Isle residents voice fears, support for proposed pub

The Maui liquor panel gets 2,200 letters from Molokai citizens

By Gary T. Kubota
Maui correspondent

KAUNAKAKAI - A majority of more than 2,200 letters sent to the Maui County Liquor Control Commission opposed a proposal to develop a Molokai restaurant with a brewery and bar.

Liquor Control director Frank Silva says the number of letters is the most he's seen on a single issue in his 16 years with the department. A public hearing held yesterday by the commission was continued until Jan. 29, after about 30 people testified against it and an equal number for it.

Under the proposal, the Molokai Brewing Co. wants to operate a bar from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. and to brew beer on the premises. The company plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The commission has received 1,334 letters opposing it and 964 supporting.

Co-owner Michael Rogers said the brew pub will be similar to Hapa's Brew Haus & Restaurant in Kihei, but without live entertainment and dancing.

Because of a state law, the fate of the project could rest with a handful of registered voters living near the proposed site in Kaunakakai.

The law requires the commission to automatically deny a liquor permit if it is opposed by more than 50 percent of registered voters within a 500-feet radius of the site, said Liquor Control director Frank Silva.

Silva said his department is trying to determine the number of registered voters in neighborhood.

Supporters and opponents disagree about the number of registered voters but agree there aren't that many, because the majority of landowners are business people who reside elsewhere.

Critics say the proposed Molokai Brewery Co. would be too close to two churches, the Kaunakakai Elementary School, and a ball-field.

"It's directly in front of us," said David Mikami, a member of the Kaunakakai Baptist Church.

Some residents said they felt Molokai had enough liquor establishments and oppose the further promotion of alcohol. "Our families are being destroyed by alcohol and drugs," said Judy L. Caparida, a Waialua resident.

Supporters, including many business people, said the new restaurant would help stimulate economic growth on an island that has among the highest unemployment rates in the state.

They say residents already drink alcohol in nearby public parks and doubt that the new business will harm the community.

"I can't stand by and say everybody that goes to the bar is going to come out drunk," said Ed Miltenburg, a Kawela resident.

Keith Ayres, a teacher at Kaunakakai Elementary, said although he doesn't like the location and acknowledges alcoholism is a problem on Molokai, he supports the project because he feels the town needs a good restaurant.