Lisa Martin, the vice-chairwoman of the Honolulu Liquor Commission, resigned from her position after allegedly using her badge to gain entry into a nightclub and then threatening to shut down the business in a drunken confrontation with employees. The incident occurred at the Playbar Nightclub in Waikiki during the early hours of a Saturday morning. Martin, along with a friend, allegedly flashed her liquor commissioner badge to enter the club, but was soon confronted by employees who believed she was too intoxicated to be there. When asked to leave, Martin reportedly threatened to use her badge to close down the bar, leading to a heated exchange with the club’s staff.
During the confrontation, Martin refused to leave the establishment despite being repeatedly asked to do so by the employees. The police were eventually called to the scene, and an officer noted the strong smell of alcohol coming from Martin. Although she was not charged with any crime, the incident led to her resignation from the liquor commission. In a statement from Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office, he expressed sadness over the events and accepted Martin’s resignation, acknowledging that her behavior was inconsistent with her commitment to serve the residents of Honolulu.
Martin, who had recently moved to Hawaii from Illinois, took office as vice-chairwoman of the commission in December 2023. She was described as an expert in data management, with a background in liquor law compliance, manufacturing, and workplace safety. Martin had been working for Sutton Construction, Inc. as a Financial Coordinator and Human Resources Professional before taking on the position with the commission. Her appointment, along with two other commissioners, came after a lawsuit filed in November 2021 alleged harassment of gay bars by the previous commission.
Mayor Blangiardi appointed Martin and the other commissioners as a fresh start for the city following the allegations of bias against gay establishments by the previous commission. The city stated that commissioners are not allowed to perform their duties while intoxicated and must not conduct field enforcement of liquor laws. Despite the circumstances surrounding her resignation, they acknowledged Martin for accepting accountability for her personal conduct. Martin, who is also the owner of Cloudscape Corporation, a leading IT and Cloud Solution provider, brought a wealth of experience to the commission in areas such as data management and compliance with liquor laws.
Overall, the incident involving Lisa Martin highlights the challenges of maintaining professionalism and accountability in positions of authority. It serves as a reminder that those in positions of power are expected to adhere to strict standards of conduct and ethics. While Martin’s resignation may have been a disappointing outcome, it also underscores the importance of ensuring that public servants uphold the trust and integrity of their positions. Moving forward, the Honolulu Liquor Commission will need to address the consequences of this incident and reinforce its commitment to serving the community in a fair and unbiased manner.
