Inspired by Hawaii’s natural resources — local breweries, wineries, and distilleries are adding a tropical twist to your pau hana hour. Hawaii-made beer, wine, and spirits are creating a wave in the island scene and tourists and locals are loving it.
If you’re lucky enough to be in town and you’ve passed your COVID-19 test with flying colors, you can take a tour and visit a tasting room at some of these companies. Others will ship directly to your home address. Here’s a list of some Hawaiian-made hooch to help you get a taste of some liquid aloha.
Aloha Beer Co.
This brewery and taproom located on Oahu is owned by local businessman, Steve Sombrero, and Hawaii-born craft brewer, Dave Campbell. Campbell has spent over 20 years honing his skills and knowledge in the craft brewing industry. Head brewer, Kaiao Archer, also brings many years of experience to the production of Aloha Beers.
Aloha Beer Co. is a popular gathering place in the heart of the Kakaʻako area. Offering locally-made brew, you will find unique tropical flavors in their selection of IPAs, ales, porters, and lagers. Take-home growlers start at $16 and 5-gallon kegs start at $80. For those of you who don’t drink beer, Aloha Beer Co. also offers an impressive selection of tropically-infused cocktails and a mouthwatering menu of pupus, shared boards, sandwiches, and loaded fries.
Aloha Beer Co.
700 Queen St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 544-1605
https://www.alohabeer.com
Fid Street Gin
Claiming to be the “first gin ever created in Maui”, Fid Street Gin combines the components of London Dry Gin with 12 botanicals locally sourced in Hawaii. Created and produced in their distillery in Maui, it is no surprise that Fid St. features Maui Gold Pineapple essence from pineapples grown on their very own pineapple farm.
Fid Street Gin can be purchased at local ABC Stores, Safeway, and Foodland to name a few retailers. Or if you find yourself on Maui, a tour and tasting can be scheduled on a reservation-only basis at the Haliʻimaile Distilling Company in Makawao. There you will also be able to sample the distillery’s other spirits such as Pau Maui Vodka, Mahina Premium Rum, and Paniolo Blended Whiskey in addition to their Fid Street Gin.
Haliʻimaile Distilling
883 Haliʻimaile Rd.
Makawao, HI 96768
Phone: (808) 633-3609
https://haliimailedistilling.com
https://www.fidstreetgin.com
Kō Hana Rum
The word, Kō, is the Hawaiian word for sugar cane. Most rums in the world are made with molasses which is a manufactured by-product of sugar. But Kō Hana Rum is uniquely crafted with sugar cane hand-harvested directly from its own sugar cane farm located in central Oahu. In a two-year aging process, the rum first rests in oak barrels but then finishes in koa barrels. The farm to bottle journey of Kō Hana Rum is a unique island experience.
Tasting tours are held daily. Begin your tour with freshly-pressed cane juice, learn about the history of the Hawaiian sugar cane in the garden, and finish your tour by taking home a souvenir tasting glass. The first 50 bottles of each batch are beautifully packaged in a koa box, and the subsequent bottles come with a koa wood medallion. Kō Hana Rum can be found at local retailers such as Whole Foods Market and many hotels across the islands.
Kō Hana Distillers
92-1700 Kunia Dr.
Waipahu, HI 96797
Phone: (808) 649-0830
https://www.kohanarum.com
Kōloa Rum Co.
If you find yourself on the Garden Isle of Hawaii — have no fear. A distillery and tasting room can also be found on the beautiful island of Kauai. Crafted from pure Hawaiian cane sugar and rainwater from Mount Waiʻaleʻale, Kōloa Rum is a favorite ingredient in many island-themed cocktails such as the popular Mai Tai. If you hit up their “mixology” page of their website, you will come across a number of recipes for tropical cocktails. A fantastic resource, IMO.
For a tasting, Kōloa Rum Co. is open from Tuesdays to Fridays. Tours are held every hour, on the hour, and can be booked online. If you don’t have time for a tour, drop by their gift shop. Your family and friends at home would be delighted to receive Hawaiian rum-based goodies such as rum cake and rum fudge sauce.
Kōloa Rum Co. Store & Tasting Room
Kilohana Plantation
3-2087 Kaumualii Hwy.
