Lifetime Achievement Award

Eddie Flores
President and CEO of L&L Barbecue

Eddie Flores Jr., president and CEO of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and founder of Eddie Flores Real Estate Continuing Education is the recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his outstanding entrepreneurship and dedication to the community.

Flores immigrated to Hawai‘i at sixteen, overcoming poverty, discrimination and a learning disability to launch a successful restaurant franchise with 200 locations worldwide as well as his own real estate company and school of continuing education.

Flores’ numerous awards include recognition as the 1998 Small Business Person of the Year by the Hawai‘i regional Small Business Administration, the 2006 Salesperson of the Year by the Honolulu chapter of Sales & Marketing Executives International and the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Food and Beverage.

In addition to publishing several works on business, investing and real estate, Flores was the first Asian-American to receive designations as a Certified Business Intermediary and Designated Real Estate Instructor. Flores has also been active in civic service and in supporting minority communities through training and philanthropy during the course of his extensive career.

 

 

Young Professional of the Year Award

Monica Salter
Senior Vice President at Bennet Group Strategic Communications

As senior vice president of the Bennet Group, Monica Salter brings integrity, sharp business acumen and innovative leadership skills to the company and the public relations field as a whole. Salter also acts as a trusted counsel for prominent executives and is highly active within the community, raising money for organizations such as the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation and the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation.

 

 

Business Executive of the Year Award

Raymond Jardine
Chairman and CEO of Native Hawaiian Veterans, LLC

Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Raymond Jardine, Native Hawaiian Veterans has expanded to 20 countries, 54 states and four territories and is recognized as one of Hawai‘i’s top 250 businesses.

 

 

Commitment to Green Award

Hawaii Pacific Solar

Hawaii Pacific Solar is a leader in photovoltaic power solutions, collaborating with both grid-connected photovoltaic and hybrid system customers to determine the most effective energy-saving program to fit their needs. In collaboration with the Department of Education and other nonprofits, HPS also launched an educational grant program in 2014 to help students understand the relevance of solar energy and sustainability.

 

 

Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods

Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods is dedicated to environmental sustainability and honoring and promoting Hawaiian culture through the restoration of Hawai‘i’s historic koa forests. HLH has planted more than 300,000 new koa trees on the island of Hawai‘i and led fundraising efforts, including a line of Native Hawaiian Legacy art pieces for sale and display in hotels and culturally significant locations.

 

 

Best Social Media Campaign Award

Bikeshare Hawaii

Nonprofit organization Bikeshare Hawaii has garnered hundreds of followers and likes on social media since launching a coordinated social media and PR campaign to raise awareness about its forthcoming local bicycle sharing program.

 

 

Best Family-Run Business Award

Alii Flooring Inc.

Founded by Thomas Nakamura in 1965, Alii Flooring offers quality floor installation services to dozens of commercial customers including retail, schools, hospitals and U.S. military bases. Led by Vice President Kaleo Nakamura and Superintendent Tyler Nakamura two generations later, Alii Flooring is now in its 50th year of providing quality service founded on principles of hard work, fairness and treating employees like family.

 

 

Best New Business Award

HiNursing

In just two and a half years, HiNursing has established itself as an innovative and reliable organization bringing temporary medical staffing and in-home medical services to hospitals and other facilities in Hawai‘i. In addition to meeting the needs of clients, employees and vendors, HiNursing is also developing a program that will provide recent nursing graduates with on-the job training and potential employment.