LIHU‘E — Po‘ipu residents soon will have another option for live sports, beer and food. Kalapaki Joe’s is scheduled to open the doors of its new branch in Po‘ipu in a little over a week.
The Kaua‘i Liquor Commission on Thursday granted the new restaurant a live entertainment and dancing license. Kalapaki Joe’s in Nawiliwili has been operating for over two years.
Jody Valente’s efforts in opening a new branch, however, met some considerable opposition from residents across from where his new business is located.
Kalapaki Joe’s in Po‘ipu sits where the Po‘ipu Beach Broiler used to be. The building has been there since 1981, and many locals still remember when the House of Seafood operated there.
The building is approximately a quarter mile before the Grand Hyatt resort, and it faces a condominium called Kahala. Several elder residents of the condominium testified against the license.
One by one, the senior citizens showed concern that the patrons of the sports bar would make too much noise.
“Kalapaki Joe’s creates an atmosphere of excitement,” Kahala resident Burton Weitzman said.
Some of the residents were so concerned that at least three of them drove to Kalapaki Joe’s in Nawiliwili during the last MMA fight to check out the noise level.
“We could hear the roar of the crowd,” Dwayne Hoefer said, adding that he parked across the parking lot, and his meter read 65 to 70 decibels.
County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask said the law allows a maximum of 60 decibels between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Valente reached a written compromise with the Kahala residents’ association. The Liquor Commission added the compromise as a condition in the permit, and the license was approved.
Kalapaki Joe’s will have live music, but it will stop at 8 p.m. The bar and restaurant can only feature Hawaiian style music, with only ‘ukulele, acoustic guitar and bass allowed. Reggae falls into that category, but no rock’n’roll will be allowed.
Kalapaki Joe’s, Po‘ipu is located at 1941 Po‘ipu Rd.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
