Ai Pono Maui

What Ai Pono Maui does

'Ai Pono Maui is a privately held, for-profit residential and virtual eating disorder treatment center operating from an 8-bed oceanfront home in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii. The organization traces its lineage to 1982 when co-founders Dr. Anita Johnston and Dr. Steven Orenstein established the Anorexia & Bulimia Center of Hawaii, and it has since evolved through Hawaii's first inpatient ED program (1986, Kahi Mohala Hospital), the first free-standing Eating Disorders Intensive Outpatient Program (2001, 'Ai Pono Honolulu), and the current Maui residential program (2012). The clinical model combines evidence-based modalities (DBT, EMDR, mindfulness, TMS) with alternative and Hawaiian cultural therapies (art therapy, sound therapy, horticulture, narrative/metaphor therapy, lei-making, ukulele), operating as a trauma-informed, holistic program addressing eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, OSFED, and orthorexia, alongside co-occurring trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use.

The current service portfolio consists of three core products: a Residential Treatment Program that delivers 24/7 care over an average 45–60 day stay with 3x weekly individual therapy, registered dietitian sessions, group therapy, and family programming; a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) exclusive to Hawaii residents offering 4x three-hour weekly sessions including therapy groups, nutrition groups, and meal support; and a Family & Friends Program for support systems. Revenue is generated through insurance reimbursement (in-network with most major plans including Hawaii State Medicaid and Tricare) on a recurring per-stay or per-program basis, supplemented by treatment scholarships for financially constrained patients. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct admissions (855-249-9992), website intake forms, insurance verification, and a National Outreach Coordinator-driven referral network with healthcare professionals, with marketing amplified through social media, a YouTube channel, and earned media from Dr. Johnston's podcast appearances and luxury rehab rankings.

The operating entity is privately held by founders and insiders (Dr. Anita Johnston, Steven Orenstein, Cathy Meyer-Uyehara, Clayton Uyehara, with Alexandra Perkinson as COO spanning both 'Ai Pono and the Central Coast Treatment Center sister site in California). No external funding, subsidiaries, or M&A activity has been disclosed. Regulatory standing is anchored by Joint Commission Behavioral Health Care Accreditation and a Hawaii State Department of Health license, and the company is an active member of the REDC Consortium.

Name

Ai Pono Maui

Legal name

Ai Pono Hawaii

Website

https://aipono.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

'Ai Pono Maui is a privately held residential and virtual eating disorder treatment center operating an 8-bed oceanfront facility on Maui, Hawaii, serving women with eating disorders and co-occurring conditions through evidence-based, trauma-informed, and Hawaiian cultural therapies, with insurance reimbursement as the primary revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wailuku

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Residential Treatment Services: Comprehensive residential treatment program providing 24/7 care including medical, nutritional, and therapeutic support. Patients stay for 45-60 days on average.
2. Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Virtual IOP serving Hawaii residents with 4x three-hour sessions per week including therapy groups, nutrition groups, and meal support.
3. Insurance Reimbursement: In-network with most major insurance plans including Hawaii State Medicaid and Tricare for veterans and military families.
4. Treatment Scholarships: Financial assistance programs available for those with limited financial means.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ai Pono Maui provides residential and virtual outpatient treatment for women with eating disorders, combining evidence-based therapies (DBT, EMDR, TMS, nutrition therapy) with holistic and Hawaiian cultural modalities. The residential program operates 24/7 in an 8-bed oceanfront home on Maui with typical 45-60 day stays, while the Virtual IOP serves Hawaii residents through group-based online sessions. A Family & Friends Program supports patients' loved ones, and the center is in-network with most major insurance plans including Hawaii Medicaid and Tricare.

Product overview

Ai Pono Maui is a residential eating disorder treatment center offering two primary levels of care: a Residential Treatment Program on Maui providing 24/7 immersive care in a home-like oceanfront setting, and a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) serving Hawaii residents online. The center specializes in treating various eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, OSFED, and co-occurring conditions. Treatment combines evidence-based therapies (DBT, EMDR, trauma-informed approaches) with holistic modalities (art therapy, sound therapy, horticultural therapy, Hawaiian cultural activities). A Family & Friends Program provides additional support for patients' support systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Treatment Program A comprehensive residential eating disorder treatment program providing 24/7 care for women with medical, nutritional, and therapeutic needs in an 8-bed oceanfront home on Maui. Includes individual therapy (3x weekly), group therapy, registered dietitian sessions, family support, trauma-informed care, medical monitoring (vital signs, labs, psychiatrist consultations), and an average 45-60 day length of stay.
• Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) An online intensive outpatient program offering structured group-based care for Hawaii residents, including psychotherapy, nutrition education, and meal support delivered via video platform with four three-hour sessions per week. Designed for those needing step-down care after residential treatment or who cannot travel to Maui due to family obligations or geographic isolation.
• Family & Friends Program A program designed to support and educate family members and loved ones of patients in recovery, helping them understand eating disorders and how to provide effective support during and after treatment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eating Disorder Quality of Life Scale (EDQLS) outcomes published for November 2015 - June 2023 demonstrating clinical effectiveness in reducing eating disorder symptoms and improving quality of life.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Central Coast Treatment Centers (Sister Site)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking in close collaboration with a 'sister site' in San Luis Obispo, California. Central Coast Treatment Center is led by CEO Cathy Meyer-Uyehara who brings over forty years of experience in acute and post-acute healthcare continuum. The partnership allows for continuum of care and shared clinical expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Equip Health: Fully virtual, family-based eating disorder treatment platform serving all 50 U.S. states with insurance contracting. A digital-first disruptor competing for the same ED patient pool, particularly on the IOP/virtual side that Ai Pono is restricted to within Hawaii.
• Within Health: Virtual IOP and PHP for eating disorders with national reach and insurance contracts. Competes with Ai Pono's Virtual IOP in terms of modality (group-based virtual ED treatment) and is unconstrained by Hawaii geography.

Direct peers

• Alsana: Multi-site residential ED treatment provider emphasizing evidence-based, trauma-informed care and dietary integration. Comparable clinical philosophy and high-acuity residential positioning to Ai Pono.
• McCallum Place: Residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment with medical monitoring and co-occurring disorder programming. Similar patient acuity, length-of-stay profile, and integrated medical/psychiatric model.
• Eating Recovery Center: Large multi-level-of-care ED treatment provider (residential, PHP, IOP) with national footprint and in-network insurance contracts. Comparable in target population, modality breadth, and payor-mix strategy to Ai Pono.
• Center for Discovery: Residential, PHP, and IOP treatment for adolescents and adults with eating disorders, with multiple sites across the U.S. Comparable in care continuum design and JCAHO-accredited clinical operating model.
• Monte Nido & Affiliates: One of the largest U.S. residential eating disorder treatment networks offering residential, PHP, and IOP across multiple states. Directly comparable to Ai Pono's residential + Virtual IOP ED treatment model, with similar multi-state growth ambitions and premium positioning.
• Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center: Residential treatment center for women with eating disorders and co-occurring conditions, with medical monitoring and trauma-informed care. Comparable in female-only residential ED focus and acuity of care.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsAN3ax4w7eciuO73ieNm0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/aiponohawaii
• Instagraminstagram.com/aiponohawaii
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ai-pono-maui

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ai Pono Maui