WHEREAS, small businesses are the backbone of our nation, and each year since 1963, the President of the United States has designated National Small Business Week in recognition of the small business community’s contributions to the American economy and society; and

WHEREAS, entrepreneurs at local, state, and national levels will be honored during May 6 through May 11, 2001, designated this year as National Small Business Week, with activities by the United States Small Business Administration, in partnership with public and private sector small business supporters; and

WHEREAS, there are nine Hawaii entrepreneurs who are recipients of the 2001 Small Business Administration awards at the state level; and

WHEREAS, these nine outstanding individuals are as follows: Jeffrey Phillip Bloom – Small Business Person of the Year; James W. Wright – Entrepreneurial Success Award; Elvira Lo – Small Business Exporter of the Year; Yates T. Honma – SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Peter A. Matsumoto – Accountant Advocate of the Year; Kelly Walsh – Financial Services Advocate of the Year; Dr. Robert Chase – Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year; Gina Mangieri – Small Business Journalist of the Year; and Leslie R. Wilkins – Women in Business Advocate of the Year; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, that this body hereby commends and honors Hawaii's 2001 Small Business Award recipients, and extends to them its heartfelt aloha and best wishes for success in all future endeavors.