[420 Girl]

The Hawaii Police Department conducted two marijuana eradication missions just before the end of the fiscal year June 30.

A memo dated July 8 from Police Chief Harry Kubojiri to County Council Chairman J Yoshimoto said that "Counter Cannabis" field operations were flown June 29 in East Hawaii and June 30 in West Hawaii.

Voters last November passed a law making adult personal use of marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority, which said the council "shall not support the acceptance of any funds for the marijuana eradication program."

There is no money in the current fiscal year budget for marijuana eradication. For the fiscal year that ended June 30, $370,000 was earmarked for eradication plus a $159,000 statewide marijuana eradication grant.

Assistant Police Chief Marshall Kanehailua said Friday the money for the mission was from the latter grant.

"This was money that was there before," noted Lt. Richard Sherlock of Hilo Vice Section. "There is money for eradication."

According to police reports submitted to the council, 1,416 plants, from seedlings to 9 feet in height, were uprooted in East Hawaii, while 1,814 plants, 2 inches to 4 feet, were pulled up in West Hawaii. East Hawaii plots were found in Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kapoho, Kurtistown, Mountain View and Orchidland. West Hawaii plots were in Honomalino, Kaohe, Kapulena, Kealia, Milolii and Puuanahulu.

The only removal that found fewer than 24 plants, the maximum number allowed for "personal use" under the new law, was on public land in Kapulena. The measure applies only to private property.

Sherlock said four helicopters involved in the East Hawaii mission -- two from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, one National Guard chopper and a private copter rented for about four hours at a cost of $800 per hour. All 10 of the officers involved in the rappelling and uprooting of the plants were local police, Sherlock said.

No arrests were made, according Sherlock.

Lt. Miles Chong, who spearheaded the Kona operation, was unavailable for comment.

Police say they fielded three complaints about the eradication choppers from East Hawaii residents and four from the West side. One Hawaiian Acres resident allegedly told Sherlock that he "came to Hawaii to die and is aggravated by 'Green Harvest.'" Sherlock wrote that the man told him he has medical marijuana and it was not bothered. The report states that the man told Sherlock he has been documenting the helicopters for seven years and has created a Web site about it. The man reportedly told Sherlock he "does not trust cops."

Sherlock wrote that a woman told him that the "silver DEA chopper" was "flying too low and spooking her animals" near Ihope Road in the Mountain View area.

"She then related that she does not live there but has been taking video of the helicopter and she works with Roger Christie and helped to pass the 'lowest priority' ordinance." Sherlock's report notes that Hilo Vice Detective Steven Correia called her back and the woman said "she wished to 'withdraw the complaint.'" The document stated: "She understands that police are keeping the neighborhood safer by eradicating illegal marijuana plants and realizes that Christie is lying to people."

Christie, who heads the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, said he is "interested in keeping his integrity intact."

"If anyone has any complaints about me, I welcome them to contact me so I can apologize and make amends," he said.

West Hawaii complaints included one from an "obviously upset" woman who told police she fell down after helicopters flew low over her property. The woman told police she has high blood pressure and had to take medication to calm herself before calling.

Adam Lehmann, director of the Peaceful Sky Alliance, which drafted the lowest-law enforcement priority initiative, is pleased the eradication statistics have been made public.

"The initial efforts shown by the chief and the department appear to be sincere to the spirit of the ordinance," he said.

Sherlock said sufficient funds remain for at least one more eradication mission in both East and West Hawaii.

"I can't say when they're going to happen, for obvious reasons," he said.

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