(See larger view here.)

From left, Ridge Quitoriano, Waiakea Vice Principal Lynn Tostevin, Kamanu Evangelista, Kenan Shaw and Chief Harry Kubojiri, who recognized the students for their contributions to an anti-ice pledge contest for intermediate students.

Media Release (corrects photo caption)

A panel of community judges consisting of adults and teenagers has chosen an anti-ice pledge from a contest for intermediate school students on the Big Island.

The winning pledge actually combines the best portions of pledges written by two separate students from Waiakea Intermediate School. The first two lines were composed by 8th grader Ridge Quitoriano, and the last three lines were written by 7th grader Kamanu Evangelista. The pledge will be recited by participants at HI-PAL events, beginning with the 30th Annual Winter Basketball Classic being held December 26-29. The pledge reads as follows:

I pledge not to try meth, not even once!
I promise to say no if anyone asks me to try meth!
I want to live my life with Aloha!
There is no place in our ‘aina for meth!
A’ole to meth!

As a supplement to the pledge, Cindy Adams, director of the Hawai’i Meth Project, chose a statement by Waiakea 8th grader Kenan Shaw to be displayed at the State Legislature. Shaw’s statement reads:

“Not even once is pretty easy to say, but take one hit of meth and there goes your future. It will mess up your life and you’ll regret it, but it’ll be too late. You might as well say goodbye to your life. To meth, say not even once.”

Chief Harry S. Kubojiri notified the winners in their classroom at Waiakea Intermediate School on December 10 and congratulated all the participants for their contributions.