Chamber Honors Top Kailua Businesses

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Paul Brennan (far left) gives a brief history of the three businesses selected for Kailua Chamber of Commerce’s 2009 Outstanding Business awards, presented during a membership luncheon Nov. 18 at Mid-Pacific Country Club. Photos from Janice Bruggermeier.

Kailua Chamber of Commerce announced its picks for 2009 outstanding businesses at its Nov. 18 luncheon at Mid-Pac Country Club, where it also celebrated the achievement of more than doubling its membership over the past year and a half.

Winners in three categories were honored: Formaggio Grill for Quality Service, Picket Fence for Storefront of the Year, and Sweet Paradise Chocolatier for New Business of the Year. Wes Zane (Formaggio), Sadie Akamine (Picket Fence) and Melani Boudar (Sweet Paradise) accepted the awards on behalf of their companies.

Kailua Information Center volunteers also acknowledged, with a special Honu Award plaque and gifts for vice president Tonic Bille, chamber member since 2002 who is retiring as KIC manager - one of her many volunteer jobs for the group.

Winners are (top, from left) Melanie Boudar of Sweet Paradise Chocolatier, Sadie Akamine of Picket Fence and Wes Zane of Formaggio Grill, who accepted their awards from KCOC outgoing president Evan Scherman. Photos from Janice Bruggermeier.

“It was really a nice surprise and a beautiful plaque for being volunteer of the year,” Bille said later. Her newly earned free time has already been requested for additional chamber committee work, she admitted.

Honored KIC volunteers are Anne Reed, Betty Fullard-Leo, Bill Muench, Connie Ching, David Mitchell, Doug Funesti, Frank Lockwood, Kim Caloroso, Lois Ifft, Lorraine Caceres, Mike Washofski, Nevi Tagupa, Pat Baxter, Yvonne Kaiahua and Herman and Eva Allerstorfer. Located at 600 Kailua Road, Suite 107, KIC is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, offering useful details on businesses and tourist attractions of the area.

Also honored were Kailua Information Center manager Tonic Bille (below, left) and 16 of her volunteers at KIC, including Connie Ching, Lorraine Caceres, Mike Washofski and Kim Caloroso. Photo by Byron Lee, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Outgoing chamber president Evan Scherman will be replaced by Puna Nam, who will be sworn with the new 2010 board Jan. 20 at the next general membership luncheon.

For more information, call 261-7997.