Diane Ako, a former island newscaster, has opened her own public relations firm.

Ako was most recently a KHON morning anchor.

“I have been helping friends or volunteer groups with PR needs for years, because being in the media is a natural fit for understanding how to pitch to reporters,” said Ako in a press release today. “People had long asked me how to get their company featured in the news, and I would explain how newsrooms work and how to get writers interested in their story. I have also continuously provided PR for non-profit groups I volunteer with. I find this fulfilling.”

Before Ako worked as a morning anchor for KHON, she anchored and reported at KHNL, WBRE in Pennsylvania, KOB in New Mexico and CTV in the San Francisco Bay Area.

She also served as Public Relations Director/spokeswoman for the Halekulani and Waikiki Parc hotels from 2010 to 2014.