2011 Business Summit to focus on Pacific Business Partnership

HONOLULU—The Pacific Business Partnership Initiative will be the topic of the 2011 Business Summit at the Hawaii Convention Center. The initiative was founded by a group of small business advocates, many of which have a focus on Native Hawaiian business owners.

Discussions began in 2010 with nonprofit business advocates on how to work together, combine forces to assist small firms and increase the economic impact of federal contracting. 

“I think that’s because Hawaiian business owners know that Hawaii and the Pacific is home no matter what, no matter what the economy is doing, good or bad,” said Robin Puanani Danner, President of the nonprofit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.  “It’s definitely not just a Hawaiian issue—business growth and sustainability are Pacific issues, it’s something anyone who lives and loves our region faces.”

“We’ve been convening small business owners every year since 2002,” said Billy Ornellas, Vice President of the Native Hawaiian Economic Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy organization.  “It’s important for business leaders to get around a table to actually talk public policy and unify ourselves around what our priorities are, as Pacific businesses.”

The Pacific Business Partnership Initiative brings multiple advocates and stakeholders together to meet three basic goals:

• Ensure annual business summits to promote mentorship and trainings are held in the Pacific region.
• Connect small and big business to increase business-to-business opportunities between Pacific companies.
• Identify the regional priorities of Pacific small business firms.

To register for the 2011 Business Summit, scheduled for August 23, 2011 at the Hawaii Convention Center, contact NHOA at info@nhoassociation. To receive a free vendor booth at the marketplace, contact [email protected].