Hawaii's 2009 BBB Torch Awards

Small Business (tie)

Hawaii Self Storage

Daniel Ho
Hawaii Self Storage

With facilities in Kaimuki, Pearl City, Salt Lake, Mililani and Kapolei, Hawaii Self Storage offers 24-hour access and air conditioning, the highest level of security, covered loading and unloading, free pick-up and estimates, and canoe, kayak and surfboard storage. Their small business customers have access to phone, fax and wireless internet services, as well as a free package acceptance service. As a locally owned company, Hawaii Self Storage has numerous programs designed to give back to the Oahu community, investing nearly $50,000 annually into these programs under its Community Pride initiative.

ING DIRECT

Cleota Brown
ING DIRECT

Launched in September 2000 as a direct bank, ING’s low cost model allows it to pass the savings onto customers. Products include Electric Orange, an easy-to-use paperless checking account, the Orange Savings Account and the Orange Mortgage with low closing costs, a simple, no hassle application. All accounts offer great rates, no minimums or fees. And they’ve added ShareBuilder, an online brokerage designed to make investing easy and affordable for everyone. ING DIRECT operates three call centers and seven cafes in the United States. ING DIRECT has $80 billion in saving deposits from 6.7 million Americans.

Medium Business

Coastal Windows

Robert Barrett
Coastal Windows

Coastal Windows, a family owned and operated vinyl window and door manufacturing business, began in 1990 by Kurt and Marie Winner. In their Poipu, Kauai condo, they realized the need for quality windows and doors that would stand up to the environment of the Islands. With his engineering knowledge and vinyl industry experience, Kurt made a window system specifically for Hawaii. They’ve come a long way since then, but their goals remain the same: Design and manufacture the best window and door products for the Islands, provide superior customer service and professional installation, and take pride in the details along the way.

Large Business

Atlas Insurance Agency

Kathy Kano
Atlas Insurance Agency

With service that goes back eighty years, Atlas Insurance Agency has more than 120 team members on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai. Atlas is Hawaii’s largest insurance agency, with both personal and commercial insurance and benefits products. President Myles Murakami believes in doing business right with the highest ethical standards, and that belief resonates with the entire Atlas team. Their motto, ‘Hawaii is not just a place where we do business, Hawaii is our home,’ is lived out by Atlas team member’s active fundraising at various charitable events, and by focusing on Atlas’ core values in everything they do.

Public Charity

Aloha United Way

Susan Au-Doyle
Aloha United Way

For 90 years, Aloha United Way has brought people and resources together to build a stronger community. Aloha United Way believes that everyone deserves to have the building blocks for a good life – education, income and health. Thanks to generous donors, volunteer leadership and partnerships with many great agencies, Aloha United Way has made significant contributions to our community's well-being. Its priorities include early childhood development, financial stability and independence, crime and drug use, homelessness and emergency and crisis services.

Ka Mea O Kāko‘o 

Mark Recktenwald

Mark Recktenwald

As director of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Mark Recktenwald increased public education and access to department services. DCCA developed public awareness campaigns about state consumer protection laws, and online services for business licenses, registration and complaints. Recktenwald successfully lobbied for new state laws on security breaches, Social Security number protection, freezing credit reports, and disposal of documents with confidential and personal information. He also affected changes in how DCCA processed and prosecuted violations of the state’s medical licensing laws.