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<br /> part about opening the store is actually getting the liquor license. It's been a process, but I just
<br /> wanted to share a little about the events leading up to where we are now. We opened the store
<br /> seven years ago and it's been a learning process. The first violation that we ever received was
<br /> from me, myself. It was the first weekend we actually had liquor and it was Super Bowl
<br /> weekend. We could only afford two employees at that time. It was myself and another lady and
<br /> they had a liquor sting operation just like this and the cop was behind and I didn't check the ID, I
<br /> didn't do anything, and I was a crying mess. Since then, we implemented that every employee
<br /> not only cashiers, but kitchen, barista, stock, every single employee, attend a liquor class and
<br /> get their license, even though they're not 21, even if they're not 18; just to get it so they're aware
<br /> of the rules because it is serious, and it is something that, I think that is just basic education that
<br /> sometimes they just don't know.
<br /> Sumera-Lee: In doing this, we have made sure that every single employee is aware of the rules
<br /> and regulations; we take that very seriously. Being in that situation myself, I was only seventeen
<br /> or eighteen at the time, but I was in the Tribune-Herald selling liquor to a minor. I went to court.
<br /> It was embarrassing and I felt really horrible and my dad was mad, and my mom was made and
<br /> it was just a really hard situation for me. That was a learning process for us, as a store, though.
<br /> We made sure that all our employees not only go to liquor classes, but Department of Health
<br /> classes, as well as work place bullying, and all these good things. When that happened, it was
<br /> a learning experience.
<br /> Sumera-Lee: Then, about five years ago, I caught a kid stealing in our store. He was by our
<br /> fishing supplies and he stole a fishing lure. I saw him doing this and walked up to him and said,
<br /> 'hey, why are you stealing?' And he said, "Oh, Aunty, I just bored." I told him, 'well, you should
<br /> get a job. If you're bored, go do something.' He said, "Oh, I don't know how to do that." I was
<br /> shocked by his answer to why he was stealing. He asked if I was going to call the cops on him,
<br /> but I just wanted to know why he was stealing. Was it because he didn't have money? Did he
<br /> need a couple of bucks; it was like a dollar and ninety cents. He said he just didn't have
<br /> anything to do. I told him he should write a resume; but he didn't know what that was and I told
<br /> him he should ask his mom and she could help him write one. But he said his mom wouldn't
<br /> know what that is.
<br /> Sumera-Lee: I took this situation seriously, and I ended up opening a non-profit called Hawaii
<br /> Rise Foundation. What we do is help youth build a resume, try to help them secure employment
<br /> and get them some job interview skills, CPR and first aid certification. This year, 2019, we have
<br /> over 500 kids that we've gotten CPR certification for free. They get jobs, they start doing less
<br /> bad stuff on the streets, and they're just in a better place. Financial wellness, budgeting, saving;
<br /> in this process, our store tries to help local vulnerable kids. We're in the community of
<br /> Keaukaha, so we're the second largest homestead in Hawaii, a lot of Hawaiian kids. We
<br /> partner with Alu Like and we have kids starting from 14 years old to 18. They have a program
<br /> called On the Job Training. We take in youth and we train them and these are the things that
<br /> happen. You do certain things. It's been another learning experience for me, because I really
<br /> want to give these youth opportunity and education to learn what it's like to have a real job; how
<br /> to come to work on time, be responsible, save their money, be responsible to a team, work well
<br /> with other people, learn how to have a good attitude, all these different things.
<br /> SEPTEMBER 5, 2019-LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD MINUTES 4
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