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Stacie possesses the unique blend that actually, and I don't want to say she's like
<br />Gerald, because it's kind of an insult, but just think of Gerald but in a nicer package
<br />because she represents what people who support government want, they want
<br />someone who's compassionate, who listens first, and takes their responsibility very
<br />seriously. You know, it's not just a job to them, I know it's not just a job for Stacie, it's
<br />a duty. It's you know, I don't want to use the cliche, "It's a calling," you know, because
<br />you know it is a calling in a way that you have to take and internalize what your duty is
<br />personally, and they both do that. They both take it, their job if you want to call it a job,
<br />but they take their duty seriously, and they recognize that it's not an us -them kind of
<br />situation. They don't see the licensees as the enemy, they don't see the public as an
<br />irritant, it's something that's necessary to be done for the system to function. And you
<br />know, I think in this County in this Department, a large part of why it works is because
<br />of Gerald, Stacie, and Jan Pakele before them. It's an atmosphere where the licensees
<br />can come and say, "Oh, you know what? Yeah, I screwed up." And they'll come and
<br />they'll you know, "Can I have mercy?" And it's a place where the public can come, not
<br />only feel heard but also get some traction, you know. And I don't want to talk too much
<br />about Gerald, but Gerald provided the framework in which Stacie has grown and
<br />learned. I don't know if he does it lately, but I always remember being shocked as
<br />an attorney and going, "Oh no, don't do that, you incurring too much liability."
<br />But if you have a problem, there was a problem in Kona where the community had
<br />a problem with a new licensee, that licensee was brand new, but they had a problem
<br />with a previous licensee in the area and noise. Gerald went out and said, "You know
<br />what, let's have a meeting." He would go out into the community where they were,
<br />not, "Oh, come down to the office." He would go out to the community meeting where
<br />they were and listen to their concerns, and bring in the licensee, the new prospective
<br />licensee so they can work out a mutual operating environment. And that's the kind of
<br />thing that Stacie is going to take up and then carry on, right? So, then you folks don't
<br />have problems, and that was always the problem, have people work harmoniously
<br />together without having problems come, will have to come before the Board. And not
<br />have problems come to the level of, okay now there's a violation, and you either contest
<br />it or you don't. But you know, liquor is a reality in our society and it's a reality that has
<br />to be regulated, you know. And that's your folk's job is to regulate, and I think Stacie
<br />will be an excellent candidate to help you folks do that. If you have any questions, I'm
<br />available to answer. If not, thank you and I hope you appoint Stacie.
<br />Matsui: Good morning, I'm Marcia Matsui, I used to work for Liquor for over ten years.
<br />don't know why but sitting here in front of you is making me very nervous. I'm just
<br />here to show how much I support Stacie Waltjen as the next Director of Liquor Control.
<br />She's the one, she has the personality, she has the knowledge, she's a package for the
<br />next Director. I think her concern for existing licensees, for new licensees is something
<br />that she should be credited for, she's not there to just say you're a licensee, she's there
<br />to help them, she wants to see them succeed. Without the licensees, there is no Liquor
<br />Control, and she will take that same care for her employees of the Department. She's a
<br />package, she's the one, thank you.
<br />MINUTES - LIQUOR COMMISSION MEETING SPECIAL MEETING - MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025 - HILO PAGE 4 OF 35
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