LIHU‘E — Beth Tokioka, Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr.’s executive assistant, was honored by Gov. Linda Lingle on Wednesday for Tokioka’s efforts to increase Kaua‘i exports, states a state press release. While director of the county Office of Economic Development,
LIHU‘E — Beth Tokioka, Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr.’s executive assistant, was honored by Gov. Linda Lingle on Wednesday for Tokioka’s efforts to increase Kaua‘i exports, states a state press release.
While director of the county Office of Economic Development, Tokioka helped create the Kaua‘i Made program, branding products made on the island.
Tokioka won the U.S. Small Business Administration Minority Business Champion of the Year award for Kaua‘i, nominated by Sonia Topenio of Bank of Hawai‘i.
Topenio and Tokioka were in Honolulu on Wednesday when Lingle also recognized nine Hawai‘i companies for their success in entering or expanding in the international marketplace.
Representatives from the SBA and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Hawai‘i Export Assistance Center also applauded the companies’ efforts.
Tokioka was recognized for her support of export efforts, states the release.
None of the nine companies recognized operate on Kaua‘i.
