If you can measure the regard you’re held in by the people who attend your main event of the year, then NFIB/Hawaii members command a respect other associations can envy.
The 2014 Legislative Reception held on March 18 drew 21 state lawmakers, including the speaker of the House of Representatives, anxious to meet with the people who employ more workers in Hawaii and generate almost all the new jobs.
In addition to NFIB members, Leadership Council member Harvey King, NFIB membership representative Mike Ellis and a small group of local business owners and friends of NFIB were also on hand to meet with legislators.
At the event, letters of special thanks were presented to Reps. Clift Tsuji, Richard Onishi, Aaron Johanson and Gene Ward for their support of Main Street, mom-and-pop Hawaii small businesses. Legislators who attended were:
- House Speaker Joe Souki
- Rep. Mark Hashem
- Rep. Bert Kobayashi
- Rep. Tom Brower
- Rep. Della Belatti
- Rep. Cynthia Thielen
- Rep. Cindy Evans
- Rep. Aaron Johanson
- Rep. Clift Tsuji
- Rep. Bob McDermott
- Rep. Gene Ward
- Rep. Henry Aquino
- Rep. Richard Onishi
- Rep. Faye Hanohano
- Rep. John Mizuno
- Rep. Rida Cabanilla
- Rep. Scott Nishimoto
- Rep. Kaniela Ing
- Sen. Clarence Nishihara
- Sen. Wil Espero
- Sen. Sam Slom
Sen. President Kim tried to stop by, but we were wrapping up!
(Photo above, from left to right: Rep. Kaniela Ing from Maui, NFIB/Hawaii Leadership Council Chairman Ron Heller, NFIB State Director Melissa Pavlicek, Rep. Richard Onishi, and Gladys Marrone from the Building Industry Association.)
