View Point
View Point
LET me begin by introducing myself. I am not only a concerned adult night-club owner, but I am a concerned taxpayer who seems to be paying the salary of a certain City Council member who is trying to put me out of business. Pretty ironic, isn't it? Bar targeted by council-
man is an honest businessCouncilman Andy Mirikitani recently criticized my club, Babes In Paradise, which has only been open since May 13. He deserves credit, at least, for not wasting any time in introducing Bill 54.
In fact, I'm willing to bet that Mirikitani started drafting this bill even before we opened. As soon as he heard of the premise behind my club, he must have begun work on the bill without any actual knowledge of my club's operation.
Mirikitani has made bogus accusations and told lies, one after the another, about my club.
It amazes me how one man can use and abuse his power, then feel that he is exempt from his actions simply to further his career in politics.
In his statements to the media, Mirikitani has used phrases such as "skirting the law" and that we are "damaging the community." Then the press hears his one-sided opinions and the public thinks that we are the "bad guys."
Remember, all Mirikitani has ever given the public has been his opinion, but we have yet to see the facts. I publicly challenge him to produce proof that my club results in more negative impacts on the community (for example, violence, prostitution, drugs, etc.) than other nightclubs or hostess bars cause.
Mirikitani says that I am skirting the liquor laws. Based on the liquor laws, due to the area where my club is located, I cannot acquire the necessary dispenser license. So, after reviewing the state (not city) laws, I found that I am eligible to do business on a BYOB basis according to HRS 281.4. Therefore, I am following the law, not breaking it.
One particular issue really upsets me. Mirikitani said on TV news broadcasts and in the newspapers that "clubs like Babes In Paradise allow minors under the age of 18 to patronize my club." This is a lie!
Because of this fallacy, I have received many calls from angry parents telling me that I should be ashamed of myself. Someone even threatened to burn down my club.
How would you feel if a lie was told and you were falsely accused of doing illegal acts? This is a prime example of a public official using the media to portray my establishment as an illegal operation, when the truth is that it is legal.
I do not allow anyone under the age of 21 to even enter my club, even though the law says I can allow 18-year-olds to come in. However, from opening day, I chose not to allow this.
I do allow 18-year-old entertainers to work in the club because I can, according to state and federal laws. If I didn't, I would be discriminating against entertainers from the ages of 18 to 20.
The city should be spending all of this energy in a more positive and productive way. Instead of destroying Hawaii's economy, by putting companies out of business, its officials should be trying to increase business.
People need to speak up for their right to do business and not be told what they can and cannot do. As long as a company is legal, business owners should not have the government in their faces.
Last time I checked, I live in the United States of America, not Cuba. With or without the support of the people in Hawaii, I will continue my crusade to be allowed to do business and to help build Hawaii's economy, as long as I am doing it legally.
Hawaii Revised Statutes
Warren Colazzo is the owner of
Babes In Paradise on Kapiolani Boulevard.