Mayor Alan Arakawa's decision to not raise the cap of a dozen hostess bars allowed on Maui was a sound one.
According to a story in Monday's Maui News, the mayor signed off on administrative rules keeping the cap in place. In March, the Liquor Control Commission voted to do away with the ceiling.
The mayor has the last word on administrative rules and he decided keeping the cap in place was the right decision. We agree.
A spokesman for Arakawa said 10 to 12 letters had been received by the administration protesting the lifting of the cap. None had been received supporting eliminating the cap.
Arakawa had expressed his opposition even before the letters were received. A spokesman simply said, "Mayor Arakawa felt that removing the hostess bar cap was not the right thing to do for the community."
Frankly, we're not certain why lifting the cap was ever considered. As far as we know there has been no clamoring that more such bars are needed in Maui County.
If, as was suggested in the story, the limited number of such licenses artificially inflates their value, then so be it - that's capitalism. Congratulations to those who have one, too bad for those who want one.
But, there is absolutely no good reason to encourage more of these establishments. And, whether intended or not, that's what lifting the cap would do.
So congratulations, mayor, on a good decision.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
