Mirikitani bill
targets businesses
tarnished by
prostitution offenses

Three convictions in five years
would make a business 'a public
nuisance' subject to be ordered
closed for up to a year

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

A business where three prostitution-related offenses occurred could be forced to close for up to a year under a measure introduced by City Councilman Andy Mirikitani.

The bill is designed to discourage prostitution at places such as Far East Relaxation. The massage parlor recently was forced to move out of a Kapiolani Boulevard shopping complex by its landowner following prostitution arrests there and public outcry led by Mirikitani.

Mirikitani said sex-related businesses in the McCully, Moiliili and Ala Moana districts he represents are driving out other businesses.

Under the bill, three prostitution convictions in five years at the same business would establish it as "a public nuisance."

City attorneys could then "seek to enjoin, abate and prevent the prostitution-related public nuisance by suit."

Following appeals, the establishment could be ordered closed for up to a year.

The bill gets its first reading at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

Also on that agenda is a second anti-sex bill introduced by Mirikitani.

Under that proposal, no one under 21 would be allowed in nonalcoholic, nude dancing nightclubs, which is the case with liquor-serving strip bars.

The bill is aimed at curbing "bring your own booze" nightclubs.