New Director Named for County Liquor Control, Local Oversight Continues

The County of Hawaiʻi has appointed Stacie Waltjen as director of the Department of Liquor Control, the county announced on Dec. 29. The County Liquor Commission interviewed and vetted applicants before approving Waltjen, and her appointment will take effect on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

The department oversees the manufacture, importation, sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor and ensures compliance with state and county laws. The director is responsible for day to day oversight of licensing and enforcement functions that affect bars, restaurants, retail sellers and community events across the island. For residents and local businesses, administrative consistency at the department can influence the pace of license processing, enforcement priorities and coordination with law enforcement and public health partners.

Waltjen has worked in the department since 2017, serving as a liquor licensing officer and liquor licensing technician. She previously served as executive secretary to the managing director and to the deputy managing director from 2014 to 2016. Waltjen began her county career in 2005 at the Office of the Corporation Counsel, where she worked as a legal technician and legal clerk. That institutional experience gives her direct familiarity with county procedures, regulatory requirements and the practical challenges licensees face.

Waltjen succeeds Gerald Takase, who retired after a career spanning 41 years with the county. Takase became liquor control director in 2011 and held roles including deputy prosecuting attorney and deputy director of public works. His tenure oversaw numerous shifts in liquor regulation and enforcement across changing economic and tourism cycles.

For the island community, the transition will be closely watched by hospitality businesses preparing for the new year and by residents concerned with public safety during gatherings and festivals. Continuity in leadership at the Department of Liquor Control seeks to balance community traditions and hospitality with enforcement of state and county law, and to provide town level responsiveness on licensing matters as the county moves into 2026.