Making a case for living in East Oahu

by PAULA BENDER
Sun Correspondent
*Archived November 2006 article

The questions motivate him to lace up a solid pair of walking shoes, grab a bottle of water, and take on one of a variety of East Oahu hiking trails.

"I go up there twice a week, sometimes more, either early in the morning or late in the afternoon," Carlisle said. "And if I feel the need to lose some weight, I might do it on the weekends, too. I like to hike Hawaii Loa Ridge, Koko Head Crater, the lighthouse at Makapu'u. It's always good to release the stress and to think clearly. I also like to do something about keeping an aging body in some semblance of shape."

Carlisle is a perfect fit for Hawaii Kai life. Self-deprecating, he enjoys being just a regular guy at Safeway or when he grabs a cup of coffee at Starbucks. He knows people recognize him, but he says Hawaii Kai residents have a sense of personal space and respect when it comes to celebrity - typical for most of us in Hawaii.

"It's completely true. It's sort of like [the television show] 'Cheers,' where many people know your name in a friendly way," Carlisle said. "Rarely am I cornered by someone with a complaint. Often people say nice things like, 'Get the guy!' or 'Congrats for getting him!' or 'We like the job we see your office is doing.'"

Carlisle and his staff not only fight crime, but also introduce bills that affect Hawaii's legal system. One would repeal the mandatory retirement age of judges, which Carlisle said was an inadequately thought out decision. Another addresses the sexual assault of minors.

"This is critical to protect children," Carlisle said. "It was passed by the electorate but the Hawaii Supreme Court wants us to run it by the general election again."

And finally, City Charter Amendment #6 deals with the electorate directly. Carlisle wants citizens to vote no for this amendment that would continue to allow for the primary election to seat a candidate in office.

"More people vote in the general election than in the primary," Carlisle said. "This was extremely important for me in my first election, and it was important for the mayoral race between Mufi Hannemann and Duke Bainum. It's significant if there are only two candidates that their election run in the general instead of the result being determined in the primary."

Election battles don't compare to those the prosecutor's office wage against almost daily.

"We've got this ongoing crystal meth problem, which is just an absolute catastrophe of a drug," Carlisle said. "What's interesting is that Hawaii has become expert at its effects, dealing with it within the court system, with its treatment by Hawaii's medical community, and Hawaii's research on the effects of its multi-generational use that we have but other parts of the country don't."

Carlisle said that the good news is that children are getting the message. "At least the reported use of crystal meth by young people is down," he said. "However chronic users are resistant to a cure. Very resistant."

He cited the case of the alleged use of the drug by Leilehua High School special education instructor Lee Anzai.

"This is a classic example of someone who looks like they have a great future and destroys it for the use of meth in a very alarming location," Carlisle said. "If that doesn't show the need for drug testing, I don't know what does."

Carlisle said he would be the first in line to test and asserts that people in positions of responsibility - the governor, the mayor, the police chief, and more - should welcome the opportunity to be tested for drug use. Although there is opposition to drug testing on the job, Carlisle said there are unions out there that support it, especially those with members who operate heavy equipment and fly aircraft.

"If we could drug test across the board in both the government and the private sector, we would provide not only an opportunity for early intervention to determine who has a problem, but we could also hold people responsible for their actions," Carlisle said. "It's a fact that for people who went to drug court testify that what kept them straight was the knowledge that they'd be tested."

Hawaii may have more experience with crystal meth than most states, but Carlisle thinks our state should look to the Montana Meth Project for inspiration to stymie the clutches this drug has on people. A grant from the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation funded the production of anti-crystal meth commercials that are designed to be both startling and repulsive. The ad campaign targets those between the ages of 12-17 and succeeds in reaching them at least three times a week. Rotting teeth, oozing sores, perpetual seething anger, and the loss of virginity, are the real testimonies of real young people in these messages.

"The fascinating thing about the Montana Meth Project is that a wealthy man wanted to return something to the community to help it deal with this catastrophe," Carlisle said. "They came up with a series of very grisly commercials. Its success is being studied nationally."

With each success by the City Prosecutor's office, there comes the realization that criminals won't just retreat, but they will rethink their strategies.

Carlisle's staff has its nose to the ground to hunt down adults intent on sexually exploiting children via the Internet. They're on the lookout for crimes of identity theft and computer fraud. They fully want to prosecute those who deal and do drugs.

It isn't just the Prosecutor's office that's on their trail.

"Although we're in the midst of an ice crisis, crime has been controlled," Carlisle said. "From the police department to the Attorney General's office, to the U.S. Attorney's office, we're all working together, and working together well."

And that brings to mind the possibility of running for another term. Carlisle is in the midst of his third 4-year term as city prosecutor. He wants to make sure the office is left in good hands, and he says there are those who could step right up.

"You don't want to outstay your welcome, and you want to get out without getting knocked down," he said. "But on the other hand, you don't want to take an organization that's running well and abandon it to someone who wouldn't succeed. Running for office - it's hard to imagine a process more mentally demanding."

It's the sort of thing that makes him want to take a hike.