Hawaii liquor commissioner, 54, is forced to resign 'after using her ID to drunkenly barge her way into nightclub before threatening to close it down after staff refused to serve her more booze'

A liquor commissioner has resigned in disgrace after drunkenly flashing her badge to get into a nightclub and threatening to shut it down.

Lisa Martin, vice-chairwoman of the Honolulu Liquor Commission, stepped down on Monday after bar staff called police when she refused to leave.

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

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

Lisa Martin (pictured left with her ex-partner Vicky Kenyon) stepped down as vice-chairwoman of the Honolulu Liquor Commission after bar staff called police when she refused to leave

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

'[Martin said] she will close the bar down because she can do anything she wants with the badge. She threatened to close down the bay, and I would lose my job,' an employee told police in a report obtained by Hawaii News.

Staff took a photo of her official ID and she snapped shots of their liquor commission cards, and still refused to leave so they called police.

'I smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from (her)... I told her she's not supposed to do her job drunk,' the responding officer wrote in the report.

Martin finally left with her friend after police arrived. The report was compiled as a record of the incident and Martin was not charged with a crime.

Liquor commissioners are not supposed to inspect venues or do any other kind of field work, which is done by professional inspectors.

Martin was quickly forced to quit and Mayor Rick Blangiardi accepted her resignation letter.

'I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you and Managing Director [Mike] Formby today regarding my sincere desire to continue serving,' it read.

Martin arrived at Playbar Nightclub (pictured) in Waikiki in the early hours of 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 claims the commission was harassing gay bars

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 accountability of the Honolulu Liquor Commission counsel my resignation at this time.' 

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

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

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

Martin's day job is as a bookkeeper and she is chairwoman 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 of and was included in the police report

A meeting of the Honolulu Liquor Commission announcing she had resigned

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

She is originally from central Illinois and worked for five years at the parent company of the Chicago Blackhawks NHL team.

She now 'feels very fortunate to live in this beautiful corner of the world, escaping Chicago winters'. 

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

'Mayor Blangiardi is saddened by events which were inconsistent with Ms Martin's desire and commitment to serve the residents of Honolulu as a member of the Honolulu Liquor Commission,' his office said.