U.S. Small Business Administration Names Hawaii’s Best Small Businesses for 2008
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U. S. Small Business Administration is pleased to announce the Hawaii winners of the prestigious 2008 SBA Small Business Awards. Each year, SBA honors outstanding small business owners, entrepreneurs and advocates who best illustrate the important contributions of small business to the local economy and to our quality of life.
Over 30 outstanding business owners, advocates, and business leaders will be honored at the Annual Statewide SBA Small Business Awards Luncheon on April 30, 2008, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
The 2008 Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Hawaii is Beverly Gannon, the award winning chef and owner of Hali’imaile General Store and Joe’s Bar on Maui. Gannon joined the ranks of Hawaii’s entrepreneurs over 20 years ago with a catering business she started in her garage. While almost 60% of restaurants fail in the first few years, her creative style, determination, and commitment to excellence have allowed her company to thrive.
Today, Gannon directs a remarkably entrepreneurial culinary organization that provides jobs for 128 people and generates millions in annual revenues. She is now competing for the National title and will celebrate National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C. with the winners from the other 49 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Top small business owners were also selected to represent each county in the State.
Rozett’s Nursery in Hilo was named Small Business Person of the Year for Hawaii County.
On Oahu, the fast growing firm, WCIT Architecture, Inc. and Principals Robert Iopa, Mark Higa, Lawrence Cunha, Jr. and Daniel Kanekuni took the title in recognition of their innovative international projects.
Marynel Valenzuela, owner of Ink Spot Printing Corporation in Lihue, was chosen as the Small Business Person for Kauai in 2008.
The top performing small businesses and advocates who secured the State titles were also awarded four regional titles in competition with others from California, Arizona, Nevada The Region IX winners also enter into the national competition in their respective categories.
Johnson W. K. Choi garnered the Regional title as the Minority Small Business Champion for 2008 for his work with minority small business owners and export initiatives.
Bill Spencer, president of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association, was selected as the Financial Services Champion for Hawaii and Region IX for his efforts to increase access to capital for emerging businesses and support of legislation to help businesses grow and thrive in Hawaii.
Pamela Tumpap, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, added the Regional award to her State of Hawaii honors as the top Small Business Journalist for her active support of small business issues and work in several different media to increase awareness about the needs and contributions of small businesses.
David Fell, the State of Hawaii Small Business Exporter for 2008, was also recognized with the Region IX award. Fell owns Hawaiian Sunshine Nursery in Hilo.
Along with these noteworthy small businesses, other business owners and champions in nine different categories were also honored for their accomplishments and business acumen:
The Entrepreneurial Success Award is given to a company that started as a small business and, with assistance from SBA, has since grown into a successful large business:
State of Hawaii - Rex Matsuno, Suisan Company Limited in Hilo, HI
County Of Maui – Richard S. Ouye, Service Rentals and Supplies, Inc., in Kahului
The Family Owned Small Business Award recognizes a small business with at least a 15 year history that has been owned and operated by the family, creating jobs, increasing revenues and providing opportunities for other family members.
State of Hawaii – Jonathan Ota, Tip Top Café and Bakery in Lihue on Kauai.
County of Maui - Neal Hasegawa, Hasegawa General Store in Hana, Maui
County of Hawaii – Michael Tokunaga, S. Tokunaga Store in Hilo, HI
City and County of Honolulu – Roy & Kathy Sakuma, Roy Sakuma Productions & Ukulele Festivals Hawaii
The Small Business Exporter Award is presented to a small business that derives a significant portion of their sales from export outside the U.S. and is supportive of other efforts to export U.S. made products and services. In addition to Hawaiian Sunshine Nursery, other honorees include:
County of Kauai – Lori Cardenas, Aunty Lilikoi, LLC, in Waimea on Kauai
City and County of Honolulu – Allan Hornstein, Lenox Metals in Kapolei
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award identifies an individual who has successfully owned and operated a small business, increasing revenue, jobs, and demonstrating potential for long term success for at least three years before reaching the age of 30 at the time of the award.
State of Hawaii – Thomas Park, Leather Soul, in the Royal Hawaiian Center
City and County of Honolulu – Kimberly Nakasato, Nakasato Contracting, LLC.
County of Maui - Brennan Purtzer, Hawaii Pacific Media LLC, in Kaunakakai on Molokai
The Financial Services Champion Award is presented to those individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to increasing access to capital, reducing regulatory burdens and helping small businesses improve their financial conditions through assistance, legislative support and other advocacy.
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