Real estate investor Duane Kurisu will be the featured speaker at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' Vulcan Style 2011 Fundraising Dinner/Auction on Friday, January 21 in the UHH Campus Center Dining Room.

Kurisu owns and manages office buildings, shopping centers and industrial parks in Hawaii and Guam. He is also the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and owner of the AIO Group, a holding company for brands focused on Hawaii and the Pacific in the areas of media, sports and food. His holdings include PacificBasin Communication, ESPN Radio affiliates and Hawaii Winter Baseball. He is minority owner of the San Francisco Giants, Major League Baseball's current World Series Champion.

Kurisu also served on the Board of Regents for the University of Hawaii.

“Vulcan Athletics is truly honored to have a person of Duane's caliber and reputation speaking at our very first scholarship fundraising event," said UHH Director of Athletics Dexter Irvin. "We are honored that he made the time from his very busy schedule to join us that evening and will be excited to hear of his experiences in professional baseball and also what it takes to run several successful businesses.”

This event is the first of many athletic department events focusing on the growth of the UHH Athletic Scholarship Endowment Fund.

“The evening is extremely important to Vulcan Athletics as we return our attention to the establishment of a sound athletic endowment fund for scholarship assistance which is the lifeblood our program,” said Irvin.

Tickets are $125 and includes a $20 gift certificate and an opportunity to win tuition and books for the upcoming 2011-12 UHH school year. Patrons will be treated to a 10-course buffet dinner by UHH's Chef Timothy Choo. The silent auction and no-host cocktails will begin at 5 p.m. with the dinner to start at 6:30 p.m.

Reservations for individual seats or corporate tables of eight ($1000) may be made by calling Assistant Athletic Director for Community Engagement Joey Estrella at 974-7700 or the UHH athletic department at 974-7520.