Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 10, 1 October 2009 — Visionaries of success [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Visionaries of success

The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce bestowed its inaugural Ko'i Awards upon four honorees at a dinner Sept. 4 at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa. OHA Trustee Boyd Mossman, second from left, received the Pelekikena Award as a past president of the chamber who worked to fulfill the chamber's mission. The Grand Wailea, represented by managing director Matt Bailey, at left, received the Kūkulu Award for contributing to the chamber's advancementand for displaying a eoneem for and appreciation of Hawaiian eulture and business. Other honorees were Vaughan Vasconcellos of Akimeka LLC, who received the Nfl Wai 'Ehā Award for success in business, community and education, and master navigator Nainoa Thompson, who received the Hawai'i Loa Award for extraordinary accomplishments and for inspiring other Hawaiians. Thompson was the evening's keynote speaker. The dinner followed the third annual Business Fest earlier in the day, whieh kicked off with an early morning landing of 1 7 eanoe led by Maui voyaging eanoe Mo'olele. The fleet bore pōhaku and the ko'i, or Hawaiian stone adzes, whieh were presented that evening to the four awardees. As it has in past years, 0HA's Nā 'Olwi 'Olino radio show broadcast live from the business fest. The daylong business festfeatured panels on the importance of water, consequences of choices we make today, and Maui County's general plan. - Photo: Elaine Fergerstrom