The APEC Summit in November will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Hawaii businesses to showcase their products, services and technologies to a worldwide audience.
Five businesses have been chosen to represent the counties and the state.
It's all part of the APEC 2011 Hawaii Business Innovation Showcase.
The program was announced back in May, and the awards were handed out Tuesday night at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
It's a goo that sucks up dirt, mold, and toxic waste.
DeconGel has been helping in the cleanup efforts in Fukushima, Japan. and the product was invented here in Hawaii by Skai Ventures.
"With Skai Ventures and Dr. Hank Wuh, we have not only a champion innovator in Hawaii but also a business that is affecting the world over," said Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
The company, which also invented artificial corneas, was chosen as the Statewide winner of the APEC 2011 Hawaii Business Innovation Showcase.
"We will have an opportunity to show our innovation to perhaps as many as 30-40,000 participants coming for the APEC Summit," said Dr. Hank Wuh, Skai Ventures Founder & CEO.
Skai Ventures, along with four other companies, will be highlighted within displays at the Hawaii Convention Center and Ala Moana Center, and will get feature profiles on the APEC Hawaii TV in-room hotel channel, among other marketing opportunities.
"We understand there were 2000 companies that applied. From that they selected 35 local companies, and from that they selected five companies, so we're just so honored to be part of the five," said Darren Kimura, Sopogy President & CEO.
Sopogy, which is known for its solar power technology, was selected as the Honolulu County winner.
"We see the potential through this APEC opportunity to sell more technologies around the world, around Asia, that'll create more jobs, create more tax revenue back into Hawaii, will allow us to continue building our business here," said Kimura.
TREX Enterprises, which developed a technology used to manufacture optical and structural components, was selected as the Kauai County winner.
HNU Energy, which offers renewable energy generation and high-efficiency lighting products, was selected as the Maui County winner.
And Big Island Carbon, a two-year old company which makes carbon using macadamia nut shells, was selected as the Hawaii County winner.
The 30 finalists were also presented with awards Tuesday night.
The APEC business awards presentation was held in conjunction with the welcome dinner for the counties of Hawaii Sister Cities Summit.Delegates from 13 international sister cities, the mayors of the four counties in Hawaii, and city council members had a chance to mingle and "talk story" during Tuesday's dinner.
On Wednesday at the Hawaii Convention Center, new sister cities will be established.
Honolulu with Chengdu, China.
Hawaii County with Ormoc City, Philippines.
Kauai County with Iwaki City, Japan and Maui County with Goyang City, South Korea.
