Hawaiians are celebrated for their innovative utilization of the islands’ rich agricultural resources, creating local beverages that honor and reflect the “aina” (land) of Hawaii. The landscape offers a plethora of ingredients for brewing beer, making wine, and distilling spirits, resulting in unique creations like coconut-infused porter, honey mead, and wines crafted from pineapples and volcanic grapes.

For those eager to explore Hawaiian alcoholic delights, there exists a variety of family-run establishments that offer educational and engaging tasting experiences. Here’s a curated guide to Hawaii’s vibrant craft beer, organic wine, and artisan spirits scene.

Kauai

• Kauai Beer Company: Located in Lihue, this brewery brews IPAs, German-style lagers, and an array of seasonal beers alongside a taproom menu with diverse food pairings. Visit at kauaibeer.com.
• Kaua’i Island Brewery & Grill: Nestled near Port Allen, this brewery is known for fresh seafood dishes and over a dozen beers on tap. More info at kauaiislandbrewing.com.
• Kōloa Rum Company: Made from pure sugar cane and rainwater, this rum is perfect for cocktails, with a tasting room at the historic Kilohana plantation. Details at koloarum.com.
• Nani Moon Meadery: Offers exotic honey wines in Kapa’a, featuring unique flavors like coffee-infused mead. Explore more at nanimoonmead.com.
• Hanalei Spirits Distillery: This distillery emphasizes local ingredients to craft rum, gin, and vodka, with tasting tours available. Check out hanaleispirits.com.

Maui

• Maui Brewing Company: As the largest craft brewer in Hawaii, its lineup includes the popular Bikini Blonde Lager and Coconut Hiwa Porter. Visit at mauibrewingco.com.
• Maui Aleworks: Known for rustic, farmhouse ales, this brewery offers an array of unique brews and is a recent addition to Maui’s beer scene. More at mahaloaleworks.com.
• Kohola Brewery: This brewery, in collaboration with Kona Brewing, features a range of ales and an on-site café serving local cuisine. Learn more at koholabrewery.com.
• Hali’imaile Distilling: Uses local pineapple to create premium spirits such as Pau Maui vodka and Paniolo Whiskey. Details at haliimailedistilling.com.
• MauiWine: Located on the slopes of Mount Haleakala, this winery is known for its pineapple wines and offers free tasting tours. Explore at mauiwine.com.
• Ocean Organic Farm and Distillery: Produces vodka using deep-ocean water and organic sugar cane, also providing tours of their sugar cane farm. Visit at oceanvodka.com.

Oahu

• Aloha Beer Company: Based in Honolulu, it offers a variety of beers with tropical flavors in its vibrant taproom. Check out alohabeer.com.
• KoHana Rum: Specializes in rums made from its own hand-harvested sugar cane, offering daily tasting tours. More on kohanarum.com.
• Koʻolau Distillery: This distillery crafts innovative spirits using local ingredients; tours available for tasting. More info at koolaudistillery.com.
• Hawaiian Shochu Company: The only shochu producer in Hawaii, crafting unique spirits from locally-sourced ingredients. Learn more at hishochu.com.
• Hawaii Honey & Mead: Oahu’s only craft meadery offers a flavorful mead using Hawaiian honey. Visit manoahoney.com.

Hawaii Island

• Kona Brewing Company: A veteran of the Hawaiian brewing scene, known for its vast variety of beers. Tours are available at konabrewinghawaii.com.
• Big Island Brewhaus: Offers a selection of award-winning craft beers and a menu with local dishes. Visit at bigislandbrewhaus.com.
• Wailuku Brew Works: Features craft beer and mead in a social hub for locals and visitors alike. More at wailukubrewworks.com.
• 12th Hawaii Distillery: Specializes in honey-based spirits, offering maceration processes unique to each bottle. Explore at 12thhawaiidistiller.com.
• Kuleana Rum Works: Uses heirloom sugarcane for its unique rums, open for tasting tours. More on kuleana.com.
• Ola Brew Company: This brewery produces small batches of uniquely flavored beverages reflective of island culture. More at olabrewco.com.
• Volcano Winery: The winery grows grapes infused with tropical fruits, offering tours for a taste of local innovation. Visit at volcanowinery.com.

Embark on your journey through Hawaii’s craft beverage scene and immerse yourself in the flavors that celebrate the unique connection between the land and its people.