LIHU’E – Companies from the Wailua River to Puhi are being invited to join the new Lihu’e Business Association, and are encouraged to communicate with each other in a way members of the predecessor organization the Rice Street Business Association
LIHU’E – Companies from the Wailua River to Puhi are being invited to join the new Lihu’e Business Association, and are encouraged to communicate with each other in a way members of the predecessor organization the Rice Street Business Association likely never dreamed of.
E-mail is the best way to reach Curtis Tom, vice president and Kaua’i district manager for Bank of Hawai’i, who is the facilitator, or moderator, of the association during its formative months.
Because the association is in its infancy stage, there is no current membership charge. The next meeting is set for Wednesday, July 25, at 7:30 a.m. at Hawaiian Classic Desserts on Rice Street near the Lihu’e Civic Center.
It will be a coffee-and-pastries event, hosted by Bank of Hawai’i. Goodfellow Brothers, Inc. representatives will outline plans for the Rice Street reconstruction project, which begins Monday, July 30.
When Tom first attempted to organize Lihu’e-area businesses, he approached members of the dormant Rice Street Business Association. But since many of them were nearing retirement age, they weren’t necessarily interested in getting re-organized.
But the need is evident, when one sees the vacant store fronts along Rice Street, and even in Kukui Grove Center. No such vacancies are present in thriving areas like Po’ipu, Koloa and Princeville, he observed.
The idea of the association is to revitalize, rejuvenate, the island’s county seat, the center of government, as the center of business and commerce as well.
The County of Kaua’i Office of Economic Development has funds for economic revitalization, and it is the association’s goal to make the greater Lihu’e area one that doesn’t essentially fold up the sidewalks after 4:30 p.m.
Building on events like the Christmas lights parade and other annual events, the association wants to make the greater Lihu’e area a place people think of seriously when shopping, dining, entertainment and other leisure options come to mind.
The whole idea of the association is to organize to serve the business needs of the communities from Wailua to Puhi, Tom explained.
Lihu’e Airport figures to be an integral part of the association, which will lend its voice to plans for roadway improvements and other matters in the greater Lihu’e area, he said.
The Garden Island newspaper, a Lihu’e-based business, is lending its support to the cause, offering the fledgling organization a link to its Web site, www.kauaiworld.com/lba.
Besides revitalizing Lihu’e-area businesses and working with the Festival of Lights committee on its annual Christmas parade, the association hopes to provide feedback to the county and state on highways and roads projects in order to reduce impacts on businesses, develop business standards for member companies similar to the Better Business Bureau, and work with the state and county to assist in master-planning Lihu’e town to address future growth.
Tom looks at the Lihu’e gateway project as something that has really brought the entire island together for a common goal. He hopes the Lihu’e Business Association can do the same thing for Lihu’e-area businesses.
The small group has been growing, has encouraged involvement from the Kaua’i Police Department, and is holding monthly coffee meetings.
Criminals oftentimes target businesses, so an organized Lihu’e-area business group can assist the KPD, he feels.
The best way to reach Tom is via e-mail, ctom@boh.com. His office is in the Bank of Hawai’i main branch along Rice Street, 241-5200. Either way, he’ll be happy to add your company or individual name to the association’s e-mail list, and provide meeting information or other data.
