & Community Integration Committee

The Treatment & Integration Committee works to develop local access to affordable, effective drug treatment, expand treatment and aftercare services, and support. The Committee’s work continues on identifying gaps in services and priorities in the continuum of care, and developing the core functions of the agency that will afford it the ability to influence and enhance access, capacity and effective service delivery in the State.

 

Treatment & Community Integration Committee:

  • Anita Applegate, Judiciary
  • Kaeo Bradford, County of Kauai- OED 
  • Arthur Brun, Community Volunteer
  • Chesne Cabral-Kitamura, State of Hawaii Department of Education
  • David Cooper, N/A Coordinator 
  • Rei Cooper, Kauai Community Mental Health Center
  • Kimberly Cummings, Women In Need
  • Karin Dameron, Care Hawaii, Inc. 
  • Scott Giarman, United Way
  • Henry Granda, Hoola Lahui Hawaii
  • Brian Gray, Hina Mauka Teen C.A.R.E.
  • Elizabeth Gross, Salvation Army
  • Malia Guerra, Care Hawaii, Inc. 
  • Julie Hayward, Community Mental Health Center- Kauai
  • Madeleine Hiraga-Nuccio, Kauai Family Guidance Center
  • Eva Hoopii, Puna Moku
  • Brian Kohatsu, Kauai Drug Court
  • Ronnie-Lynn Lemn, Kauai Intake Service Center
  • Rebecca Lenarth, Chiefess PCNC
  • Kahiwa McKeague, U-Turn for Christ
  • Maile Murray, Child & Family Service
  • Lani Nagao, McKenna Recovery Center
  • Calah Nakasone, State of Hawaii- Judiciary 5th Circuit Court
  • Eric Nordmeier, Workforce Development 
  • Paul Ochoa, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Araceli Rapozo, Workforce Development 
  • Vonnell Ramos, Parents and Children Together
  • Uma Sivanathan, Mānā Olana Center
  • Alison Slingerland, Women In Need
  • Esther Solomon, Hale Opio Kauai, Inc. 
  • Charlette Souza, Care Hawaii, Inc. 
  • Jennifer Tone, Kauai Drug Court
  • Merrily Worrell, Community Volunteer