KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM This sign for Dave and Buster's at the Ward Centre complex runs afoul of city ordinances, according to Ho-nolulu's Outdoor Circle.

D&B’s signs too big,
must come down

The city is forcing Dave and
Buster's to abide by regulations

---

By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

For some, the success of Dave and Buster's at Victoria Ward is a sign of the times, while others say that it's time for the signs to come down.

Though the restaurant/arcade has fast become one of Oahu's favorite hangouts, the economic success story has one glitch, according to city building officials.

Those "D&B" signs are too big.

"Wow, we didn't realize it was going to be that big," said Planning and Permitting Director Randy Fujiki. "I don't think Ward wanted it that big either."

The Planning & Permitting Department revoked the building permits for both D&B signs facing Auahi Street last September. Fujiki said it was only after the signs went up that city officials realized that they were located on the building's second floor instead of the first floor.

Fujiki says according to city sign restrictions, ground-floor signs can be up to 12 to 14 feet in diameter, while anything above that is restricted to 9 to 10 feet in diameter.

"We did issue permits but they were issued in error," said Fujiki. "I think it was a misunderstanding from what the plans they showed us and what we thought they were saying."

"I don't think there was any purposeful neglect on their part."

Officials from Honolulu's Outdoor Circle, an organization that acts as an environmental watchdog, reported that soon after the D&B signs went up, it received about 15 to 20 complaints. Most of them were from people who said the signs were too big and almost seemed like billboard advertising, which is illegal in Hawaii.

"People who saw the signs were really appalled at the oversize and could not believe that it was as big as it was," said Mary Steiner, Outdoor Circle executive director. "Certainly the city should have picked up sooner that something was wrong."

Steiner does say that to Victoria Ward's credit, property management has worked earnestly with the city to come up with a sign plan for their tenant that does work.

"Dave and Buster's has had huge success in Hawaii, and we want to be sensitive to the needs of the community because we owe their success to the community," said Victoria Ward Ltd. President Mitch D'Olier. "We believe Dave and Buster's has acted legally and the city in good faith. ... Now we're working on a solution."

D'Olier said people will see more than two D&B signs, though smaller, in the future. Though the city's original notice of violation regarding the signs was issued in October, Victoria Ward has filed twice for 60-day extensions to come into compliance.