Small businesses invited to attend free workshops statewide

Posted on Feb 12, 2026 in Highways Posts, Main, News

HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) invite small business owners who are interested in working with the federal, state and local government, to register for a free workshop at one of six locations across the state.  

Six workshops will be conducted across the islands, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Conference Center, in Honolulu at 300 Rodgers Boulevard, Terminal 1, seventh floor.   

All classes will be from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., with check-in beginning at 8:45 a.m. The neighbor island classes scheduled for this series are: 

  • Kailua-Kona: Wednesday, March 4, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), 73-987 Makako Bay Drive 
  • Hilo: Thursday, March 12, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace, 200 W. Kāwilil Street 
  • Kauaʻi: Wednesday, April 1, Highway’s, Kauaʻi District office, 1720 Haleukana Street, Puhi 
  • Maui: Tuesday, April 7, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), 1305 N. Holopono Street, Suite 1 
  • Oʻahu: Wednesday, April 15, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Conference Center, in Honolulu at 300 Rodgers Boulevard, Terminal 1, seventh floor 

The series will cover a broad range of topics, including: 

  • Lending options to finance your goals 
  • Becoming a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), and/or Small Business Enterprise (SBE)*  
  • Where to find State contracting information. 

*This class includes a DBE/ACDBE/SBE Application Workshop. The DBE Team will walk you through preparing your electronic documents for your application to the DBE Program.  

Space is limited and advanced registration is required. There will be no virtual attendance option for attendees.  For event details and registration, please visit: https://forms.office.com/g/cDhC1xRNAy or scan the QR Code below:  

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability or to request language interpretation, contact the SBA at 808-541-2990 as soon as possible. Requests made at least two weeks prior to the event have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.  

 

 

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