The Best of Kauai is up to you

We have three words for you: Cast Your Vote.

No, this is not about who’s running for public office or a tax proposal on the ballot. This is about something far more important: The Best of Kauai.

The Garden Island is, again, turning to its readers and asking them to fill out the ballot being published daily through July 14. It asks you to write in the name of the business, the restaurant or the salon, that you believe is tops in its field. The winners will be announced in a Best of Kauai special section to be published Oct. 28

The are six categories: Companies, Food and Dining, Health and Beauty, Locations and Activities, Retail and Services and Repair. And under those categories are basically 96 subcategories, like bank, Realtor, tattoo shop, burger, pizza, dentist, golf course, luau, florist, surf shop, tire store, extermination service and veterinarian.

By participating, you will have input on who is declared the Best of Kauai, which is significant in not only providing the winners with some serious bragging rights, but a lifetime of accolades and even a business boost that comes from TGI’s readers recognizing you are among the very best at what you do.

Now if you need more motivation to track down a ballot, fill it out and turn it in, here it is. Your ballot will be entered into a drawing for a Vacations Hawaii trip for two to Las Vegas and $500. Generally, around a 1,000 or so ballots are submitted. Be sure to fill out at least 25 of the categories so your ballot will be considered valid for the drawing. That’s a great prize just for being part of Best of Kauai.

We don’t want to influence your votes so we won’t name past winners. And there are some who repeat in first place each year. There are some rookies who will win. We will, however, encourage you to take your time when filling out the ballot. Consider what makes a business the best. Service is always a strong consideration, as are quality, prices, products and hours. Attitude and aloha spirit top the list for many of why a business gets their vote. It’s not rocket science. In general, you know that customers appreciate being greeted and appreciate it when it’s clear that they matter to that particular business and its employees.

That’s not always the case. How many of us have wandered into a store, looked around for 10 minutes, and never have anyone approach to ask if we need help? How many of us have waited for an employee to notice we’re there, and finally just leave in exasperation? Fortunately, that doesn’t happen often on Kauai because business owners and employees here understand the importance and value of service and attitude and treat their customers well. A smile and hello can go a long ways in earning a customer’s loyalty.

The ballot, by the way, is only available in print, in The Garden Island, which is available at stores and newsstands throughout the island, and at our office in Lihue. There is not an electronic version. If you deliver your ballot to our office, please be sure to say hello to our newsroom.

You can mail the ballot to: Best of Kauai, 500 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 7-500, Honolulu, HI, 96813; drop it off at our office: The Garden Island, 3-3137 Kuhio Highway, Lihue; or at these locations: all Big Save and Times stores; Ishihara Market, Waimea; Longs Drugs, Kapaa, Lihue and Poipu; Sueoka Store, Koloa; or Foodland in Waipouli and Princeville.

So, dear readers, it’s up to you. This island’s many businesses hope they have earned your vote. And yes, just as in politics, each vote matters.

The Best of Kauai is in your hands.