Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 7, 1 July 1991 — Hawaiian business owners' work lauded [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian business owners' work lauded

Three part-Hawaiian business people were among the winners recently honored for their accomplishments by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The recipients, recognized at the Small Business Person of the Year Awards luneheon in

May, are Haunani Apoliona, president of Alu Like, ine., Pearl Jean K. Kamalu, owner of H&S Backhoe Service and Glenn Kulani Lindsey, owner of G. Lindsey Construction. Apoliona, who heads Alu Like, ine., a private, non-profit advocate for Native Hawaiians, received the Minority Business Advocate of the Year award for the state of Hawai'i. Providing overall direction and coordination of all Alu Like programs statewide, Apoliona also has been the agency's spokesperson before the state Legislature. "E ho'a kakou i ka lama kupono no na hulu Hawai'i," whieh means "Let us set aglow the light of justice and positive improvement for all our Hawaiians." These words are part of a song composed by Apoliona in celebration of Women's History Week. In just over four years, Kamalu was able to transform a broken down backhoe into a thriving business. Today, she has seven employees and owns a fleet of trucks and heavy equipment handling jobs throughout O'ahu. For her efforts, Kamalu has been awarded the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the |State of Hawaii. Despite her youth and her laek of experience, with the help of her father, Patrick Kamalu, and her now-husband, Deldon Staggs, she overcame obstacles to start her business in April of 1986. "They say the sky is the limit, but it's not — you have to reach beyond and grasp for the stars," Kamalu said. The sole proprietor and general contracting engineer of his full-service firm, Glenn Lindsey was the recipient of the Small Business Person of the Year award for the Island of Hawaii. Lindsey also owns G. Lindsey Trucking and GLI True Value Hardware. Raised in Waimea (Kamuela), Hawai'i, Lindsey has been instrumental in recognizing the need for affordable housing in Kamuela. He recently completed a 40-unit housing project in Waimea at

Kalaloa. His concept has led to a 50-unit development in Hilo for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Beyond the business world, Lindsey also has been mowing the practice field at Church Row for a high school team or donating time and materials to construct a ehapel in Hilo.

SBA award winners, top left: Pearl Kamalu; right, Glenn Lindsey; bottom Haunani Apoliona.