By Staff Reports
(Wailuku)- The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Maui Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the nominees for the upcoming 2014 Mayor’s Small Business Awards, which will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the King Kamehameha Golf Club’s Waikapu Ballroom.
The nominees are as follows:
Annette Niles – Maui Mamaki Tea Company
Barbara Chung – Palapala Designs
Beth Ivey – Maui Friends of the Library
Bill and Maureen Marrs – Marmac Ace Hardware
Carlys Higuchi, Karsten Lee and Michael Leong of Maui Optix LLC
Chris Meyer – Meyer Computer, Inc.
Colin Hanlon – Boys & Girls Club Maui
Emily Sullivan – Maui Solar Project
Gigi Gaea – Hawaii Tasting Tours
Gregory Cabanas – Pacific Asphalt & Maintenance, Inc.
Dr. Guy Horie – Guy M Horie, DDS
Heidi Cramer – Maui Sweet Cakes LLC
James “Jason” Stenger Jr. – Alpha, Inc.
Jean Nakamura – Tom’s Mini Mart
Jennifer Brittin – Exceptional, Inc.
Jennifer Nguyen – A Saigon Café
Jenny Greene – Turn And Draw LLC
Jim and Rand Coon – Trilogy
Joel Kraus – Kihei-Wailea Medical Center
Joyce Kawakami – Feed My Sheep
Mary Tracy – Valley Isle Marine Center, Inc.
Matthias Garcia – Intense Motorsports Maui
Paul Tonnessen – Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui
Paula Ambre – The Maui Farm, Inc.
Ralph Giles – Catering from Soup to Nuts
Ronald A. Kawahara – Kawahara + Company, CPA’s LLC/Destination Maui, Inc.
Sandra Koga – S & J Bakery, Inc.
Suzette Kahana – B&S Kahana Corp. dba Kalapaki Girl Dezigns
Tarrah and Noa John Horner – iCandie & iCopie
Travis Morrin, Cody Christopher and Jaron Blosser – Three’s Bar & Grill
Wailani Tanaka – Something for Everybody
“This is an exceptional group of nominees, and all of them are worthy of an award,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “We owe a debt of gratitude to all of our small businesses owners who continue to provide jobs, purchase goods and services, and strengthen our economic environment.
“Small business is the number one economic engine in Maui County and we are fortunate to have so many of them making our economy stronger and more resilient, hence this year’s theme, ‘Strong Businesses, Strong Community.’”
This year, Mayor Arakawa will be giving out awards in seven categories:
Outstanding Business of the Year (0-10 employees)
Outstanding Business of the Year (11-35 employees)
Outstanding Business of the Year (36-100 employees)
Non-profit Business of the Year (100 or fewer employees)
Young Business Person of the Year (under 40 years of age)
Lifetime Achievement Award (20 or more years in business)
2014 Annette Pauole-Ahakuelo Moloka’i Small Business Achievement Award
A one-time addition to this year’s awards is the 2014 Annette Pauole-Ahakuelo Molokai Small Business Achievement Award. This honorary award recognizes a small business on Molokai that demonstrates the spirit of entrepreneurship and exemplifies many of Annette Pauole-Ahakuelo’s extraordinary attributes.
“It is important to recognize the tremendous contributions small businesses make to improve our economy, community and our quality of life,” said Pamela Tumpap, Maui Chamber of Commerce President. “We are pleased to have so many outstanding small businesses nominated for these prestigious awards, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements on February 26th, as well as honor a dynamic woman, Annette Pauole-Ahakuelo.”
The awards dinner is sponsored by Gold Sponsor Maui Electric Company, Silver Sponsor Akina Aloha, Bronze Sponsor First Hawaiian Bank, and Supporting Sponsors VIP Foodservice and Munekiyo & Hiraga, Inc.
Tickets for the event are $60 if purchased before February 21, 2014. After that, the price is $65 per person. Reservations can be made for the awards dinner by calling the Maui Chamber of Commerce at 244-0081 or sending an email to office@mauichamber.com.