The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2026-02-19 Liquor Adjudication Board Minutes Hilo for review-approvalCOUNTY OF HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR CONTROL LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD MINUTES — FEBRUARY 19, 2026 HILO LAGOON CENTRE 101 AU PU N I STREET, UNIT 230 H I LO, HAWAI `I I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Dawn Raymond at 10:00 A.M., in the Department of Liquor Control, Hilo Meeting Room, Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni Street, Unit 230, Hilo, Hawaii. The following were present and constituted a quorum: Board Members: Dawn Raymond, Chair Michael Hughes, Vice Chair Ceci Davenport, Board Member Donn Mende, Board Member Others Present: Stacie Waltjen, Director Brandon Gonzalez, Administrative Officer Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel (Department/Prosecutor) Sinclair Salas Ferguson, Deputy Corporation Counsel (Board) ZoeAnn Bertelmann, Licensing Technician Hau`oli Sayles, Board Secretary Raymond: Please silence phone and devices, this meeting is being recorded, the microphones in the room do not amplify your voice but only record what is being said, so speak loud and clear and one at a time. Introduction of Board Members and staff, again my name is Dawn Raymond, Chair of the Liquor Adjudication Board. Hughes: Mike Hughes, Vice Chair. Mende: Donn Mende, Board Member. Davenport: Ceci Davenport, Board Member Raymond: And others present. Waltjen: Stacie Waltjen, Director. Gonzalez: Good morning, Brandon Gonzalez, Administrative Officer. Wong: Good morning, Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel. Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Salas Ferguson: Good morning, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sinclair Salas Ferguson. Bertelmann: Zoe Bertelmann, Liquor Licensing Tech (Technician). Sayles: Hau`oli Sayles, Board Secretary. II. Approval of Minutes —December 4, 2025 (10:01 AM) Raymond: The Decembers 4, 2025, meeting minutes as circulated via email on January 14, 2026. May I have a motion to approve meeting minutes as circulated? Hughes: So moved. Mende: Second. Board Member Hughes moved to approve the December 4, 2025, meeting minutes as circulated; Seconded by Board Member Mende. Raymond: Are there any discussion about the minutes? There was no discussion by Board Members. Raymond: Hearing and seeing none, let's take a vote, all those in favor to approve the minutes for December 4, 2025, please say "Aye." The Board Members voted "Aye." Raymond: All those opposed please say "Nay." There was no opposition by Board Members. Raymond: Motion has carried. The motion was carried unanimously. III. Public Statements on Agenda Items (10:01 AM) Raymond: Interested persons wishing to provide testimony on any agenda item may do so now or at the time the specific agenda item is called. There were no statements from members of the public. IV. Hearings —None (10:02 AM) Raymond: There are no new hearings. MINUTES - LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD MEETING - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 - HILO PAGE 2 OF 5 V. Unfinished Business (10:02 AM) NEXT TWO ITEMS WERE TAKEN AT ONCE 1. CASE NO. 2025-008 (10:02 AM) In the Matter of the Accusation Against RMG Waikoloa, LLC, dba Romano's Macaroni Grill, located at the Queens' MarketPlace, 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Suite 1010, Waikoloa, Hawaii; Formal Hearing (Alternative III): COUNT 1 In violation of Rule 3-1(S) of the Rules and Regulations of the Liquor Commission of the Department of Liquor Control of the County of Hawaii, State of Hawaii, for purchasing, acquiring and/or selling liquor from other than a licensed wholesaler or manufacturer. COUNT 2 In violation of Section 281-40 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended, for having unlicensed liquor in the licensed premises. AND 2. CASE NO. 2025-009 (10:02 AM) In the Matter of the Accusation Against RMG Waikoloa, LLC, dba Romano's Macaroni Grill, located at the Queens' MarketPlace, 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Suite 1010, Waikoloa, Hawaii. Formal Hearing (Alternative III) in violation of Rule 5-11(A) of the Rules and Regulations of the Liquor Commission of the Department of Liquor Control of the County of Hawaii, State of Hawaii, for failure to notify the deparment in writing of a temporary closure of the licensed premises. Raymond: At the request of the licensee, these cases were continued from December 4, 2025, to today. Do we have any updates regarding these two cases? Ms. Wong, can you please introduce yourself and proceed? Wong: Thank you, Madam Chair, Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel on behalf of the Liquor Department. So yes, I do have an update for the Board to consider, from December 4t", 2025, up until today, actually this week, the Department attempted to resolve both of these cases, 2025-008 and 2025-009, with the representative of RMG Waikoloa, LLC, Mr. Jason Roe. I am pleased to report today that the parties have settled this matter in both cases actually. The Department, pursuant to Section 1.11 of your rules made an offer to settle to Mr. Jason Roe via e-mail on February 4t"7 2026, and a copy of that e-mail is in your folders. MINUTES - LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD MEETING - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 - HILO PAGE 3 OF 5 Mr. Roe accepted that offer to settle on February 11, 2026, also via e-mail. The provisions of that settlement are set forth both in the February 26t", 2026, e-mail and also in the settlement agreement that you also should have a copy of. That settlement agreement was signed and dated by the parties on February 17t", 2026. And so essentially, Mr. Roe agreed to cancel his general liquor license for his entity, liquor license no. T-REST-G-693, which cancellation was effective February 11t", 2026, which is when he accepted the offer to settle. In addition as a part of that settlement, he is agreeing to pay the Department a total amount of $1,117.44 in closing fees that are owed. In exchange, the Department offered to withdraw the Complaint and Accusations filed in both cases, 2025-008 and 009. So therefore, the Department submits the settlement agreement for the Board 's acceptance, pursuant to your Rule 1.11, and I'm available to answer any questions. Raymond: Okay, thank you. May I have a motion to accept the settlement agreement in Case No. 2025-008 and Case No. 2025-009? Hughes: So moved. Mende: Second. Board Member Hughes moved to accept the settlement agreement in Case No. 2025-008 and Case No. 2025-009; Seconded by Board Member Mende. Raymond: Are there any discussion, questions? There was no discussion by Board Members. Raymond: Hearing and seeing none, all those in favor to accept the settlement agreement in Case No. 2025-008 and Case No. 2025-009, please say "Aye." The Board Members voted "Aye." Raymond: All those opposed please say "Nay." There was no opposition by Board Members. Raymond: Motion is carried and unanimous. The motion was carried unanimously. Raymond: Ms. Wong, is there anything else? Wong: Yes, Madam Chair, I just would like to state on the record with the acceptance of the settlement agreement by the Board, that the Department is withdrawing the Complaint Accusation in both cases, 2025-008 and 2025-009. Raymond: Okay, thank you. The Complaint and Acquisitions in Case No. 2025-008 and 2025-009 are withdrawn. MINUTES - LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD MEETING - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 - HILO PAGE 4 OF 5 VI. New Business —None (10:06 AM) Raymond: There is no New Business. VII. Announcements (10:06 AM) Meetings of the Liquor Adjudication Board March 19, 2026, 10:00 A.M., Location To Be Determined. April 16, 2026, 10:00 A.M., Location To Be Determined. Vill. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:06 A.M. Stacie Waltjen Director The February 19, 2026, Liquor Adjudication Board meeting minutes were approved as circulated, via email on March 23, 2026, by the Liquor Adjudication Board of the County of Hawaii on date TBD, 2026. MINUTES - LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD MEETING - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 - HILO PAGE 5 OF 5