SBA Award Winners to Be Honored at Maui Chamber Event

By Sonia Isotov

Yesterday, the U. S. Small Business Administration Hawaii District Office announced the 2011 winners of the prestigious SBA Small Business Awards.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce and American Savings Bank invites the public to join them in honoring Maui County awardees at their Annual Economic Update Luncheon and SBA Awards presentation on Friday, April 8, 2011.

Jane Sawyer, SBA Hawaii District Director. Photo courtesy of SBA Hawaii.

“We are very pleased to announce the 2011 SBA Small Business Award winners from across the State of Hawaii!”, said Jane Sawyer, SBA Hawaii District Director, in a written statement yesterday. “ The SBA honors 26 small business owners, entrepreneurs and advocates who have made outstanding contributions to our state’s economy and serve as inspiration to so many for their staying power, response to adversity, unwavering support and advocacy for small business, job creation, innovation and more!”

Maui County winners and their categories of achievement are as follows:

Maui County 2011 Small Person of the Year went to Da Kitchen owners, Mariah Brown and Les Tomita, Restaurant Destinations, Inc. dba Da Kitchen for demonstrating business acumen, tenacity and achievement, particularly in the face of adversity, and for excelling in their industry. 

State of Hawaii Small Business Exporter Award went to Joseph Rossi, President & Owner of Maui Babe, Inc. in Wailuku, Maui. Winners in this category had a significant portion of their sales from export outside the U.S. and are also supportive of other efforts to export U.S. made products and services. 

Maui County Family Owned Small Business Award went to Curtis Takaoka, second generation owner of Tasty Crust, Inc., a restaurant located in Wailuku. Businesses in this category must be in business for at least a 15 year history and be owned and operated by the family.

Maui County Minority Small Business Champion went to Kai Pelayo with the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber and the Grand Wailea Resort. Winners in this category have shown selfless assistance and support to minority entrepreneurs and business owners. 

The statewide 2011 Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Hawaii honors went to Waipahu based Bowers + Kubota Consulting, Inc.  Brian Bowers and Dexter Kubota developed their veteran-owned architectural/engineering firm into a high performing consulting group specializing in construction management, program management and project development from preliminary analysis through complete design through the Pacific Islands.

Bowers and Kubota will go on to represent Hawaii in the competition for the National Small Business Person of the Year title at the celebration of National Small Business Week in May in Washington, D.C. with winners from the other 49 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.

The 2011 SBA Small Business Award winners will also be honored on O`ahu at the 24th Annual Statewide SBA Small Business Awards Luncheon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Friday, April 29, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the luncheon will also feature the “Winner’s Circle,” a special business expo for award winners to showcase their products and services. Tickets to this inspiring awards event will be available for purchase soon from The Chamber of Commerce at www.cochawaii.org .

For more information on the SBA Awards, call the Hawaii District Office at (808) 541-2990.