The success of Hawaii’s small businesses is vital to the overall health of our economy.
Central Pacific Bank understands how important this relationship is. Recently, an impressive total of nine small business leaders nominated by the bank were recognized as 2007 Small Business Administration Small Business Award Winners.
Five of those nominations were recognized as State finalists.
They were:
2007 Small Business Person of the Year - Malcolm Koga & Glenn Nohara, Koga Engineering. Koga Engineering & Construction, Inc. is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii with operations also on Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii. It presently employs over 100 people. Founded in 1973, Koga Engineering is licensed in the State of Hawaii to do both A-General Engineering and B-General Building construction work. However, the company concentrates primarily on engineering type projects involving excavation, utilities and roadwork. Koga Engineering specializes in site preparation for general building contractors. Its scope of work typically involves site grading, foundation excavation, earth retention, dewatering, subgrade preparation and site utilities. Customers include governmental agencies (Federal, State and County), private developers, municipalities and private industry. The company vision is “Think Sitework…Say Koga!”
Malcolm Koga
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Glenn Nohara |
Small Business Journalist - Evan & Kari Leong, Greater Good Radio. This husband-wife tandem created Greater Good Radio and Greater Good TV to expand on the traditional formula for business success to incorporate the concept of “social entrepreneurship.” This powerful message – that businesses will find most prosperity when considering and prioritizing the needs of the community in making business decisions and not just the bottom line, has established the groundwork for future success of other entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Evan and Kari Leong
Financial Services Champion - Brian Iwata, CPA, Taketa, Iwata, Hara & Associates. For many years, the CPA has been America’s most trusted business advisor. Brian M. Iwata intends to keep it that way by being hard-working, community-minded, devoted, committed and innovative. On August 1, 1983, Brian along with two partners formed a new partnership called Taketa, Iwata, Hara & Associates, LLC after the closing of the nationally-known accounting firm Peat, Marwick, Mitchel & Company. Together the partners, as trusted business advisors, have continued to develop the practice to meet the needs of their clients.
Brian Iwata
Minority Small Business Champion - Dr. Tin Myaing Thein, Pacific Gateway Center. For over 25 years, Dr. Tin Myaing Thein has served national and international communities as a strong advocate of minority small business. Born and raised in Myanmar (Burma), Dr. Thein knows the obstacles and communication barriers which immigrants are often faced with. She also knows the challenges involved when immigrants attempt to start their own businesses. Today, as the Executive Director of the Pacific Gateway Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dr. Thein is dedicated, passionate, and committed to assisting low income and disadvantaged minority individuals to realize their dreams of starting their own businesses.
Dr. Tin Myaing Thein
Family-owned Small Business - Alvin Makimoto, Uptown Food Mart & Car Wash. In 1953, a young mechanic named Frank Makimoto used his savings and borrowed monies from relatives to purchase a service station. He named the company Uptown Service for its location in “Uptown” Wailuku on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Frank managed Uptown Service until he was diagnosed with cancer in 1989. Frank’s son Alvin left a career in the computer industry to help run the family business. Alvin’s observations of the day-to-day operations confirmed his belief that the station needed to change. He reconfigured the business plan, to include a convenience store, kitchen and a car wash to better serve his customers and a growing community.
Alvin Makimoto
Central Pacific Bank also nominated four County Winners. They were:
Family-owned Small Business, City and County of Honolulu – Alan Young, Young’s Fish Market
Women in Business Champion, City and County of Honolulu – Piia Aarma, Pineapple Tweed
Home Based Business Champion, County of Maui – Susan H. Kim, Susan Kim Coaching, LLC
SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year, County of Hawaii - Zendo N.M.N. Kern, Superior Development Group, LLC
Congratulations to all winners and nominators for a job well done!
For the third year in a row, the U.S. Small Business Administration named Central Pacific Bank SBA Lender of the Year for providing more SBA loans than any other community bank (Category II) in Hawaii. Central Pacific Bank Vice President and Business Banking Officer Naomi Masuno, has been named the Small Business Administration’s 2006 Lending Officer of the Year.
Central Pacific Bank continually strives to serve Hawaii’s business community, especially in market segments that are identified to be underserved. As a result, in June 2004, Central Pacific Bank was the first local bank in Hawaii to be approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for its CommunityExpress SBA Loan Program developed especially for women, ethnic minorities, Low-Moderate Income areas and HUBZones.
The bank also recognizes and applauds the tremendous impact women in business have on our economy and our community, and are dedicated to helping them succeed in both their professional and personal lives. That’s why they created Women’s Business Central, which empowers Hawaii’s women business owners and professionals by providing valuable information, education, resources and networking opportunities.
For more information about Central Pacific Bank’s products and services, visit www.centralpacificbank.com.
