Stores fined for selling liquor to minors

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two 7-Eleven stores were fined $2,000 each yesterday after pleading no contest to selling liquor to minors.

The Honolulu Liquor Commission levied the heavy fines because each store was cited for the same violation last year. The stores are located in Kapolei and at 1695 Kapi'olani Blvd.

The stores were caught in a sting operation called Project Pau, in which youths under 21 are sent to stores to buy alcoholic beverages. The youths are accompanied by Honolulu police officers and investigators from the Liquor Commission.

Commissioner Chu Lan Kwock yesterday said she wanted to suspend the liquor license at the 7-Eleven Kapolei store because of the repeat offense. But the commission voted 3-1 to issue the $2,000 fine.

Three other businesses caught in the Project Pau sting pleaded no contest yesterday to selling liquor to minors. Liliha Fish Market was fined $2,000 for a second violation, while Hobron Sundries & Gifts and Brudda's Market were fined $1,000 each.

In other action, the commission denied a request by Sin Hui Kim, owner of the Kapahulu Pantry, to reconsider a $2,000 fined issued in May after he was found guilty of selling alcohol to an 18-year-old man. The panel ruled that Kim failed to provide new evidence in the case.