Liquor commission renews license of Kailua hostess bar
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Honolulu Liquor Commission last night renewed the license of a Kailua hostess bar after more than 2 1/2 hours of conflicting testimony, which characterized the establishment as either a haven for drug activity and prostitution or a neighborhood watering hole operated by an angel.
The commission rejected a petition to deny the license renewal for Porky's Sports Pub & Grill at 32 Maluniu Ave. The request was submitted by the liquor administrator after complaints from some Kailua residents that Porky's was a magnet for drug dealers and violent behavior.
But after listening to nearly two dozen people, the commission voted 4-0 to grant the license renewal effective July 1, subject to review after three months and six months.
Porky's owner Kathy Ogata said she was happy with the commission's actions, but was angered by the six people, including a police officer and a pastor, who testified against her business.
"What they said hurt me. The pastor is supposed to be God's messenger; I believe in God, and he lied under oath to the commissioners," Ogata said.
Pastor J.D. Farag had testified that he and his family moved behind Porky's last December and he presented the commission with what he called a "grocery list" of problems at the bar. Farag said there are frequent fights, racing and sexual activity associated with Porky's.
"It makes for an uncomfortable family dynamic," Farag said.
Also testifying against the license renewal were Pohai Ryan, executive director of the Kailua Chamber of Commerce; Faith Evans, member of the Kailua Neighborhood Board; and Sgt. Wayne Fernandez of the Kailua police substation. Evans pointed to 83 calls to police regarding Porky's in the past 14 months and said that showed the establishment was a problem.
Fernandez told the commission that Porky's has the "potential" for trouble and he referred to a shooting outside the bar last October in which a 16-year-old boy was wounded after an argument that began in the bar.
But more than a dozen people spoke in support of Ogata, calling her an honest person and an outstanding business owner.
Jack Snyder, an HPD detective who spoke as a private citizen, said he often sees Ogata at church.
"I've known Kathy for quite a long time and she's always had high moral values," said Snyder, who said he goes to Porky's about once a month. "When I go to the bar, I never have any problems there. I haven't seen anything wrong, nothing illegal going on."
Two former police officers came to Ogata's defense. Arthur Victorino said he used to go to Porky's when it was in Pearl City and said he and his wife are "good friends" with Ogata.
"I find her to be an extremely honest person," Victorino said. "She runs a nice shop."
In other action, the commission renewed the license for New Pacific Inc., which does business as Pachinko Karaoke/Venus Night Club on Kona Street. A settlement was reached with club owners who agreed to close the Pachinko side of the business. They also agreed to a one-year probation and to transfer the license to new owners within 60 days.
Yesterday's commission meeting was the first since its chairman John Spierling died June 19. The commissioners held a moment of silence for Spierling, whose name plate remained on the table and his chair was adorned by a black ribbon.
