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Takase: This is probably the first time in about 5 years, we were going through their locker,
<br />and a lot of times we don't know when we take it in, what is going to happen. So, it takes
<br />some time for our investigator's to finally close out the cases, so until it's closed, we will
<br />maintain custody of the evidence. But yeah, since we didn't have many cases, you see here it
<br />just kind of collected.
<br />Kelly: Is that like evidence confiscated on a sting or something like that, is that what it is?
<br />Takase: Yes, so it's mostly the "Sale to Minor" cases.
<br />Taniguchi: What about the unlicensed liquor?
<br />Takase: The unlicensed liquor was a case where our investigator actually caught Margarita
<br />Village carrying cases of beer into their premises, so not getting it through a wholesaler, and
<br />his rationale was it was the weekend, and they couldn't get a delivery, but that's not allowed.
<br />Taniguchi: Oh, I see.
<br />Takase: We've been having actually some problems with our wholesaler lately, because
<br />Paradise Beverage was bought out by Island Distributing, and they have cut back on deliveries
<br />to the licensees. So, I've been kind of having discussions with them, that you know, they're
<br />almost making the licensees now look for other sources of liquor. And so, I'm kind of getting
<br />on them that they need to provide a little better service. And they're saying, these guys order
<br />four or five cases at a time and it's not really worth our while, but I said it is worth your while
<br />because that's what your license requires you to do, so hopefully we will clear it up and, in the
<br />meantime, I'm telling them to just buy from Odom.
<br />Taniguchi: So, they cannot go to like Costco and buy it real cheap, and then sell it in their
<br />restaurant?
<br />Takase: No, they're not supposed to, they're supposed to buy it from a wholesaler.
<br />Taniguchi: I can see that, because they probably don't order that much, yeah, I mean
<br />compared to the supermarkets or whatever.
<br />Takase: Yes, so you know I tell these guys, if you want to operate in a small market, you got
<br />to conform, and so we've been kind of championing the small licensee's position for them,
<br />because they said they don't have storage for one, and they can't buy 100 cases at a time.
<br />Fuke: I assume you would have like an electronic version of the evidence, like photos?
<br />Takase: We could, sometimes we just photograph it and return it to them, like in this case, we
<br />weren't going to return it to them, so we had it. And it depends, the bars provided it open
<br />already, so it's done. The store ones, sometimes we return it and get our money back.
<br />Fuke: Okay, so we have a motion to approve and seconded, for the acceptance of the report
<br />provided by the Department. All those in favor of that, please say "Aye."
<br />The Board Members voted "Aye."
<br />MINUTES - LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD MEETING - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2023 - HILO PAGE 14 OF 17
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