Just Say No

Molokai youth hold event to raise alcohol awareness.

By Michelle Magdirila

My name is Michelle Magdirila and I’m apart of Hui Hookupono, which is a youth advocacy leaderships group, comprised of youth ages 11-18 year-olds whose focus is to educated youths, families and the community about the detrimental affects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD).

On November 20, we are asking all vendors on Molokai that sell alcohol, to stop all sales of alcohol products for four hours, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. At each of the stores, there will be a table with two youth members and one adult leader with brochures explaining what’s going on and raising awareness about how the alcohol industry targets youth. They will also answer any questions customers may have. The purpose of this is to educate families and our community about the Big Alcohol Companies who are targeting our youth to buy their product. We are only having this event if all nine vendors on Molokai agree to participate.

Three weeks before the event, members of Hui Hookupono went to the various stores and asked for their participation. If they agreed, they were asked to sign a paper verifying their participation. The stores will also receive a no alcohol sale sign to post in the store with the date and time of the event, a copy of a brochure that will be handed out on the day of the event, and they will also have the opportunity to participate in a video on this event to be shown on Akaku and Olelo.

Molokai organization Hui Hookupono was established almost 10 years ago and since then, we have participated in various events and joined similar groups such as REAL (Hawaii’s first youth group against tobacco use), the Juvenile Justice System, American Cancer Society and other programs. In addition to our efforts in ATOD awareness, Hui Hookupono is recognized by the State of Hawaii for our outstanding contributions as an outstanding advocate for children and youth.

On March 26, 2008, we did a No Tobacco Sale Day in partnership with REAL. The purpose of this event was to protest against big tobacco companies for targeting youth. To see a video of this event please visit www.therealmessage.net and scroll down till you see Molokai Youth host No Tobacco Sale Day.

If you are interested and want to be involved in Hui Hookupono, please contact our advisor Wayde Lee at walee@ymail.com.