Carol Yurth’s column is published every Sunday and spotlights activities on the Hilo-Hamakua coast. She welcomes items for her column. Reach her by mail (46-1240 Kalehua Road, Honokaa HI 96727) at least 10 days before the requested publication date, call
By CAROL YURTH
Hawaii Island was well represented at the recent 2012 Hawaii Business Magazine SmallBiz Success Awards. The Big Isle was the sole Neighbor Island boasting award finalists.
The Kohala Center was tapped for Best Small Nonprofit and the statewide Martin & MacArthur earned a Lifetime Achievement award.
Ke Ola magazine was chosen as one of three finalists for Best New Business while Kona Red was one of three finalists for Best New Innovation.
There were more than 100 statewide nominations in six categories: new business, community service, family owned, innovation, export-oriented and lifetime achievement. Winners were chosen by a panel of 10 judges representing a variety of business sectors.
West Hawaii Rep. Cindy Evans was present for the festivities along with Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz.
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Need help or working capital for your business? Discover what Small Business Administration programs and services can do for your small business success. Talk with experienced SBA personnel about special financing tools to help your business recover, reposition and grow.
Meet with qualified SBA & Express Lenders in Hilo from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, at Hawaii Small Business Development Center, 100 Pauahi St. Suite 109.
Loans of $5,000 to $500,000 may be available for your existing or start-up business with your good personal credit. Take advantage of SBA’s Export, Patriot and SBA Express loans to move your business forward.
Hawaii SBDC, SBA-approved resource partner, will have a consultant offer free, confidential 30-minute consultations to help take your business to the next level.
For an appointment call SBA on Oahu at 541-2990, ext. 211. You can also visit www.sba.gov/hi and view the events calendar to get to the registration link.
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The recent 80-acre fire which caused evacuations in Waikoloa has prompted Waimea Community Association to schedule a FireWise program presentation at its 5:15 p.m., Thursday, March 1, town meeting in Waimea School Cafeteria.
FireWise teaches communities how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourage neighbors to work together to prevent losses. Given the very real danger throughout South Kohala due to the ongoing drought and high winds, WCA President Sherman Warner has invited Denise Laitinen to do a presentation. She will be joined by Fire Department Captain John Whitman.
FireWise is a program co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the National Association of State Foresters. It is premised on the belief that brush, grass or forest fires don’t have to be disasters. The National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise Communities program encourages local solutions for wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others in the effort to protect people and property from wildfire risks.
NFPA’s FireWise communities embrace the approach that everyone has a role to play in protecting ourselves and each other from the risk of wildfire.
Many Hawaii Island communities and neighborhoods have participated in FireWise training. Click this link to see how Kohala by the Sea became the first community in the state of Hawaii to achieve Firewise Communities/USA status. As always, everyone is welcome to attend WCA town meetings and there are no longer membership dues. Instead, voluntary donations are encouraged to support WCA’s activities including an informative community website.
All who attend WCA monthly town meetings are asked to help continue the association’s commitment to help Waimea’s food pantries by bringing a donation, preferably cash or a check, or nonperishable food items. Cash or checks are given to the Waimea pantries to purchase foods or gift certificates from Waimea grocery stores and farmers markets so that recipients are able to buy fresh items such as vegetables, fruit and milk as well as other essentials. Checks may be payable directly to a food pantry so the donation is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
WCA’s monthly collection drive resulted in the organization contributing more than $3,000 to Annunciation Catholic Church’s Food Pantry for 2011.
As usual, Starbucks-Waimea will again contribute hot coffee to the meeting, and WCA officers urge those enjoying it to express their gratitude by making a donation on the spot to the food pantry collection drive. For information, call WCA President Sherman Warner at 885-1725.
Carol Yurth’s column is published every Sunday and spotlights activities on the Hilo-Hamakua coast. She welcomes items for her column. Reach her by mail (46-1240 Kalehua Road, Honokaa HI 96727) at least 10 days before the requested publication date, call her at 775-7101, or e-mail waiukahe@interpac.net.
