StarBulletin.com

Liquor Commission administrator resigns


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POSTED: Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Honolulu Liquor Commission announced yesterday that its beleaguered administrator is quitting, effective at the end of next month.

Administrator Dewey Kim is leaving to pursue other interests, and his last day will be May 31, the commission said.

Kim was placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 30 after the agency opened an investigation involving a personnel matter.

Commission Chairman Dennis Enomoto refused to elaborate on the investigation yesterday, saying it was a personnel issue. He would not say whether the investigation will be dropped.

Kim could not be reached for comment. He has said that he faced dozens of complaints since becoming administrator in 2006 because he cleaned up the agency. In December he said that he believed he would be cleared.

Kim will have received between $43,134 and $68,070 in pay for six months of paid leave. He will work from home to help with the transition to a new administrator beginning Monday until his last day, Enomoto said.

Anna Hirai, a former assistant administrator, has been appointed interim administrator.