Hawaii’s Better Business Bureau
® (BBB) announced the winners of the 2009 BBB Torch Awards at a luncheon event today at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Awards were presented to four businesses and one public charity for their commitments to fair, honest, and ethical marketplace practices. Former Hawaii State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs director Mark Recktenwald was also presented with the first BBB Ka Mea o Kāko‘o Award in recognition of his work in consumer advocacy, protection, and education.
“It’s extremely rewarding for Hawaii’s BBB to honor businesses, charities, and individuals for their dedication to running honest, ethical organizations,” said Dwight Kealoha, chief executive officer of Hawaii’s BBB. “Consumers should be proud that companies like these are putting ethics and integrity at the top of their priority lists. All of the BBB Torch Awards recipients and finalists are shining examples of BBB’s vision of a trustworthy marketplace.”
BBB Torch Award winners in each category were:
- Small Business – Hawaii Self Storage and ING Direct (tie)
- Medium Business – Coastal Windows
- Large Business – Atlas Insurance
- Public Charity – Aloha United Way
Mark Recktenwald received the first BBB Ka Mea o Kāko‘o award. The award honors an individual who has significantly advanced marketplace trust by their demonstrated commitment to consumer advocacy, protection or education.
“Under Mark’s leadership, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs developed community resources and awareness about the state’s consumer protection laws and improved access to the department’s services,” said Kealoha.
Kealoha highlighted Recktenwald’s work to help protect consumers from identity theft by successfully lobbying for new state laws for notification of security breaches, Social Security number protection, individuals’ ability to freeze their credit reports, and the proper disposal of documents containing confidential and personal information. During his time at DCCA, the department also created public service announcements on safeguarding personal information and the dangers of identity theft.