LIHU‘E — A bill that would demand a written definition of dancing by each county’s Liquor Commission has stepped up in the Legislature. HB 1339 passed on Tuesday the House Judiciary Committee, beating by three days a deadline to be
LIHU‘E — A bill that would demand a written definition of dancing by each county’s Liquor Commission has stepped up in the Legislature.
HB 1339 passed on Tuesday the House Judiciary Committee, beating by three days a deadline to be heard by all referred committees. Next week the bill will cross over to the Senate, where it may be worked on a little further.
Each county has its own rules regarding dancing in establishments serving alcohol. On Kaua‘i a license is required, and it doesn’t cost any extra. But an establishment needs to have a dancing floor free of tables and chairs, measuring at least 150 square feet, according to the Kaua‘i Liquor Commission rules.
However, the rules do not specify what dancing is.
Just like a dancer once said, “You can’t make a pointe if you don’t understand the details.”
The bill was introduce after a group of Maui residents complained that patrons were being harassed and thrown out of establishments for simply bobbing their heads or tapping their feet outside the designated dancing area. On Maui the required dance floor is only 100 square feet.
If passed, the Kaua‘i Liquor Commission would have to define in its rules what is dancing, something not even dance professionals were able to explain objectively when asked about it last month.
Department of Liquor Control Director Eric Honma said last month that if the bill passes he will suggest a definition straight out of the dictionary.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ kauaipubco.com.
