Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 6, 1 June 2012 — SBA awards luneheon recognizes 3 Mālama Loan recipients [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SBA awards luneheon recognizes 3 Mālama Loan recipients

By Lisa Asato Three business recipients of OHA's Mālama Loan have been recognized for excellence by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The awards were given at the 25th annual statewide SB A Awards Luneheon May 9 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom, whieh hailed lenders, advocates and business owners in 16 categories, including SBA Family-Owned Business of the Year, Lending Officers of the Year, Financial Services Champion of the Year and Small Business Person of the Year. Among the winners were three Native Hawaiian-owned businesses that have benefited from OHA's Mālama Loan. All three are owned by women. They are: » Kalaka Nui Ine., a 24-year-old trucking company with expertise in demolition and civil site work, was

recognized as part of the Administrator's Awards for Excellence in Contracting. Owned by Nowel Dudoit-Alana, the company, whieh does work for the federal government, was named Small Business Subcontractor of the Year. » Malia Sanchez of Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy won for Women In Business Champion of the Year for the City and County of Honolulu. Her Hawaiian culture-based estheticians' school, established in 2007 in Honolulu, offers training for those wanting to work in Hawai'i's spa industry. » Jeni Ka'ohelauli'i of Work It Out won for SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Kaua'i County. Her store, whieh opened in summer 2008 in Kapa'a, sells exercise clothing, shoes and accessories. Hosted by SBA partner SCORE, or Service Corps of Retired Executives, the luneheon also featured a business expo for awardees to showcase their products and ser-

vices. SBA Hawai'i Office district director Jane Sawyer, who presented the awards, called small businesses crueial "to our community and to the lifeblood of Hawai'i." "They are job creation," she said. "They are innovation. ... They're really what makes the difference in our quality of life." ■

ŪHA Mālama Loan 0HA's Mālama Loan features a 4% fixed-interest rate and seven-yearterm, upto $100,000. 0HA's Mālama Loan may be used for business startup or expansion, a home improvement project, education or debt consolidation. For more information, contact Robert Crowell at (808) 5941924 or email robertc@oha.org

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OHA Mūlama Loan technical assistance specialist Robert Crowell, left; with Malia Sanchez of Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy; Dana Hauanio, director of the Minority Business Development Agency Business Center, who was named Minority Small Business Champion of the Year; Nowel Dudoit-Alana of Kalaka Nui ine.; and Jeni Ka'ohelauli'i of Work lt Out. - Photo: UsaAsato