Plan to force out A plan to clear the Kapiolani area of strip clubs, hostess bars and other adult-oriented businesses has hit a major snag in the City Council Zoning Committee.
strip clubs stalls
City Council members
Mirikitani recalls previous effort
question the bill to remove
Kapiolani area businessesBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comThe committee yesterday deferred action on the Convention Center Special District plan after Council members raised questions.
The proposed district would be bounded by McCully, South Beretania and Piikoi streets -- which city officials say has the heaviest concentration of adult-oriented businesses in the state.
The bill has two requirements: The first calls for a series of stringent design requirements for new development along the major corridors of Kapiolani Boulevard, Kalakaua Avenue, Atkinson Drive and Keeaumoku Street, such as larger setbacks and mandatory landscaping. The second calls for the district to be free of all adult businesses within a three-year period.
Councilman Duke Bainum said he questions the appropriateness of putting the two requirements in one bill, noting that the city has yet to prove that strip bars are more prone to police calls than regular bars.
"We're trying to stuff two things into one package," Bainum said. "By trying to do too much too soon, we may be in error."
Councilman Romy Cachola said he wants to see economic studies that will show "both the positive and negative impacts" of taking away adult establishments not just in the special district, but throughout the island.
Councilwoman Rene Mansho and Zoning Chairman John DeSoto said they received numerous complaints from area landowners who felt they were not properly notified of the city's plans.
But city Planning Director Randall Fujiki countered that "property owners in the long run will benefit from the changes in the district."
There are only 31 liquor-licensed establishments in the proposed district, and adult-oriented businesses sit on only 20 of 450 properties there, he said.
Attorneys for several property owners and businesses questioned the constitutionality of the bill, calling it discriminatory toward a legitimate businesses.
Mayor Jeremy Harris has touted the bill as a means of beautifying the area, considered by many as the "gateway" to Waikiki.
Neighborhood board and Waikiki business leaders endorsed the special district plan.
City Managing Director Ben Lee, after the committee vote, said the administration stands by its plan.
Lee said the city wants to "provide an attractive, appropriate environment for the convention center and Waikiki. The first and lasting impression for visitors to the convention center and/or Waikiki should not be honky-tonk strip bars."
The lack of support from the Council, at this point, signals a delay in those plans. The Zoning Committee will not meet again until Sept. 11, and there was no indication yesterday that members wanted the bill on that agenda.
For the first time since his conviction, City Councilman Andy Mirikitani talked about a subject at a Council meeting, reminding colleagues and the public of his attempts to rid the Kapiolani area of adult entertainment businesses. Mirikitani recalls
fight against
adult businessesStar-Bulletin staff
"As you're aware, several years ago I initiated a community visioning effort and a specific convention center impact study to assess all of the impacts that might be caused by the convention center after it was built," Mirikitani said.
It was the first time Mirikitani, who represents the Ala Moana-Kapiolani area, has attended a committee meeting since his conviction July 3 of giving bonuses in exchange for kickbacks.
At his first Council meeting July 11 since the conviction, he answered the roll call and voted.
Mirikitani, whose sentencing date is Dec. 4, has continued to attend Council meetings despite calls for his resignation.
During the meeting, Mirikitani slammed the administration of Mayor Jeremy Harris for not moving more quickly to clear the neighborhood of adult businesses.
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