Big Island Abalone Corporation - New Exporter of the Year

Hawaii Business Magazine
Posted: Friday October 3, 2003
"Exporter of the Year Announced"
By Jacy L. Youn

Gov. Linda Lingle announced this year’s Exporter of the Year awards, and Big Island Abalone Corp. (BIAC) took home top honors as the 2003 Governor’s Exporter of the Year. The aquaculture company, which operates out of Keahole Point on the Big Island, got its start as a research and development tenant at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) in 1997. In 2000, it spun off a commercial venture, and last year generated gross annual sales of $1 million.

The award comes on the heels of BIAC’s New Exporter of the Year award, which the company won last year. BIAC is producing nearly 100 tons (1 million abalone) per year – more than the total abalone production in the state of California. Brandt says the company markets to both the West Coast and Asia, but Japan is its biggest client, consuming 55 percent of BIAC’s abalone.

The company’s push into Japan has paid off: BIAC abalone can be found in more than 60 hotels throughout Tokyo; a live tank holding facility is being developed in Tokyo; Iron Chef Morimoto has expressed interest in including BIAC abalone in his restaurants; and former Iron Chef Tan is developing product lines along with other abalone processors in Japan.

At the awards ceremony, Gov. Linda Lingle said businesses such as Big Island Abalone Corp. provide quality job opportunities and helps position Hawaii in the global marketplace. “We want to recognize companies and individuals that significantly contribute to expanding Hawaii’s exports of products or services to the rest of the world,” she said.

In all, seven companies and individuals were also honored for outstanding achievements in exporting Hawaii products and services:

Exporter of Fresh Commodities: Big Island Abalone Corp.
Exporter of High Technology: Blue Planet Software Inc. and Oceanic Imaging Consultants Inc.
Exporter of Manufactured Products: Safe Water Systems LLC
New Exporter: Cates International Inc.
Exporter of Professional Services: Makai Ocean Engineering Inc.
Outstanding Contributor to Exporting: Richard Nelson of Hawaii Biz Link LLC

See also article from West Hawaii Today, October 6, 2003.
See also article from Trade Invest Monthly, October, 2003.