NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Liquor Commission of the City and County of Honolulu, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended, will hold a public hearing at the office of the Liquor Commission on the sixth floor of the Pacific Park Plaza building, 711 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., to consider the adoption of an amendment to the Rules of the Liquor Commission of the City and County of Honolulu.
The purpose of the proposed amendment is the inclusion in Rule §3-82-38.15. Unlawful Discrimination. of clarifying language regarding what constitutes unlawful discrimination, as found in the comparable Hawaii Revised Statutes Sec. 489-3 and set forth below:
§3-82-38.15. Unlawful Discrimination. (a) No licensee, whose premises are open for business to the general public, shall refuse, withhold from, or deny to any person, the full and equal enjoyment of any of the licensee’s accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, privileges, or services on the basis of that person’s race, color, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or ancestry.
(b) For purposes of this rule, any licensee that caters, sells, serves, extends, offers, or otherwise makes available to the general public its accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, privileges, or services, for a fee or charge shall be deemed to be open for business to the general public.
(c) This rule shall not apply to clubs that are not open to the general public, except to the extent that the accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, privileges, or services of the club are made available to the general public.
(d) Nothing in this rule shall be construed or interpreted to prohibit a licensee from the right to deny service to any person for failure to conform to the usual and regular requirements, standards, and regulations for the licensed premises so long as the denial, requirements, standards, and regulations are uniformly applied to all persons without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or ancestry.
Those persons wishing to testify at this hearing may register prior to the hearing at the hearing site and are encouraged to submit one copy of their testimony by hand delivery, mail, or email. Additional information on submitting testimony follows:
ORAL TESTIMONY
Oral testimony will be permitted on the proposed amendment subject to the following restriction: Each speaker is limited to a three-minute presentation.
WRITTEN TESTIMONY
Written testimony is strongly encouraged and may be submitted to the Commission three (3) business days prior to the date of the meeting as follows:
E-MAIL: liquor@honolulu.gov
HAND DELIVER OR MAIL to: Liquor Commission
Pacific Park Plaza
711 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 600
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Attendance at the public hearing is not a prerequisite for submission of testimony. Written testimony that is received by 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, October, 23, 2024, at the above address by hand delivery, mail, or email will be included with the record of the hearing. If time permits, decision making will follow.
MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
Meeting materials (“board packet”) will be available for viewing electronically, as soon as practicable, at the Liquor Commission website
(http://www.honolulu.gov/liq/event-calendar/).
A copy of the proposed amendments to the Rule will be mailed at no cost to persons who email liquor@honolulu.gov or call (808) 768-7333 and provide their name and mailing address. Copies are also available at no cost and may be reviewed in person at the Liquor Commission offices, Pacific Park Plaza building, 711 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 600, Honolulu, Hawaii, Monday through Friday between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and on the Liquor Commission website at https://www8.honolulu.gov/liq/news-events/ (news and announcements).
If you require an accommodation or auxiliary aid and/or services to participate in this meeting (i.e., sign language or foreign language interpreter), please call the Administrative Services Officer at 768-7309 at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting.
Dated: September 20, 2024
LIQUOR COMMISSION OF THE
CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU
JEFFREY HONG, Chairperson
By SALVADOR D. PETILOS
Administrator
(SA1468860 9/23/24)