- Lisa Martin resigns as vice chair of the Honolulu Liquor Commission
- She showed her badge to enter the Playbar nightclub, but staff said she was too drunk.
- He refused to leave until the police were called and he smelled alcohol on his breath.
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A liquor commissioner resigned in disgrace after drunkenly flashing her badge to walk into a nightclub and threaten to shut it down.
Lisa Martin, vice president of the Honolulu Alcoholic Beverage Commission, resigned Monday after bar staff called police when she refused to leave.
The 54-year-old woman arrived at the Playbar nightclub in Waikiki in the early hours of Saturday morning and used her badge to get herself and a friend inside.
Bar staff quickly decided they were too drunk and confronted them, but Martin allegedly tried to use his position to intimidate them.
Lisa Martin (pictured left with ex-partner Vicky Kenyon) resigned as vice chair of the Honolulu Liquor Commission after bar staff called the police when she refused to leave.
Martin, who moved to the island from the mainland U.S. in 2021, was just appointed Dec. 6 as part of an effort to get more LQBTQ commissioners.
‘[Martin said] He will close the bar because he can do whatever he wants with the plate. “She threatened to close the bay and I would lose my job,” one employee told police in a report obtained by Hawaii News.
The staff took a photo of her official identification and she took photos of her liquor commission cards, but she still refused to leave, so the police were called.
“I smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from (her)… I told her she shouldn’t do her job drunk,” the responding officer wrote in the report.
Martin eventually left with her friend after the police arrived. The report was compiled as a record of the incident and Martin was not charged with any crime.
Liquor commissioners are not supposed to inspect venues or do any other type of field work, which is done by professional inspectors.
Martin was quickly forced to resign and Mayor Rick Blangiardi accepted his resignation letter.
‘I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you and the CEO [Mike] Formby today regarding my sincere desire to continue serving,” it said.
Martin arrived at the Playbar nightclub (pictured) in Waikiki in the early hours of Saturday morning and used her badge to let her and a friend inside.
Honolulu appointed Martin to the volunteer position along with another new member after claims that the commission was harassing gay bars.
Bar staff quickly decided they were too drunk and confronted them, but Martin allegedly tried to use his position to intimidate them, they told police in this report.
“However, I also understand that my unwavering commitment to the accountability of the Honolulu Liquor Commission warrants my resignation at this time.”
Martin, who moved to the island from the mainland U.S. in 2021, was just appointed Dec. 6 as part of an effort to get more LQBTQ commissioners.
Honolulu appointed Martin to the volunteer position along with another new member after accusations that the commission was harassing gay bars.
She told Hawaii News that she “really wanted to do so many good things in the process.”
Martin’s day job is as an accountant and she is president of the Queer Women’s Initiatives at the Hawai’i LGBT Legacy Foundation.
A photo of Martin’s liquor commission badge was taken by staff and included in the police report.
A meeting of the Honolulu Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced his resignation
Martin’s day job is as an accountant and she is president of the Queer Women’s Initiatives at the Hawai’i LGBT Legacy Foundation.
She is originally from central Illinois and worked for five years at the parent company of the Chicago Blackhawks NHL team.
Now she “feels very lucky to live in this beautiful corner of the world, escaping the Chicago winters.”
Mayor Blangiardi said he appreciated Martin accepting responsibility for his personal conduct.
“Mayor Blangiardi is saddened by events that were inconsistent with Ms. Martin’s desire and commitment to serve the residents of Honolulu as a member of the Honolulu Liquor Commission,” his office said.
