Child advocates take Hamakawa to task
By Ronna Bolante
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
A local child-advocacy organization lashed out at state Rep. Eric Hamakawa yesterday after he refused to hear a bill that would toughen penalties for the commercial sexual exploitation of minors.
Under the bill, proprietors of strip clubs, escort agencies and massage parlors that employ minors could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and face revocation of business licenses and forfeiture of property.
Sen. Brian Kanno, D-20th ('Ewa Beach, Makakilo, Kapolei), who introduced the bill, said it still has a chance of passing this session because its language was added to another vehicle, House Bill 978. The bill must now be approved by the full Senate.
Kelly Hill, executive director of the organization, Sisters Offering Support, said Hamakawa's refusal to hear the bill was "ridiculous."
"It's a tough bill; it protects the children. It holds the perpetrator accountable for once. There are huge profits being made, and we have the opportunity to do something about it," she said.
Hamakawa, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he refused to the hear the bill because most of the businesses it would affect are already regulated by the Liquor Commission.
Honolulu police and prosecutors opposed the bill, saying it conflicts with existing criminal law and would be difficult to enforce.
"For minors who are working at a liquor establishment, I believe the ... Liquor Commission can and do revoke licenses," said Hamakawa, D-3rd (S. Hilo, Puna). He said he was not aware the bill involved regulating massage parlors.
"The way I read, it is talking mostly about strip bars and exotic dancing, and I think that's covered under the Liquor Commission."
The Liquor Commission has revoked the liquor licenses of establishments employing minors as strippers, commission administrator Wallace Weatherwax said.
"If criminal activity is proven in the court system, the commission can revoke the license," Weatherwax said.
The Liquor Commission does not have jurisdiction over establishments that do not serve alcohol.
Hill acknowledged the Liquor Commission regulates businesses to some degree, but said the penalty of license revocation is insufficient. Violators should face criminal punishment, she said.
Kanno said the bill would also place the responsibility on proprietors rather than on the minors they employ.
He said he knows of at least one instance where a minor was sent to a juvenile detention facility while the business that employed her was not penalized.
"I think the concern about minors working in those kinds of establishments justify the efforts to put those practices to an end," Kanno said.
