2018-01-04 Liquor Commission Minutes

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police officer, I'm also a professional musician. I still play actively. Born and raised in Hilo, I lived on Oahu for about twenty years in my college days. When I came back here and looked around, I saw there's not too many places that offer live music, where the music is featured. I've played professionally for about 30 years and everytime they tell us to go in the corner. A lot of people sometimes go to a restaurant for the music. Recently, we had the opportunity to meet with the owners of the building. If you're not familiar with the building, it's off Waianuenue where the Poke Market is. Ernie Gray is an expert sushi chef and he's going to partner with us. He worked at Nobu Sushi in New York for many years. He's going to do the food and we're basically going to run the front house and do live music. We're going to have sushi, sandwiches, and salads. He has a cold kitchen already, so I'm working in conjunction with him. Basically, the business will provide live music and entertainment. For me, if I want to take my wife and family out someplace, there's not many places that have live music where we can eat good food and just hang out. I'm not going to go to the Tavern and I'm not going to go to Karma's. There's just not too many places. We just want to create someplace to hang. You can come and just enjoy a nice meal and some live music. Mangus: So, basically, what Darryl's trying to say is that our demographic is going to be focused on the older crowd. We're not looking to do any kind of a nightclub. Twenty-one to thirty -year-olds, we're going to try to stay away from. Castillo: They're welcome to come, too. Mangus: Yes, they're welcome to come, but, our focus will be on the older demographic. Castillo: That's the people I play for already. I play at the Naniloa Hotel, top side, the Hula Lounge. I play the first and third Tuesdays each month. Tonite I play at Cafe Pesto. That's the demographic. And when we looked around in town, there's not too many places that offer that—that style of live music. Taniguchi: No one is here, so there's no public testimony. Commissioners, questions? There were no questions from the Commissioners. Taniguchi: I'm just looking at the picture, but, where's this building? Castillo: My wife works for the Chock family, and she manages the properties, residential and commercial. Taniguchi: It's right below Keawe? Takase: It's right by the old Bank of Hawai'i. Castillo: Yes, right below Keawe. The big gravel parking lot, there's a building in the back. We cleaned up the whole place, made it look nice, and we have our own parking there. We have about forty stalls, which is unique for the downtown area. It's probably one of the only buildings that has that much parking; besides Bank of Hawaii. JANUARY 4, 2018 - LIQUOR COMMISSION MINUTES 17