MAUI HOSTS INAUGURAL KO’I AWARDS / AHU DEDICATION

The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce hosts its third annual Hui Holomua Business Fest this Friday at the Grand Wailea Resort.  The festivities also feature the inaugural Ko’i Award ceremony.  The day begins with the arrival of a fleet of canoes and ceremonial Hawaiian protocol at the beach fronting the hotel at dawn.  There will be a presentation of 12 pohaku (stones) representing the 12 moku or districts of Maui.

Keli'i Tau'a (seen in foreground) will Open the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce Event with a traditional blessing and dedication ceremony. File Photo by Wendy Osher.

The statewide Na Oiwi Olino radio program sponsored by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will take their program on location with Hosts Kimo Kahoano and Brickwood Galuteria.

Session topics will include discussion on Water, Housing, Ceded Lands and Ways to improve business in a down economy.

Featured speakers include John Duey, Yvonne Izu, Jonathan Scheuer, Jeff Eng, Rory Frampton, Jeff Hunt, Tom Cannon, Jeanne Skog, Micah Kane, Clyde Namuo, Paul Coleman and Charlie Maxwell.

The closing of the Business Fest will feature the 1st Annual Ko’i Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. at the Haleakala Grand Ballroom on the resort grounds. The organization is honoring exemplary members of the business community selected for their contributions to the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, its members, and the Hawaiian Community.

The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce adopted the “Ko’i” as a symbol of commerce and work ethic.

INAUGURAL KO’I AWARD HONOREES:

• Nainoa Thompson, Polynesian Voyaging Society-Hawai’i Loa
• Vaughn Vasconcellos, Akimeka LLC-Na Wai ‘Eha
• Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa-Kukulu
• Trustee Boyd P. Mossman, Office of Hawaiian Affiars-Pelekikena

The Business Fest is open to members, guests and the public. Seating is limited to the first 250 guests so make reservations.

(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce.  Further information can be found by visiting the following link:  http://www.mauihawaiianchamber.org/)