Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 6, 1 June 2006 — What do you think? Asked at OHA's Hawaiian Business Conference held in Honolulu on May 1 8 and 1 9: [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

What do you think? Asked at OHA's Hawaiian Business Conference held in Honolulu on May 1 8 and 1 9:

What do you think is the greotest challenge focing Hawaiion businesspeople? "Number one, I think there's a misconception out there of downplaying Hawaiians as businesspeople. Our ancestors were very good in business, and I truly believe that it's our eeonomie base - whieh is small businesses and lots of them - that is going to pull us out of this situation we're in and into making our sovereign nation what it should be. — Kaleo Paik Financial Administratnr, 'Annnui Builders

"I think it's the fact that we are just now beginning to be considered serious business players on the global market. I think typically people expect because of our nature of aloha spirit that we're going to be small-business owners that are really just focusing on Hawai'i alone. So crossing the continental divide to actually do business globally is a whole new element. I also think we need to have more financial support for Hawaiians who have shown a proven track record of ability." — Charlie Naikama Prasidant-CED, Access Tachnnlngy Grnup

"I think the greatest challenge is getting other Hawaiian businesses and businesspeople to network together. People from other cultures help eaeh other out, and Hawaiian businesses need to do more of that. Instead of trying to fight for the same grants, the same federal funds or the same market, Hawaiians need to be doing more collaboration." — Keli'i Kntubatay CBED Cnnrdinatnr. Paepae n He'eia

"For us as a nonprofit organization in the home mortgage business, it's about finding people who are willing to work for the community and not just the dollar, but still trying to pay them what they're worth. There are lots of loan officers out there who are chasing the money, whereas for us as Native Hawaiians, it's more about chasing the mission of helping our people." — Kui Paihnpa Lending Manager. Hawai'i Cnmmunity Lending i ■ 1 lilii

HE AHA KOU MANA'O? • WHAĪ D0 Y0U ĪHINK? —