MCB Hawaii recognized for inaugural National Night Out

Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Story by Kristen Wong

Date: 04.05.2013
Posted: 04.05.2013 16:15
News ID: 104717
MCB Hawaii hosts first National Night Out

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Marine Corps Base Hawaii was recognized for the installation’s inaugural National Night Out hosted last year.

The National Association of Town Watch posted MCB Hawaii among the winners in the military category on its website and pamphlets. The base also received a plaque. Maj. Sam Roy, the base provost marshal, presented the plaque to Col. Brian Annichiarico, commanding officer of MCB Hawaii.

“I was extremely ecstatic about it,” said Derek Hinkley, a patrol officer with Fourth Section at the Provost Marshal’s Office and a major coordinator for last year’s event. “It was a great turnout, everybody who participated had a great time and they were asking if we were going to do it again.”

Hinkley also credited the event’s success to support from the commanding officer and the base community. But his personal efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed among his colleagues.

“All the credit for the success of NNO needs to go to Officer Hinkley. He developed the idea to bring NNO to MCB Hawaii and did all the legwork to make it happen,” said John Lunning, services support officer, PMO.

The NATW, a nonprofit organization, introduced NNO to the nation in the early 1980s, and strives to help various organizations serving to protect communities from crime.

On Aug. 7, 2012, nearly 1,000 people attended the event. Members from approximately 50 organizations on and off base including PMO, FBI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Fire Department set up displays, demonstrations and answered questions at Mokapu Mall.

Liz Turner, the Drug Abuse Resistance and Education and Drug Education for Youth specialist at Crime Prevention, PMO, manned a booth and introduced people to the DARE and DEFY programs.

Generally, she said children have expressed fear of police officers.

“I thought it was a good way to get kids and the community to form a relationship with law enforcement,” Turner said.

Lori Paro, a DEFY mentor, was also at the event promoting the DEFY program. She said National Night Out gave people the opportunity to learn about organizations on and off base, and ask questions.

Turner said many parents were not aware DARE and DEFY are offered on base. MCCS Hawaii also participated in NNO.

“NNO was a joint effort between PMO and MCCS, and without their support, the event could not have happened,” Lunning said.

Several MCCS Hawaii departments, including Marine and Family Programs, were represented at the event.

“We’re really happy that we were invited and when it happens again we would love to participate,” said Estella Euclide, program specialist for Marine and Family Programs.

Euclide was one of many MCCS representatives at the venue, manning a table. She said the event gave MCCS another venue to disseminate information to families about its various programs.

Representatives from the local community also enjoyed coming out to the base for NNO.

Tamah-Lani Noh, the counterdrug coordinator for the state of Hawaii, was one of many representatives from the off-base community who came to Mokapu Mall last year for NNO. Her office distributed information about preventing drug abuse and underage drinking. “A lot of community (representatives) came out and supported (NNO). We look forward to continuing that,” Noh said. “It’s always great to give back to the roots of our community.”

For this year’s event, Hinkley said he hopes MCB Hawaii can host representatives from more law enforcement agencies such as the Honolulu Police Department.

Hinkley said as long as the same support is extended, the base
should be able to host a second NNO event. He encourages the base community to call Crime Prevention at 257-8312 if individuals have ideas for the next NNO.

“(NNO is) for the community on base,” Hinkley said. “We’re
more than open to hearing them out to make sure they get what
they want.”

For more information about NNO and NATW, visit http://www.natw.org/.