2025-12-15 Liquor Commission Minutes Hilo (Special Meeting)

Home

Although this is not something we do enforce you know, I do tell applicants that come in to apply for a liquor license, specifically manufacturers, wholesalers, brew pubs, small craft producer pubs licensees, that not only do they need to obtain you know, a liquor license with our Department, but they also have to contact the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau), which is the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, to get their federal permits and the State of Hawaii, Department of Taxation to get their state permits. So you know, I will make sure that we have these permits on file before we issue the liquor license, but it's not necessarily something that we enforce. Okabe: No. 11, what kind of programs would you implement, perpetuate and/or expand upon to assist in fostering programs to address underage drinking prevention and overservice prevention? Waltjen: So, our Department participates in quite a few programs, a few of them this year was the Kea`au High School Senior Day, and their Stay Cool Summer Event. So, for the Senior Day our Department made like this dream board activity where the seniors would come and write out their high school graduation dreams and goals and post it on this board that we had. The purpose of it was like you know, to manifest what they want to do, put it up on this board, and you know we're hoping to encourage them to pursue their post -graduation dreams and goals. The Stay Cool Summer Event was for the 9t" graders to 11 t" graders, and it was just you know, kicking off having an event prior to their summer but you know, our Department organized activities and games which promoted like making good choices, and having them sign like this pledge to you know, not indulge in offline drugs for the summer. We also provide ones to D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) so they can continue to have events islandwide, Hilo and Kona. We also provide funding to the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council, so again they can continue to provide youth mentorship programs you know, with their boy scouts. will continue to support these programs and others and you know, also look to collaborate with other I guess County agencies like Police Department and Prosecutor's Office, even you know the State Department of Health. You know, a few years ago we hired Augie T to produce and star on these server training videos for off -premises and on -premises licensees which is actually part of our liquor card classes that we have twice a month in Kona and once a month in Hilo. And it's great because you know, it's very informative but it has this comedic element to it. So you know, when I used to teach the classes, I would see how people were actually engaged in watching the videos because you know, it's funny. So, looking to having either him, or maybe another local comedian, maybe we do this video just to make sure that we're up to date with all the changes, or just making other videos just so we can have that for our Department. MINUTES - LIQUOR COMMISSION MEETING SPECIAL MEETING - MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025 - HILO PAGE 22 OF 35