The block of Pauahi Street that ends at Nuuanu stream has long been known as a place to buy and sell drugs in chinatown. But not anymore. On the mauka side of the street the tops of parking meters have been sheared off and no one is permitted to park or even stop here.

Cecelia Chang, who works as a community prosecutor, described how the dealing worked: "People would momentarily pull up, purchase their drugs and be on their way just as if they were picking up takeout. So the idea is to restore this neighborhood, return it to law abiding citizens."

HPD Sergeant Larry Santos added, "What made it more difficult is that when the officers drove by they were being blocked by the parked cards, so they weren't able to see the hand to hand dealing." And unless police catch dealers in the act, they can't arrest them. 

On Saturday, dozens of community residents lined up along the block, holding anti-drug signs and waving at passing cars. They're glad the crystal meth dealers have been forced out.

"There were people that come here to shop at the marketplace," Chinatown resident Clarissa Hosino said. "They're afraid, because they don't know if they're going to be attacked, their bag grabbed for money, because of all the drug activity that's here."

"We have volunteers from Explorers, Word of Life, Citizens Patrol and many other groups that are taking their Saturday morning to tell people, stay out of Chinatown. If you deal drugs, if you buy drugs, then you don't belong here," said Ms. Chang.

Because Chinatown is a federal "Weed and Seed" area, drug dealers arrested there go straight to jail. The penalty can be up to ten years for dealing, up to five for possession. Still, the police know the drug dealers who worked this block will turn up somewhere else.

"We're trying our best and we'll take one step at a time," said Sergeant Santos.

---