Hawaii’s 54-year-old liquor commissioner is being forced to resign ‘after using her ID to drunkenly storm into a nightclub before threatening to close it down after staff refused to serve her any more booze’

A liquor commissioner has resigned in disgrace after drunkenly waving her badge to enter a nightclub and threatening to close it down.

Lisa Martin, vice chair of the Honolulu Liquor Commission, resigned Monday after bar staff called the police when she refused to leave.

The 54-year-old arrived at the Playbar nightclub in Waikiki early Saturday morning and used her badge to get her and a friend inside.

The bar staff quickly decided they were too drunk and confronted them, but Martin tried to use her position to intimidate them.

Martin, who moved to the island from the US mainland in 2021, was only appointed on December 6 as part of an effort to get more LQBTQ commissioners

‘(Martin said) she’s going to close the bar because she can do whatever she wants with the badge. She threatened to close the bay and I would lose my job,” an employee told police in a report obtained by Hawaii news.

The staff took a photo of her official ID and she took photos of their liquor commission cards but still refused to leave so they called the police.

“I smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from (her)… I told her she should not be doing her job drunk,” the responding officer wrote in the report.

Martin eventually left with her friend after police arrived. The report was prepared as an account of the incident and Martin was not charged with a crime.

Liquor commissioners are not supposed to inspect locations 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 her letter of resignation.

“I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you and General Manager (Mike) Formby today about my sincere desire to continue to serve,” it said.

Martin arrived at the Playbar Nightclub (pictured) in Waikiki early Saturday morning and used her badge to get her and a friend inside

Honolulu appointed Martin to the voluntary position, along with another new member, after he alleged the commission was harassing gay bars

The bar staff quickly decided they were too drunk and confronted them, but Martin allegedly tried to use her position to intimidate them, they told police as recorded in this report.

“However, I also understand my unwavering commitment to the accountability of the Honolulu Liquor Commission and my resignation at this time.”

Martin, who moved to the island from the US mainland in 2021, was only appointed on December 6 as part of an effort to get more LQBTQ commissioners.

Honolulu appointed Martin to the voluntary position, along with another new member, after he alleged the commission was harassing gay bars.

She told Hawaii News that she “wanted to do so many good things in the process.”

Martin’s day job is a bookkeeper and she is chair of the Queer Women’s Initiatives at the Hawai’i LGBT Legacy Foundation.

A photo of Martin’s liquor commission badge staff took a photo and was included in the police report

A Honolulu Liquor Commission meeting announcing her resignation

Martin’s day job is a bookkeeper and she is chair of the Queer Women’s Initiatives at the Hawai’i LGBT Legacy Foundation

Originally from central Illinois, she worked for the parent company of the Chicago Blackhawks NHL team for five years.

She now “feels very lucky to be able to live in this beautiful corner of the world and escape the Chicago winters.”

Mayor Blangiardi said he appreciated Martin accepting responsibility for her personal conduct.

“Mayor Blangiardi is saddened by events that are inconsistent with Ms. Martin’s desire and commitment to serve the people of Honolulu as a member of the Honolulu Liquor Commission,” his office said.