Maybe now the phone in the Unlimited Construction Services, Inc. Honolulu office will ring a bit more. Officers of the Kaua‘i-based construction company hope that the recognition and exposure that comes from being the 2004 U.S. Small Business Administration Small
Maybe now the phone in the Unlimited Construction Services, Inc. Honolulu office will ring a bit more.
Officers of the Kaua‘i-based construction company hope that the recognition and exposure that comes from being the 2004 U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business Persons of the Year for Hawai‘i will mean more business off of Kaua‘i.
They have a Honolulu office, but no jobs there yet, said Peter Robson, president.
Well-known on Kaua‘i for their work at Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club in Po‘ipu, the state Judiciary building along Kapule Highway in Lihu‘e, and other jobs, Robson and Randy Finlay, vice president, hope the award and its attending publicity and exposure will help them establish more of a statewide presence, Robson said.
“You’re obviously pleased that somebody recognizes you. The recognition’s good. The exposure’s good,” Robson continued.
“We weren’t popping champagne or anything” after being informed they won the statewide honor, he said.
Joelle Wada and Sonia Topenio of Bank of Hawaii nominated the men for the award.
The company recently won contracts to build improvements at the Lihu‘e Airport apron ($13.5 million) and the Waipouli Beach Resort ($80 million).
That job will see a new resort built across Kuhio Highway from Kaua‘i Village shopping center.
Unlimited is also the contractor for the new bridge being built at the south end of Omao Road, and for a 500,000-gallon water tank being built for Princeville Corporation, he said.
Unlimited leaders received an award from the County of Kaua‘i for recycling nearly all of the materials taken from the former Waiohai site during demolition work to make way for Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, Robson said.
The company completed the Waiohai reconstruction five or six months ahead of schedule, he added.
Unlimited is the largest general contractor on Kaua‘i.
Other Kauaians also won SBA Small Business Awards, announced last week.
Robin Danner of Anahola, president of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, was named 2004 Minority Small Business Advocate for Region IX and the state.
Geri Gallagher, a former employee of The Garden Island newspaper now working for Hale Kauai, Ltd., was named 2004 Women in Business Advocate for the island.
The winners will be honored at the 17th Annual Statewide Small Business Awards Luncheon Wednesday, April 28 at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort.
Before that, they will be honored at a Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours gathering set for Tuesday, April 20, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club Aupaka Terrace.
The reservations deadline for the Marriott event is this Friday, April 16. Please call the Chamber for reservations and more details, 245-7363.
Associate Editor Paul C. Curtis may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
