A man who owns a Fruitland general-contracting company was named the national minority small-business person of the year today by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Kaleo Nawahine, a native Hawaiian, is president of Performance Systems Inc. His company has done work at the Boise airport and on the West Boise Waste Water Treatment Plant. The company has 78 employees and maintains offices in Washington and Hawaii.

Nawahine was chosen from a group of 10 regional winners, the SBA said.

Nawahine takes part in the SBA's 8(a) program, which aims to help disadvantaged businesses gain access to federal contracting opportunities. “The 8(a) program is one of the most effective tools we have to help small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities grow and succeed,” said SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns.