Hawaii Export Awards
Exporters often aren’t recognized in their communities, but we made a good stab at changing that yesterday in the office of Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle. In our local celebration of World Trade Week, nine Hawaii companies received awards, lei and certificates from the Governor – recognizing their expertise and success in international business.
I was on hand as chairman of the Hawaii Pacific Export Council (HPEC), a volunteer group appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to advise the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Honolulu and to promote exporting from Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Marianas and American Samoa. Several of our HPEC members attended to cheer on the winners. And two of our HPEC members were winners themselves.
The first three awards were presented by the Small Business Administration to the three Hawaii SBA Exporters of the Year. Baldridge & Associates is an engineering company that is doing plenty of work in the Middle East. PR Tech was recognized for their success in attracting tourists to Hawaii, especially from Asian markets. Tradewinds Global is a quickly growing export management firm (whose CEO, Kevin Kraft, is also an HPEC member). Beth Tokioka of the Kauai Mayor’s office was also recognized for her support of exports.
They are all winners! (photo: Johnson Choi)
While the SBA awards tend to go to established exporters, the Commerce Department’s Export Achievement certificates often go to newer, less experienced companies that make the break into international marketing – or to experienced firms that move into new markets.
Cyanotech is a world leader in microalgae technology that produces and distributes nutritional supplements from the Big Island. Cyanotech exports its nutritional products to over 40 countries worldwide and received this award for breaking into the Indian market. I took pride in this one; Cyanotech was one of my clients when they first started exporting.
Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company produces roasted and flavored macadamia nuts on the Big Island, but – until recently – most have been sold here in Hawaii (where else could you sell Spam-flavored macadamia nuts?). But with help from the U.S. Commerce Department, the State of Hawaii and the Hawaii Pacific Export Council, Hamakua exhibited in a food products show in Hong Kong, signed a distributor, and has been accelerating sales to Hong Kong ever since. Hamakua’s CEO, Richard Schnitzler, is yet another HPEC member.
Hawaiian Island Shine manufactures quality care auto products. Commerce’s Export Assistance Center in Honolulu collaborated with the State of Hawaii to help the company secure their first international distribution partnership with a major retail chain in Latin America. The company is now exporting to five countries in Latin America.
Maui Babe manufactures skin care and sun protection products on Maui. Using the services of the Hawaii Export Assistance Center, Maui Babe signed up a distributor in Australia who also covers sales to New Zealand.
Noni Biotech International is a grower, manufacturer and distributor of juices and skin care products derived from the noni fruit. The Hawaii Export Assistance Center provided support for Noni Biotech that allowed the company to make its first sale of a container to a new distributor in South Korea.
Honua Technologies is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of high-temperature, environmentally safe medical and bio-hazardous waste destruction and treatment systems. The Commercial Service offices in Hawaii, Hong Kong and China supported Honua Technologies’ participation in several trade shows while introducing the company to potential partners. These efforts led to large sales of steam sterilizers and ancillary equipment for projects in China.
Congratulations to all of these companies, who have shown that it can be done no matter where you are or how small you might be. And all I did was hand out some lei.
