2025-07-03 Liquor Commission Minutes Hilo

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now, the credit union, sometimes they're closed by the time the children are dropped off and the parents come late. So, we contacted them and they came and looked a couple days ago. They brought their transporation manager along with Roberts Hawaii, who has a contract with them, and that's looking positive too. So, we're just offering whatever we can to the community. Chinen (Julia): And then we have a breezeway area that we will extend the asphalt to that we brought a conduit for water and electric so that we can host fundraisers for sports events or open markets, craft fairs, so on and so forth, so we're looking forward to that area. So overall I think with all of the myriad of things, we just wanted to create somewhat of a hub for Pepe`ekeo and the outlying communities because out in Hamakua there really isn't too much commercial activity. So, with a little over an acre, we kind of squeezed in as much as we could, and got the highest best use for that commercial lot. We felt like it was almost the last chance for this type of commercial activity to take place. So, it sounds like a lot of things but it's all working out really nicely, and we're excited to soft -open on September 16t", with a grand opening on September 27t". We've hired 19 employees so far, and we're happy to say that I would say about 90% of them come from the Hamakua coast, if not directly in the Pepe`ekeo area. And, what's exciting is that for the first time these local residents can live and work in the same community, and we feel like with that they'll take ownership of the location of the store, and you know we'll kind of bring back the old school kind of general store idea where you see familiar faces, but obviously with a modern concept with the building, the technology, and our POS (point -of -sale) system is very robust. We'll be able to handle inventory and fulfillment which is a big issue on the Big Island, and we're working with our partners, with Freight Forwarders in California to bring in product for emergencies even, weather emergencies, or just everyday needs. So, yeah we're busy but we're excited and looking forward to the opening. Okabe: Did you receive the application reports? Chinen (Julia): Yes. Okabe: Are there any changes to the reports? Chinen (Julia): No. Okabe: Director, are there any reports of protests? Takase: Mister Chairman, the applicants have mailed 7 out of 7 notices within 100 feet, 42 out of 42 notices within 500 feet. There were 42 properties entitled to protest, we did receive one protest to the application. Okabe: Any public testimony in regards to these applications? There was no public testimony. MINUTES - LIQUOR COMMISSION MEETING - THURSDAY, JULY 31 2025 - HILO PAGE 6 OF 39