Hilo, HI, Oct. 8 - Hawai’i Island’s Ola Brew – known for its beers, hard seltzers and hard juices – was celebrated for bringing home the prestigious “Best in Class” award Sunday night, Oct. 6, for its ‘Okolehao, a distilled spirit of Hawai’i, at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). This is the second “Best in Class,” the fifth “Double Gold” and the 51st overall medal that the up-and-coming Ola Spirits lineup has earned over the last four years for the unique product that is ‘Okolehao.
Leading with its founding mission to support the growth of Hawai’i’s agricultural economy, Ola Brew is incredibly humbled and proud to share these awards and recognition with its more than 4,200 community shareholders.
“For us [Ola Brew] the significance of ‘Okolehao is that we are now able to make a product that is 100% Hawai’i grown,” said Naehalani Breeland, co-founder and president of Ola Brew. “It is an honor to represent Hawai’i in the company of the world’s best spirits.”
The Ola team is driven by an impassioned purpose to bring the first spirit ever made in Hawai’i back to the world stage for the first time in over a century. Since 2020, Ola Brew has been hard at work perfecting the historic spirit of ‘Okolehao, which gained popularity and high regard in the Monarch Era of Hawai’i. Originally consumed as a 2-4% fermented ki root beverage by native Hawaiians, distillation techniques were introduced to Hawai’i by the infrequent sailors coming through the region in the late 1700’s. During the 1800’s, Hawai’i’s ali’i gifted the spirit to countless royal families as part of their travels that circumnavigated the globe. By the end of the 19th century, ‘Okolehao had garnered acclaim at prestigious international competitions, including awards from the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris and the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.
Amanda Blue, President of the Tasting Alliance and SFWSC, described Ola Brew and its ‘Okolehao as “the first ki spirit producers that have entered the competition [in 25 years]; this was an experiment gone really, really right.”
Ola Brew is resurrecting ‘Okolehao’s return to the world stage with a drive rooted in agricultural development to ensure the growth of a more sustainable and circular economy here in Hawai’i. This comes just months before the community-owned brand is set to open the doors to its breathtaking ocean-front Ola Distillery, where the Hilo Sugar Mill once stood. Brett Jacobson, co-founder and CEO of Ola Brew, is leading the buildout and renovation of the property.
“This has been an incredible honor to repurpose a property that has so much history, knowing that we are reclaiming this place for our community of Hilo to enjoy while growing what has the potential to be the largest agricultural crop for Hawai’i to date,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson has operated with regenerative solutions in mind for the distillery, incorporating biodiesel elements and carbon neutral solutions to production. He shared his gratitude for county officials and departments – including John Cross, and the teams of Mayor Mitch Roth, Director of Planning Zendo Kern and Director of Environmental Management Ramzi I. Mansour – for their continued help in orchestrating this incredible undertaking.
With the opening of the Ola Distillery, the surrounding community will benefit for decades to come – not only with a budding ‘Okolehao industry to provide new and exciting jobs, but also environmentally. As part of the buildout, Ola Brew is funding and working in tandem with Hawai’i County to extend the city wastewater line nearly 2,500 feet down the highway to service both the Wainaku and Kaiwiki neighborhoods. Not only will this allow the distillery to operate at an increased production level, it will intentionally aid in fulfilling Hawai’i’s Act 125 – passed in 2017 – which states that all homes in the State of Hawai’i must transition from cesspools to septic tanks, or city connection by 2050. Extending the city’s wastewater line will offer the potential for more than 300 households to do so.
While Ola Brew looks forward to opening the distillery doors at Wainaku in spring 2025, its ‘Okolehao spirit will be available at the brewery’s Kona and Hilo taprooms by early next year.
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Ola Brew is a community and employee-owned brewery and distillery, the mission of which is to encourage growth in Hawaii's agricultural economy by purchasing local ingredients and incorporating them into its beverages. Ola Brew understands the value of a reciprocal partnership between their business and the surrounding community. With the current product offerings of beer, hard seltzer and hard juice – and now distilled spirits – Ola has sourced over $3 million in Hawai’i-grown agriculture since it opened the brewery in December 2017. Using ingredients grown in Hawai’i has allowed the team at Ola Brew to optimize and innovate from fruits and botanicals that are anchored in the true flavors of Hawai’i.
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