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Department of Liquor Control
The Department of Liquor Control has a staff of twelve employees.
The department is responsible for administering the state and county liquor laws and has the authority to adopt county liquor laws, grant or deny liquor licenses, educate licensees and enforce and adjudicate violations of liquor laws.
The agency is aided in its duties by two boards. The Liquor Commission, consisting of nine members, has the authority to grant or deny liquor license applications, enact county liquor laws and to hire and remove the director. The Liquor Control Adjudication board, consisting of five members, has the authority to hear cases on violations of liquor laws and to determine penalties.
The department is not a general fund agency and derives its revenues from fees assessed to the 353 liquor licensees in the county. The department’s Fiscal Year 2000-01 budget was $980,131.
In Fiscal Year 2000-01, the department received $298,000 from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and the State of Hawaii Office of Youth Services to administer a program known as Project PAU (Preventing Alcohol Use by Minors).
The two-year grant funds a multi-pronged task force to implement programs to reduce access to liquor by minors. The department serves as the coordinating agency. Participants include the Community Police Division of the Hawaii Police Department, the State Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DLNR), Project Coordinator Ernest Correia, State Department of Health, Department of Education, Emerald City Radio Partners, Family Court, Prosecutor’s Office, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii and the Office of Youth Services.
Highlights/Activities
Licensing Division
This division processes all applications for a liquor license, ensuring compliance with state and county liquor laws through investigation. It compiles a report to the Liquor Commission for its consideration and action. Activities listed below include activities of the Liquor Commission.
Reports Application for Licenses
Application Reports 53 Interviews 70
On Site Inspections 43 Applications Received 53
Special Reports 0 Approved 36
Denied 2
Pending 13
Withdrawn 1
Deferred 1
Other Applications Permit Applications
Renewal 354 Alcohol Purchase 2
Special Licenses 33 Alterations 15
Increase in Premises 6 Catering 149
Stock Transfer 14 Entertainment 211
Corporate Officers 23 Game Devices 91
Temporary Increase 11 Importation of Liquor 5
Decrease in Premises 1 Minor Entertainment 73
Management Agreement 1 Private Party 442
Transient Vessels Product Tasting 47
(164 days in-port) 331 Solicitors 5
Extension of Hours – Denied 1 Teen Event 61
Trade Shows 8
Manager’s Examinations Education Classes
No. of Exams Conducted No. of Classes Conducted
(on-premises) 564 (on-premises) 52
No. of Exams Conducted No. of Classes Conducted
(off-premises) 525 (off-premises) 47
Transfer (on-premises) 167 Registration (Category 4) 24
Transfer (off-premises) 55 Checking ID Workshops 9
No. of Licensees 187
No. of Employees 425
Boards/Commissions
The Liquor Commission adopts rules and regulations having the force and effect of law in the County. It grants, renews or refuses applications for liquor licenses and has the authority to hire or remove the director.
The Liquor Control Adjudication Board hears and determines all complaints of violations of the liquor laws and imposes punishment upon convictions as provided by law.
Members of the Liquor Commission Members of the Adjudication Board
Donald Abdul – Chairman Ralph Black – Chairman
Earl Eckart – Vice Chair Janice Nakamura – Vice Chair
Raymond Carvalho Jude Mattos
Charles Sakamoto Tsuyoki Nakashima
Sidney Lee Douglas L. Halsted
George Harai
Kelly Kurakazu
Liquor Commission Activities Adjudication Board Activities
Meetings 10 Meetings 6
Special Meeting 1 Complaint & Accusations 40
Public Hearings 0 Guilty 35
Rule Amendments/workshop 1 Fines 33
Workshop 1 Suspensions 1
Site Visitation 0 No Contest 1
Not Guilty 2
Pending 0
Withdrawn 3
Enforcement Division
The function of this division is to conduct inspections of licensed premises to ensure compliance to liquor laws.
Activities Minors
Audio Surveillance 58 Compliance Checks Sale to Minors 0
Education – Licensees/on-site 120 Fraud ID 66
Education-Licensees/workshop 0 Investigations 0
Inspections of Premises
(average per month 1141 Others
Final Inspections 14
Regulatory Inspections 7 Complaints & Accusations 40
Investigation – Commission 8 Document Deliveries 32
Investigation – HCPD 19 In-Service Training 6
Investigations – Complaints Product Tasting 7
(Department) 135 Subpoena Service 0
Selective Enforcement 8 Teen Night 62
Warning Citations 5 Trade Show 2
Citations 16
Catering Checks 16
Private Party Checks 27
Special Liquor License
Checks 6
This page was modified on May 14, 2002
©Copyright 2002 County of Hawaii, Hawaii
Home Page | Site Map | Annual Report Main Page | Annual Report Fiscal Year 2000-2001