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: (808) 246-8900
https://koloarum.com
Koʻolau Distillery
Located on the windward side of Oahu, Koʻolau Distillery specializes in using pure artesian well water and locally sourced corn to craft its Old Pali Road Whiskey. Founded by veterans, Eric Dill and Ian Brooks, they strive to serve you with the highest of standards and experience with their whiskey.
You will be able to find Old Pali Road Whiskey at local supermarket chains and many restaurants on the island. At their store, you will also find that they have partnered up with Manoa Chocolate. You can also purchase their very own FDA-approved Koʻolau hand sanitizer in bulk. For a tour and tasting, Koʻolau Distillery is open on most Fridays and Saturdays. Availability and booking can be found online.
Koʻolau Distillery
905 Kapaa Quarry Pl. Building 50
Kailua, HI 96734
Phone: (808) 261-0685
https://www.koolaudistillery.com
Maui Brewing Co.
The popular Maui Brewing Company sells year-round beers such as the popular Bikini Blonde lager, Big Swell IPA, and Pineapple Mana Wheat to name a few. However, you do want to get your hands on their limited release brews such as the Coconut Wireless and their latest — Pineapple Chi Chi.
Maui Brewing Company has four restaurants where you can sample their beers: two of which are on Maui and the other two eateries are located on Oahu. The brewery itself is located at the restaurant site in Kihei. Although tours at the brewery are currently suspended, you can find their beers at numerous retailers throughout the islands and nation-wide.
Maui Brewing Co.
605 Lipoa Pkwy.
Kihei, HI 96753
Phone: (808) 201-BEER
https://mauibrewingco.com
Ocean Organic Vodka
Located on Maui, Ocean Organic Vodka prides itself on practicing sustainable farming and being ecologically responsible. This vodka is also made with desalinated deep ocean mineral water off the coast of Kona on the Big Island. They grow and nurture their own organic sugar cane varieties and employ a state of the art solar-powered facility.
Visit their distillery where they boast spectacular views of the ocean and prepare to be educated on the history of sugar cane farming. Tastings and tours are held from Wednesday to Sunday. They also have a farm store conveniently open on those days for you to do your shopping. Ocean Organic Vodka can also be found at local retailers and across the nation at your markets. Just look for the round blue bottle!
Ocean Organic Vodka
4051 Omaopio Rd.
Kula, HI 96790
Phone: (808) 877-0009
https://oceanvodka.com
Ola Brew Co.
Ola Brew produces beer and cider at their Kailua-Kona location on the Big Island. This company is also both employee and community-owned, and pride themselves on relying on their local farmers for the freshest ingredients.
Riding the wave and rise in popularity of the hard seltzer, Ola Brew is making a big splash with island-themed flavors such as Hawaiian Ginger, Hawaiian Hibiscus Lavender, and Hawaiian Lemongrass. You can visit their taproom for a taste, or you can purchase their brews and seltzers at retailers and markets across the islands.
Ola Brew Co.
74-5598 Luhia St.
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808) 339-3599
https://www.olabrewco.com
Volcano Winery
Drop by for a glass of Hawaii-made wine if you find yourself touring Volcanoes National Park of the Big Island. The grapes of these wines are grown and harvested in the mineral-rich volcanic soil. Utilizing exotic fruit such as starfruit, guava, lilikoi, and papaya, you can also find Hawaiian varieties such as the Macadamia Nut Honey Wine.
Volcano Winery is located at the 30-mile marker in Volcano. Tastings are available daily and reservations can be made online. Although the wines are not distributed outside of the islands, they will ship directly to most states.
Volcano Winery
35 Pii Mauna Dr.
Volcano, HI 96785
Phone: (808) 967-7772
https://volcanowinery.com
Glossary:
Kakaʻako — a hip and vibrant area of Honolulu known for its eateries, retailers, and street art.
Koa — an endemic flowering tree found in the Hawaiian islands.
Lilikoi — is Hawaii-grown passionfruit.
Mai Tai — a rum-based cocktail consisting of both light and dark rums, orange curaçao, almond syrup, lime juice, and in Hawaii — pineapple juice.
Pau Hana — Hawaiian pidgin for “finished with work”. Synonymously used with happy hour in Hawaii.
Pupus — Hawaiian pidgin for bite-sized finger foods or appetizers.