Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 11, 1 November 1999 — DEVELOPING COMMUNITY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DEVELOPING COMMUNITY

Hawaiian business conference a boon to existing and potential operations

By Manu Boyd ON SEPT. 27, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs presented an unprecedented Native Hawaiian business conference at the Sheraton

Waikīkī. Nearly 150 Hawaiians were inundated with invaluable tips and ideas that, according to OHA Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Manager Kaulana Park, could generate substantial returns. Derek Kurisu, executive vice president of

the Hawai'i island-based KTA Super Stores ehain, told how the experienee gained from growing up in the sugar town of Hakalau affected his mega-successful Mountain Apple Brand label exclusive to his island. "Ho-hum doesn't cut it today. You

must distinguish yourself from the others. A successful business is about regular people doing extraordinary work," he said. Keynote remarks by businesswoman

Nālani Choy of NLP records inspired the luneh time audience. "Believe in those who believe in you," she said, "and surround yourselves with people who complement your weaknesses. If you are around people who try to pull you down, distance yourself for a while. You'll know it's time for change when the fear of staying the same is greater than the risk of change." In any business, you have to take the good with the bad. "During stagnation," remarked Kurisu, "a lot of bickering occurs. You need to focus on the customer, not on yourself. That's the time to pull together." ■

OHA's Kaulana Park, Myrna Junk and James Faumuina assisted in conference development.

ABOVE — Nathan Reyes (Matt's Transmission), Kathleen Thurston (Thurston Pacific), Wainwright Pī'ena (Kāpala 'Ahu), Betty Santos (Native Books) and Sandra Fujimoto (Flight School Hawai'i ine.) share their business philosophies at a panel presentation. BELOW — Derek Kurisu (KTA Super Stores), explains marketing strategies PHOTOS: MANU BOYD