Trouble in paradise.
A Hawaii state liquor commissioner was forced to resign after he allegedly entered a nightclub flaunting his badge, then got into a drunken altercation with an employee and threatened to close the establishment.
Lisa Martin resigned from her position as vice chair of the Honolulu Liquor Commission on Monday following allegations of abuse of power, according to reports. hawaii news now.
Early Saturday morning, Martin, 54, arrived at Waikiki’s Playbar nightclub with a friend.
She then allegedly tried to enter the club by holding her liquor commissioner’s badge over the club’s door, according to a police report obtained by the club.
Inside the bar, Martin was approached by employees who believed he was already intoxicated and in no condition to enter the bar.
Things quickly escalated when she was asked to leave.
Employees at Playbar Nightclub claimed the former Liquor Commission threatened to shut down the bar, according to a police report obtained by the store.
Martin reportedly told the employees, “You can do anything with your badge and I’m closing the bar.” She threatened to close the bay and I would lose my job. ”
During the heated confrontation, an employee took a photo of his Honolulu Liquor Commission ID, prompting Martin to take a photo of the establishment’s Liquor Commission card.
Martin is said to have refused numerous requests by club employees to leave.
Police were then called to the scene, and an officer who arrived noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from the room. [Martin]”
Martin and his friend reportedly left the club after a brief interaction with police.
Although he has not been charged with a crime, Martin’s actions were deemed unacceptable and he tendered his resignation over the allegations.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement after accepting his resignation that he was “saddened by the events that contradict Mr. Martin’s desire and commitment to serve Honolulu residents as a member of the Honolulu Liquor Commission.”
The city told Hawaii News Now that commissioners are not allowed to perform their duties while intoxicated and are not expected to be on-site enforcing liquor laws.
The mayor’s staff said Blangiardi appreciates Martin’s “acceptance of accountability for his personal actions.”
Martin had moved to Hawaii from Illinois in 2021.
According to reports, she was sworn in as vice chair of the Honolulu Liquor Commission on December 6, 2023. City.
The city said Martin was a “data management specialist” who was working as a “financial coordinator and human resources specialist” at Sutton Construction when he volunteered for the position four months ago.
“She is also the owner of Cloudscape Corporation, a leading IT and cloud solutions provider. She brings an impressive background in liquor law compliance, manufacturing, and workplace safety to the commission,” the city shared.
Mayor Blangiardi appointed Martin, along with two other commissioners, after a lawsuit was filed in November 2021 alleging the previous commission harassed gay bars, the report said. hawaii news now.
James DiPasquale, an attorney for the Scarlet Honolulu LGBTQ club, claimed he reviewed hundreds of handwritten reports by liquor inspectors that “clearly demonstrated personal bias against gay establishments.” .
In appointing the new commission, Blangiardi said it is “a solid new beginning” for the city.
