It wasn't American Idol, but former contestant Jordan Segundo performed for a crowd of 10,000 yesterday.

So did singer Jasmin Indica of Kapolei Middle School. And Radford High's state champion cheerleading squad. And Nanaikapono's Step Team dance ensemble.

And a bunch of Honolulu police officers.

Their audience? Fifth-graders from public and private schools across O'ahu who filled the University of Hawai'i's Stan Sheriff Center for the 24th annual DARE Day celebration.

DARE, (or Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a curriculum taught by Honolulu and military police officers to encourage children to make positive life choices.

The culmination of the 10-lesson course is DARE Day, when the students gather to take the DARE pledge to avoid drugs, gangs and violence.

Before yesterday's two-hour event was over, the students were treated to videos and music and, yes, police officers with drawn weapons, motorcycles and big dogs.

Specialized Services Division officers rappelled from bleachers. Motorcycle officers rode into the arena and took down a bogus bad guy, tossing him on his stomach and 'cuffing him. And a well-padded crook couldn't escape the long arm of the law, or the strong jaws of a German shepherd.

Maureen Tana, an 11-year-old from Lunalilo Elementary School said the day was important to her because "... DARE teaches us to stay away from drugs and alcohol and the bad people who try to get us to use them."