About
aio companies are leaders in their respective industries, providing products and services that improve the quality of life for people in Hawaii and paving the way for future generations.
Although our companies are diverse, spanning many different industries, the core of aio is our collective passion for Hawaii.
The mission of aio, as envisioned by our founder and chairman Duane Kurisu, is to nurture a “soulful” company and “brand spirit” with the will to grow through our employees.
Our Founder
Born and raised in the sugar towns of the Big Island’s Hilo Coast, aio Founder and Chairman Duane Kurisu was instilled early on with the traditional values of Hawaii’s plantation culture. A product of Hilo High School and the University of Hawaii-Manoa, Duane launched his first company in his late 20s to develop and manage commercial real estate properties in the Islands and on the mainland. He soon branched out into a variety of business interests, and the acquisition of his first magazine property in the 1990s led to the creation of the aio family of companies.
Today, Duane’s plantation roots still shape his vision for aio. Those time-honored small-town values of family and community are equally important in the world of commerce and industry — the local values of trust, respect, humility and honesty that drive the companies and inspire the people of aio.
The core of aio is Hawaii — our passion for Hawaii and our recognition that we have a responsibility to share ourselves with the rest of the world.
Our Culture
The corporate culture of aio is firmly rooted in the power of Hawaii’s local values. We believe that these values are truly world-class, and that our people can and should celebrate and share them, both at home and abroad.
While business is our lifeblood, it is not our only measure of success. Our companies are all about leaving the world a better place for future generations. At aio, we believe that the real rewards of business are realized in the lives we lead, in the families we raise, and in the communities that nurture us. In this way, we bring to life the guideline that inspires each employee of aio.
aio Leadership
Duane Kurisu
aio
Founder
Susan Eichor
aio
Chairman
Brandon Kurisu
aio
President
Jade Carrel
aio
Director of Finance
Jaime Kinoshita
aio
Vice President