Bar can’t sell booze
A Lahaina club has its liquor license revoked after a fatal crash allegedly involving a customer
WAILUKU » A Lahaina nightclub had its liquor license revoked after one of its customers was allegedly involved in a fatal vehicular crash.
The Maui County Liquor Adjudication Board decided Thursday to take back the liquor license for Paradice Bluz Nightclub & Lounge located in the basement of storefront at 744 Front St.
Paradice Bluz pleaded no contest to overserving liquor to a 38-year-old Las Vegas resident on the night of March 24.
The Las Vegas man was later involved in a three-vehicle accident in Lahaina that ended in the death of 29-year-old Lahaina resident Reginald Gonsalves.
The suspect's vehicle was headed north on Honoapiilani Highway when it crossed the centerline and sideswiped the first car and struck a second car driven by Gonsalves, according to Maui police.
The suspect's blood alcohol level was over the legal limit, police said.
Police Sgt. Barry Aoki said the investigation into the accident was continuing and that the Las Vegas man has not been charged.
Paradice Bluz owner Chris Mahon was unavailable for comment.
Michael Kawagishi, the licensing supervisor for the county Department of Liquor Control, said the bar was closed from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1 because of a license suspension and continues to be shut down, supposedly for renovations.
The revocation followed a third violation by the bar, which opened in 2004, including the overserving of a customer on the night of Dec. 27 and into the morning of Dec. 28. The board imposed $4,000 in fines for the Dec. 27-28 incident.
Kawagishi said the board's decision about Paradice Bluz will take effect once the license holder is served with documents and its determination is reviewed by the county Corporation Counsel's office -- a process that usually takes two to three months.
The board has revoked licenses in the past following fatal crashes, including one in 2004 for Idini's Deli and Grill in Wailuku.