Our Story
TIOIT wasn’t born in a boardroom. It wasn’t mapped out in some marketing plan. It came from the raw, unfiltered grind of two creators—TiMo and KrisT—chasing their passions and refusing to play by the rules.
It started back in 2012 when we left Oahu for the Big Island, landing at the Naniloa Hotel—not the polished resort it is now, but the kind of place where you rented by the month and lived on whatever you could fit in a 250-square-foot room and rented by the month.That window? It stretched the length of the place, framing the ocean like a moving canvas. Friends would call, asking for the surf report. We’d walk to the window, look out, and give it to them. No apps, no algorithms. Just eyes on the waves and a gut feeling for the sets rolling in.
That tiny space—no kitchen, barely enough room to stretch out—became our first real studio. It was music. It was art. It was where Timo wrote songs, where I painted daily, getting ready for the Best of the West at Wyland Gallery in Kona. It was where we shot music videos and built something out of nothing.
The Naniloa wasn’t just a place to stay. It was the heartbeat of something bigger. It’s where we learned that all we really needed was surf, art, music, and a beach for our dog to roam. We didn’t have a kitchen, but we had community—long-time hotel residents sharing meals, a Thanksgiving turkey air-fried on top of a dresser. We had bonfires. Beach parties. Late-night jam sessions.
This was the space that shaped TIOIT before we even knew what to call it. It’s not just surfing. It’s not just art. It’s not just music. It’s the life we created, the culture we built, and the energy we’re still riding today.
In 2016, TiMo stamped his music with a hurricane, a symbol of movement, of flow, of never standing still. A year later, KrisT picked up the same mark and threw it into her paintings. That’s when the spark hit.
May 2017. Paint Away Breast Cancer wasn’t just another charity gig. It started as a pop-up collab with O’Neill, House of Blues, and Komen. But like everything TIOIT touches, it evolved—fast. Anaheim GardenWalk became the stage. TiMo’s music set the tone. House of Blues threw the afterparty. And KrisT? She ran the show, leading 200 people in a painting event that was anything but ordinary. That night, the first wave of the hurricane-branded apparel dropped. TIOIT wasn’t just an idea anymore. It had a pulse.
By 2023, the brand had sharpened its edge. TIOIT became more than a name—it was a movement. Art. Music. Surf culture. No boundaries, no fake corporate nonsense. Just two people pushing forward. The name TIOIT? It’s them. ‘TI’ for TiMo. ‘IT’ for KrisT. And the swirl? It’s a reminder—keep the flow, close the loops, and to ride the storm.
This journey wasn’t easy. KrisT fought through a decade of mold poisoning, clawing her way back through art and the ocean. TIOIT isn’t just a brand—it’s survival. It’s rebellion. It’s finding your rhythm in the chaos. And it’s only getting started.
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KrisT
KrisT
KrisT, a self-taught artist, gained prominence in Hawaii's art scene in 2012, exhibited in prestigious galleries like Wyland, and later launched KrisTs Art Paint Parties. With a deep connection to surf culture from her time in Hawaii and a passion for design, KrisT brings a unique blend of artistic creativity, marketing acumen, and a profound love for the ocean to TIOIT’s brand and vision.
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TiMo
TiMo
TiMo holds a BA in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii, fostering connections with surf industry executives while immersing himself in surfing and music. As a musician, he performed at notable venues and on the radio, showcasing his understanding of surf culture. TiMo's extensive background in music, his deep connection to the surf world, and his experience with event organization, make him a vital creative force and visionary leader at TIOIT.
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