Entrepreneurs and SBH Foundation
To Be Honored at May 9 Banquet

Small Business Hawaii’s Entrepreneurial Education Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) non profit community education organization, will officially debut at a special awards banquet for small business leaders.

The SBH annual business awards will also be presented at the special awards banquet Friday, May 9 at the Waialae Country Club from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Open to the public, reservations required.

Awards for SBH Small Business Person of the Year, John Garibaldi of the Hawaii Superferry; SBH Jean Fukuda Civic Leader, Victor Lim of McDonald’s and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Bernadette Baraquio of Just A Girl productions (Livin’ Local With the Baraquios), will be among the awardees recognized at the special event. Also, Malia Zimmerman of HawaiiReporter.com, Pacific Business News, Hawaii Business magazine and Naomi Hazelton-Giambrone of Pacific Light Net will be special media awardees. Other surprises will be in store for participants.

A great Silent Auction with terrific art, trips and services will also be available.

Entertainment will be provided by the students of Winnie Chan’s Piano Studio.

Three Hawaii small business success story awardees, David Arita of American Carpet One, Mylene Hinkle of Mylene’s Floral Wholesale and Bill Tobin of Tiki’s Grill & Bar Restaurant, will be recognized.

More details on the SBH website, www.smallbusinesshawaii.com, or send in your check for $100 to the SBH Foundation, or call Darlyn at SBH at (808) 396-1724.

Photo inset: John Garibaldi, CEO of Hawaii Superferry, Inc.

SBH to Convene Economic Summit

Small Business Hawaii will hold Hawaii's 2008 Economic Summit on Tuesday, May 13, from 11 to 1:30 p.m. at the Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu.

The event, which will feature a star line up of the statešs top economists and Fox News Economic Analyst John Rutledge, will focus on analyzing the statešs economy, assess what lies ahead, provide tips for businesses on how they may thrive in an economic downturn and look at opportunities in Asia and the Mainland U.S.

The speakers include: Lowell Kalapa, president, Tax Foundation of Hawaii; Sen. Sam Slom, economist, president of Small Business Hawaii; Dr. Paul Brewbaker, chief economist, Bank of Hawaii and Dr. John Rutledge, economist, Rutledge Capital, Fox News Economic Analyst and former economic advisor to President Reagan

No business owner or investor should miss this jam packed line up of fabulous speakers.

A buffet lunch and parking will be included in the cost of $50 per person.

Call Darlyn at SBH at 396-1724 to RSVP. Checks can be made out to Small Business Hawaii and mailed to 6600 Kalanianaole Highway, #212, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825.

Stop Rail Now!

On April 21 a newly-launched Stop Rail Now organization, headed by Dennis Callan and Dr. Michael Uechi held a press conference and rally in front of City Hall to tell the media and the voters of this new petition drive to stop costly rail transit on Oahu.

This initiative aims to put on the ballot and let the public vote on whether the following should be a city ordinance: "Honolulu mass transit shall not include trains or rail transit."

"We at therailscam.com and honolulutraffic.com completely endorse this effort as it cuts to the quick in the rail debate."

About 200 people attended the rally. An estimated 40,000 signatures are needed to get this on the ballot in November; a big undertaking. The organizers hope volunteers will come forward.

For details go to http://www.stoprailnow.com.