Annual Mayor’s Small Business Awards Nominees Announced

The Maui Chamber of Commerce has announced nominees for the 2024 Mayor’s Small Business Awards, which will be held on Sept. 19.

All nominees and their nominators will be honored during an event on Thursday, Sept. 19 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the King Kamehameha Golf Club’s Waikapū Ballroom. Registration is required for this Academy Awards-style event honoring Maui small businesses. The community is invited to attend and celebrate their successes.

Tickets can be purchased at MauiChamber.com by clicking on the Events page. Enjoy a fun-filled night of networking, celebrating small businesses, making new contacts, with a phenomenal meal and cocktails for $90 per person on or before Sept. 4 and $110 thereafter. Refunds can be made available before Sept. 10. The winners will be announced at the event.

“We are thrilled to share the exceptional businesses nominated for this event,” said Maui Chamber President Pamela Tumpap. “After a difficult year, it is so important to recognize the outstanding small businesses in our community who go above and beyond. This award not only recognizes the difficult feat of running a small business, but also those who are providing amazing service, being innovative, and exemplifying the Aloha Spirit.”

The nominees for each category are as follows:

Exceptional Small Business of the Year (10 or fewer employees)

• Da Power Electric – Felipe Rodriguez Egana & Solange Dotro Gamboa
• Elly’s Bridal – Terri Ewbank
• Hawaiʻi Golf Equipment and Supplies – Art Rego
• Hawaiian Kingdom – Kaʻolu Kaialiilii
• Vitalitea Hawaiʻi – William Davis
• West Maui Sports & Fishing Supply – Katie & Lopaka Wilson

Exceptional Small Business of the Year (11 to 39 employees)

• Hāna and Beyond – Charlie Ahuna
• Hawaiʻi Pacific Solar – Bob Johnston
• Maui Classic Charters – Kevin Ford & Brennan Henders

Outstanding Nonprofit Business (100 or fewer employees)

• ProArts, Inc. – Lin McEwan
• Teran James Young Foundation – Genesis Young
• West Maui Improvement Foundation – Joe Pluta

Young Small Businessperson of the Year (Under the age of 40 as of Sept. 19, 2024)

• Bernardo A. Oao, Jr. – Oao Sushi
• Brittany C Smith – ZenSmith LLC
• Justin Yanagida – Yanagida Fitness
• Kama Homan – Ikaika Construction
• Kapena Au – Maui Traffic Control Services

Lifetime Achievement Award (for any business in Maui County for more than 20 years, with up to 100 employees)

• Valley Isle Excursions – Nichole Hutaff-Nakamura

The Mayor’s Small Business Awards recognizes outstanding businesses in our community that have 100 of fewer employees. Other criteria include
demonstrating business leadership in a changing economic environment, creating a quality work environment for their employees, exhibiting the Aloha
Spirit and exemplary customer service, developing partnerships with other sectors of the community, and showcasing other exceptional qualities or traits.

Organizers extended special thanks to the County of Maui Office of Economic Development for supporting this event and to sponsors: Gold Sponsor American Savings Bank and Silver Sponsor Southwest Airlines.

For more information and available sponsorships, please visit MauiChamber.com or contact the Maui Chamber of Commerce at 808-244-0081 or office@mauichamber.com.