Hundreds of Wai'anae Coast residents attended a Rally Against Ice and sign-waving yesterday afternoon and evening that began in Nanakuli and culminated at the Wai'anae High School cafeteria for a free chili and rice dinner, followed by a rough-cut preview of a documentary for teens titled "It's Your Choice," by filmmaker Edgy Lee.

Many in attendance were in their teens.

Several of those who held signs along Farrington Highway and attended the rally at the school were ice users trying to kick the habit. Jean Savea, 40, said she was a daily ice user for 15 years until she "got sick and tired of it."

"I've been sober for 47 days straight — the last time I used was the day after Christmas," said Savea, who has entered a local treatment program and says she can be an inspiration to others. "If I can do it, anybody can do it."

Shariece Simbahon also was keeping track of her recent progress.

"I have not used for 25 days as of today," said Simbahon, 23, who is expecting a child in mid-May, and had been doing methamphetamine for three or four years. Simbahon said she wanted to make a good home for her new baby and two other children.

At the meeting, organizers announced the formation of a new grass-roots organization that will focus its attention on the needs of the families of area addicts and alcoholics. The program will be similar in part to Al-Anon, a fellowship that has for half a century offered hope to friends and family of addicts.

The new group, ostensibly known as the Wai'anae Coast Family Education and Counseling Services, will offer meetings the second Thursday of every month to all who want to come, according to attorney Anson Rego, secretary of the organization.

"Who knows what it's going to be called next month?" said Rego. "But right now, that's what we're calling it. We're just grass-roots. We're not even nonprofit. We don't have a paid staff. We have no budget. We have no money. Everyone involved will volunteer their time and services."

Rego said the first meeting would be at 6 p.m. on March 9 at the Honolulu Community Action Program building, next to the Wai'anae District Park.

He said last night's rally is the offshoot of a vociferous community meeting three years ago in which the Wai'anae Coast Pa'i (People Against Ice) was formed.

"The initial meeting was a bunch of angry people — addicts and former addicts — giving testimony and saying, 'Do something, government — we've got an epidemic that's been going on here for the last decade or more! We've all been affected, and we're sick of it.' "

That meeting highlighted the level of concern among residents in the community, he said. Since then, the Wai'anae Coast Pa'i, in conjunction with the Wai'anae Coast Rotary and substance-abuse program Ho'omau Ke Ola, has worked behind the scenes to address the problem.

Now, the time has come to broaden the base, raise awareness and involve the entire community, Rego said. That was part of what yesterday's rally was all about.

"It's because we recognize that addiction is a family disease. We're going to begin on March 9 ... and we're going to see how many people come, and we're just going to ask them, 'How can we help you? What do you need?' "

Yesterday's rally also was meant to pay tribute to Lee and producer Jeffrey Meuller for their work in bringing the crisis to the attention of the public.

"This rally tonight is mainly to make the announcement and to feature Edgy Lee's new film," said Sarah Lindsey, Pa'i president, moments before she spoke to the crowd of more than 200 people.

She said she was aware that many in the audience were struggling with ice, and had come from families that had been using methamphetamine for two or three generations.

"We didn't come here tonight to rat you out or to get down on you," she said. "We came here to let you know we love you and care about you, and to tell you there is a solution. It's called recovery."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.