Nominees for 2014 Mayor’s Small Business Awards Revealed

2013 Exceptional Small Business (10 or fewer employees)
Paris Nabayi (Cilantro Mexican Grill)

By Maui Now Staff

Nominees for the upcoming 2014 Mayor’s Small Business Awards were announced today.

A total of 29 nominees were identified in a joint announcement from the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce including the following individuals and companies:

• 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 Cafe
• Jim and Rand Coon – Trilogy
• 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 Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa in a press release statement.  “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,” he said.

Mayor Arakawa called small businesses “the number one economic engine in Maui County,” and are fortunate to have them contributing to a stronger and more resilient economy.

Maui Chamber of Commerce President Pamela Tumpap also commented saying, “It is important to recognize the tremendous contributions small businesses make to improve our economy, community and our quality of life.”

Awards will be given out in seven categories including three awards for Outstanding Business of the year with 0-10, 11-35, and 26-100 employees; a non-profit Business of the Year with 100 or fewer employees; a Young Business Person of the Year; a Lifetime Achievement Award; and a 2014 Molokaʻi Small Business Achievement Award.

The event is scheduled to take place between 6 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the King Kamehameha Golf Club, Waikapū Ballroom.

Tickets are $60 if purchased before Feb. 21, 2014, or $65 per person after that date has passed.  Reservations can be made by calling the Maui Chamber of Commerce at 244-0081 or send an email to [email protected].