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Karaoke bar’s bid
to serve liquor denied

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

A Keeaumoku area restaurant and karaoke bar has lost its bid for a liquor license.

The Liquor Commission voted 4-1 to deny the application of Dongbaek Restaurant & Karaoke, 1303 Rycroft St., after neighborhood opposition, though less than 51 percent of property owners within 500 feet of the establishment had filed documented protests by time of the vote.

If 51 percent or more file valid, documented objections, the application is automatically defeated.

Commissioner Avis Jervis said she didn't need 51 percent of nearby property owners protesting; she had seen and heard enough to vote a strong "no" against the license application and submitted a motion to deny, which was seconded and passed.

Wallace Weatherwax, commission administrator, said the matter had been continued twice and that since only 42 percent of valid property owners had objected to the license, it was up to the commission.

Bobbie Jennings, secretary-treasurer of Ala Moana/Kakaoko Neighborhood Board, said earlier her board voted to oppose the application.

She asked that the Liquor Commission grant additional time if necessary to produce 51 percent of property owners objecting. The major objection is to a noise-making business serving liquor until 2 a.m., Jennings said.

Four residents who live near it also testified in opposition.

Dyane Sih brought 24 letters she said were from residents objecting to the application and distributed them to commission members, who took a five-minute recess to look them over.

Attorney Wayne Luke appeared with Soo Hong Lee, Dongbaek president, to support the application. Luke said Dongbaek already has premises that have been operating there more than five years under another owner without incident.

A temporary liquor license expired Feb. 15, and the restaurant and karaoke bar will remain open whether licensed to sell liquor or not, as customers can bring their own, Luke said. "The only question is whether we can sell liquor or not."

He found letters Sih submitted difficult to read.

"The same person is writing out the narrative, and the person is just signing."

This was done because some letters were from elderly individuals, Sih said earlier.

Luke said the applicant had been very cooperative in agreeing to meet repeatedly on the application. The business will remain in operation, Luke emphasized.

"The building is there. The only question is whether he (Lee) can sell liquor or not."