Local companies selected to fill APEC gift boxes

In the spirit of ho‘okipa, the gifts will be presented to government officials, business leaders and global media during the APEC 2011 Leaders’ Week. Following a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) issued in July, the selection of companies who have provided items for the hospitality gifts includes:

·         Aloha Kine

·         Fujifilm Hawaii

·         Hawaiian Airlines City Guide

·         Hawaiian Body Products, Inc.

·         Hawaiian Host, Inc.   

·         Hawaiian Springs, LLC.

·         HPC Foods, Inc. (Taro Brand)

·         Island Vintage Coffee Company

·         Kahala Fresh / Umeke Market

·         Oils of Aloha

·         The Big Island Bee Company

·         The Hawaiian Chip Company, LLC.

·         The Honolulu Cookie Company

·         The Indigenous Soap Company

·         The Mountain Apple Company

·         Tori Richard, Ltd.

“These Hawai‘i companies were able to provide a wide variety of products to create truly unique hospitality gifts for our APEC guests,” said Peter Ho, Hawai‘i Host Committee Chair.  “This is a wonderful opportunity for each of our guests to bring a little bit of Hawai‘i back home, and share with others the individual products that represent the aloha spirit and hospitality of our islands.”                                                

The selection of gifts will be presented in a box specially designed by Jon Duarte of Jon Duarte Design Group. The box will feature the word makana, Hawaiian for “gift.” Throughout Leaders’ Week, local companies will also be providing snacks at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in the Hawai‘i Exhibit Hall. These companies include:

• Diamond Bakery Co.

• Hawaiian Chip Company, LLC.

• Hawaiian Host, Inc.

• Hawaiian Springs, LLC.

• Ito-En (USA) Inc.

• Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp.

• The Honolulu Cookie Company

In addition to the hospitality gift boxes, each of the leaders from the 21 APEC economies will be receiving a one-of-a-kind framed painting created by local artist Kelly Sueda, including President Barack Obama, who’s painting encompasses images of Kailua Bay with the Ko‘olau mountains in the distance.

The APEC 2011 Leaders’ Week will take place in Honolulu on Nov. 7–13 with the Leaders’ Meeting on Nov. 12 and 13, and is the culmination of a series of events held throughout the year in the United States. The Leaders’ Meeting includes leaders of the 21 APEC economies, ministers, business leaders and news media.