Mayor’s Small Business Award Nominees Announced

Mayor Alan Arakawa. Photo courtesy, County of Maui.

By Maui Now Staff

The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Maui Chamber of Commerce have announced the nominees for the upcoming 2015 Mayor’s Small Business Awards. A presentation ceremony will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, at 6 p.m. at the King Kamehameha Golf Club’s Waikapū Ballroom.

The nominees are:

Exceptional Small Business of the Year, up to 10 Employees

• Calasa Trucking LLC – Herman J. Calasa, Jr.
• Catering From Soup to Nuts & Vineyard Food Company – Ralph A. Giles and Daniel J. Southmayd
• Hawaiian Paddle Sports LLC – Tim Lara
• Hawai‘i Tasting Tours – Gigi Gaea
• Island Independence LLC – Gabriel Krueger
• Maui Sunseeker LLC – Chuck Spence
  
• Maui Recycling Service – Shaun Stenshol
  
• The Maui Mama News LLC – Kate Griffiths
  
• The Moloka‘i Dispatch Inc. – Todd Yamashita and Phil Pendergraft
• West Maui Sailing School – Charles “Chuck” Johnson

Exceptional Small Business of the Year, 11 to 35 Employees

• Gammie Home Care – Paul and Nancy Gammie
• Harmer Radio and Electronics Inc. – Mark E. Harmer
• Management Consultants of Hawai‘i Inc. – David Ferguson
• Maui Office Machines – Karin Felker Harris
  
• Rawlins Enterprises Inc. – Shirley Rawlins
  
• The Breakfast Caffe – Barry Allison
  
• The Lavender Farm Inc., dba Ali‘i Kula Lavender – Forest Koa Chang
  
• WA Taylor & Associates Inc., dba Kula Hardware & Nursery – Walter A. Taylor
  
• Wailuku Coffee Company Inc. – Megan Kanekoa and Jackie Goring

Exceptional Small Business of the Year, 36 to 100 Employees

• Maui Gold Pineapple Company – Darren Strand and Rodrigo Balala

Young Small Business Person of the Year

• Kate Griffiths – The Mauimama Magazine
• Tim Lara – Hawaiian Paddle Sports LLC
• Ginni Madsen – The Maui Mortgage Team

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Jennifer Brittin-Fulton – Exceptional Inc. dba Employers Options Maui
• Marco DeFanis – Marco’s Grill & Deli
• Tina Garzero – Midwife
• Jimmy McLemore – Jimmy Mac and the Kool Kats

Outstanding Nonprofit Business

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui – Kelly Pearson, CEO
• Feed My Sheep – Joyce Kawakami, CEO and Founder
• Lāna‘i Community Health Center – Diana Shaw, Executive Director
• Na Hoaloha – Candice Carter, Executive Director
• Maui Arts & Cultural Center – Art Vento, President and CEO
• Maui County Composite Squadron – Civil Air Patrol – 1st Lt. Chantal Lonergan, Commander

“Small businesses are at the heart of our economy in Maui County and it is important to recognize all they do to strengthen our community,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “Each of the businesses nominated have demonstrated excellence on many levels, and I am honored to have the opportunity to congratulate them for their many achievements.”

American Savings Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union, Employers Options and Maui Electric Company are sponsoring the awards dinner.

Tickets are $60 if purchased by noon on Tuesday, Feb. 24. After that, the price is $65 per person.

Reservations can be made for the  dinner by calling the Maui Chamber of Commerce at 244-0081 or by email to [email protected].