The late Douglas Wayne "Butch" Akina and his wife, Sandra Akina, of Akina Aloha Tours were honored last month with the lifetime achievement award at the 2013 Mayor’s Small Business Awards on Maui.
The Feb. 21 ceremony at the King Kamehameha Golf Club Waikapu Ballroom was organized by Mayor Alan Arakawa and the Maui Chamber of Commerce.
Douglas Akina of Kihei died Feb. 5 at age 69. He and his wife began operating Akina Aloha Tours in 1988. The family also operates Akina Bus Service.
"Small business is Maui County’s most important economic engine, and we should never forget the sacrifices that business owners make every day to keep their businesses operating," Arakawa said in a news release. "They take on risk, work long hours, and put their personal assets on the line while providing jobs, services and goods to our community. We are fortunate to have such a strong small business community in Maui County and are privileged to honor them."
Others recognized at the ceremony were:
Young Small Business Person of the Year: David "Boze" Kapoi, Pride Ink.
Exceptional Small Business (10 or fewer employees): Paris Nababi, Cilantro Mexican Grill.
Exceptional Small Business (11-25 employees): David and Ululani Yamashiro, Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice.
Exceptional Small Business (26-50 employees): Daniel Boren, Skyline Eco-Adventures.
Outstanding Nonprofit Business: Habitat for Humanity Maui.
Other awards:
» Tripler Army Medical Center has been named a top Psychologically Healthy Workplace for 2013 by the American Psychological Association.
Tripler is the first organization in the Department of Defense to receive the national award since the program began in 2006.
The association recognizes four organizations each year. Tripler won in the government/military/educational institution category.
"At Tripler, we are dedicated to making this hospital and its clinics the best and healthiest workplace possible," Brig. Gen. Dennis Doyle, commander of the Pacific Regional Medical Command and Tripler Army Medical Center, said in a statement. "To achieve and maintain that reputation, the staff takes care of each other."
The association said programs and services that make Tripler an employee-friendly workplace include employee fitness rooms, resiliency classes, on-site day care, numerous training opportunities and benefits such as tuition reimbursement, which are available to its more than 4,000 uniformed and civilian employees.
» The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation awarded more than $10,000 in cash and prizes to 65 students who submitted winning videos, essays and posters for the third annual "Inspired in Hawaii" contest.
Hawaii students in grades K-12 were invited to submit entries identifying a problem in Hawaii and offering a thoughtful solution to the problem. The statewide contest attracted 614 students from 35 schools.
Here are the top winners:
» Video — first place: Waianae High, "Live T.R.A.C.K." (Shiloh Bonilla, Keanu Lynn-Goodwin, Austin Kaulia, Jeremiah Talbert, Kerstye Kau, Kawika Telles). Second place: Mililani High, "One Individual (Touch)" (Rachel Reichard). Third place: Roosevelt High, "Do Your Part" (Kaila Foltz).
» Essay — 12th grade: Sarah Vinluan, Sacred Hearts Academy, "Taking the First Steps." 11th grade: Matthew Beattie-Callahan, ‘Iolani, "A Healthier Hawaii." 10 grade: Isabel Lee, SHA, "Making the Bus Elder-Friendly." Ninth grade: Summer Corry, Thompson Academy, "Musical Opportunities for All." Eighth grade: Jett Cooper, Damien Memorial School, "Childhood Obesity: A Growing Problem for Hawaii." Seventh grade: Julia Oehlers, SHA, "A Bright Hawaii." Sixth grade: Logan Shiroma, SHA, "Launching Young Women for a Better Tomorrow."
» Poster — 12th grade: Alisha Wheeler, Mililani, "The Warmth of a Friend." 11th grade: Jonnalyn Alves, Saint Francis School, "Protection of Paradise." 10th grade: Hulita Drake, Saint Francis, "Riding the Tides of Change." Ninth grade: Michelle Lac, Roosevelt, "One Step at a Time." Eighth grade: Charles Fox, Honolulu Waldorf, "Making the Right Choices." Seventh grade: Tani Dinh, Stevenson Middle, "Together We Can Make This Place a Homeless Free State." Sixth grade: Kainoa Crimson, Laie Elementary, "Be a Super Hero, Use Renewable Energy." Fifth grade: Julian Myrland, American Renaissance Academy, "Preserve Our Ocean by Studying It." Fourth grade: Laura Gries, SHA, "Which One Would You Choose?" Third grade: Ethan Chaiko, Holy Nativity, "Super Science: Inventing Ideas for Tomorrow." Second grade: Ella Laird, Holy Nativity, "It’s Good to Give!" First grade: Keira Iwamoto, SHA, "Working Together Hand in Hand." Kindergarden: Yura Kitade, SHA, "We Can Show Aloha."
