2025-07-03 Liquor Commission Minutes Hilo

Home

Okabe: Hearing none. Commissioners, do you have any discussion or questions? Commissioner Greenwell. Greenwell: Have you had any more conversations with that Janice Yamauchi? Chinen (Julia): Actually, I did. I actually had a face-to-face conversation with her, and I would say that we came to a resolution, I think that her letter really described a concept that we weren't going in that direction. So, I just wanted to kind of clarify that it wasn't going to be like a bar atmosphere where we'll be dispensing, we're looking at more of a farm -to -table kind of a pre -fixed wine pairing, high -end dining concept. And, she was comfortable with that, she also was pleased to hear that we have the police presence that it's not just while they're there, but it's the unknown when the policeman is driving around the corner, because it will be their storefront where they have access 24 hours a day. She was excited to hear about the 24 cameras that we have inside the actual building and on the entire perimeter looking out. She had other topics that she discussed with me that were outside of the actual license, but I let her speak. We had a 90-minute face-to-face talk and it just you know, I felt like it was just that personal connection that I had with her and that I offered her, that at anytime if she had any concerns she knew where to find me, up the street. So, we had that kind of ending and just pleasantries of a good night, and then John, he drove by kind of recently and had a little chat with her. Chinen (John): Yeah, I tried to talk with her but she was talking to her dog at the time, so I just kind of let her go and she was laughing, and I was kind of like, okay and I just drove off, but I tried. Chinen (Julia): But yeah, I think what it is, is mainly just always being open to the community, we also have that lifeline to the community through the Pepe`ekeo Development Association, we attend all their meetings, and so we just want to be available to them if we need to clarify if they have any concerns. Chinen (John): Regardless, we just want to make sure we address all concerns regardless of who the person is or what their views are, we just want to make sure that we're upfront with them, and we address their concerns, yes. Greenwell: Thank you. Okabe: Commissioners, any other questions? There was no further discussion by Commissioners. Taniguchi: Move to close public hearing. Okabe: Okay, the motion is to close public hearing, any second? Nishimoto: Nishimoto, second. MINUTES - LIQUOR COMMISSION MEETING - THURSDAY, JULY 31 2025 - HILO PAGE 7 OF 39