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Kona Brewing Company

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Kona Brewing Hawai'i
Longboard Island Lager, Kona Brewing's flagship beer
LocationKailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
United States
Opened1994; 32 years ago (1994)
Key peopleNathalie Carisey, President[1]
Annual production volume
220,000 US beer barrels (260,000 hL) in 2012 [2]
OwnerPV Brewing
DistributionExclusive to the Hawaiian market[a]

Kona Brewing Co. is a brewery and pub headquartered in Kailua-Kona, with a second location in Kai. Founded in 1994 by father and son Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa, sales were initially confined to the state until a separate brewing facility on the mainland was established. The brewery merged with Craft Brew Alliance, which itself was eventually acquired by Anheuser-Busch, only for the Hawaiian operations to be spun off as a condition of the acquisition.[4] In 2020, PV Brewing Partners, purchased the operations. The mainland operations, still owned by Anheuser-Busch, were rebranded as Kona Big Wave in 2023.[3]

Company history

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Kona Brewing Company is the state’s longest-running craft brewery.[citation needed] It was founded in 1994 by father-and-son duo Cameron and Spoon Healy. The brewery originally sold only to the local market. Due to costs, shipping the beer to the continental US was impractical, so the brewery made arrangements to brew beer on the Mainland.[2]

The Kona pub was opened in November, 1998 and the Hawaii Kai pub opened in December, 2003.[5]

In order to expand distribution to all 50 states and international markets, the brewery merged with the Craft Brew Alliance in October, 2010[6] and contacted with Widmer Brothers, an Oregon regional craft brewer.[7] Ownership by Craft Brew Alliance granted the company access to the Anheuser-Busch distribution network, which, according to Hawaii Business Magazine, "has the most technologically sophisticated distributor system in the country, with computer terminals in thousands of independently owned distributors and its own network of wholly owned distribution branches."[7]

In 2020, Kona Brewing Hawaii was established as an independent brewery, separate from the mainland's Anheuser-Busch operation.[citation needed] The establishment of the independent brewery included the construction of a 30,000-square foot facility with an annual capacity of 65,000 barrels and a canning line. In addition, the new brewery includes sustainable initiatives, such as solar energy collection and usage, and reusing water from the fermentation process for cleaning and irrigation.[citation needed]

Kona Brewing Hawaii has made significant strides to provide for the local community through its Makana Giving program, supporting local nonprofits that protect the environment and enrich residents' quality of life. Previous recipients included the Eddie Aikau Foundation, Waipā Foundation and Surfrider Hawai‘i chapters.[citation needed]

Year-round beer offerings

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Year-round beers [8]


Island-only beers Kona Brewing Hawai'i brews and distributes several beers exclusive to the state. Examples include:

  • Longboard Lager,
  • Big Wave,
  • Koko Brown, etc.

Breweries and sourcing

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In 2012, Kona Brewing Company then under Craft Beer Alliance, produced 220,000 US beer barrels (260,000 hL) of beer from its Kona brewery and other production facilities on the mainland.[2] Kona Brewing Company runs its flagship brewery in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island. Kona Brewing Company brands were also produced at Widmer Brothers Brewery in Portland, Oregon, and Redhook Ale Brewery in both Woodinville, Washington, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the sister subsidiaries of Craft Brew Alliance, Inc.

Today, nearly all of the beer available in Hawai'i is brewed in the Kona-based brewery on Hawai'i Island. 100% of Hawai'i draft beer, 100% of 6pk beer, 100% of 12pk beer is brewed in Kona, Hawai'i. These packages are only distributed in Hawai'i. There are a few specialty packs that are brewed in the mainland as the Kona facility does not have the capabilities to package variety packs, 19.2 ounce cans and seltzers. These packages are created in partnership with the Hawai'i-based brewing team and available only in Hawai'i.


Hawaii roots

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Kona Brewing Hawai'i has two restaurants in Hawai'i with 250 employees working on the islands in the brewery, restaurants and in the corporate offices.

  • Pipeline Porter is brewed with 100% Kona coffee from their neighbor on the Big Island, Cornwell Estate
  • The ginger in their Big Island Ginger is cultivated in Kona.
  • The lemongrass in the Lemongrass Luau is grown on-site and at employees' houses.
  • Cacao nibs for specialty beers are sourced from Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory.

Growth and distribution

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In 2009, Kona Brewing Company was ranked #14 in sales of all craft brewers in the US (approximately 1,450) according to the Brewers Association.[16][17]

As of August 2026, Kona's beers are available in 25 states[which?], including the District of Columbia.[citation needed]

Labels & Advertising

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The branding often depicts Hawaiian beaches and island scenes, such as surfing, tribal designs and mountains.[18]

In the late 2010s, the company produced television commercials with actors Dave Bell and Brutus La Benz, who play friends making observations about "mainlanders" while discussing Kona beers.[19][20]

Sustainability and community support

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Kona Brewing Company supports numerous community events throughout the year, including surf and surf-inspired events and causes that celebrate Hawaiian people, land and water. These include sponsoring professional surfers Jeff Silva and CJ Kanuha. Kona supports Sierra Club's Blue Water Campaign[21] and a number of chapters of Surfrider Foundation, including the Pacific NW and Hawaii's Surfrider Kona Kai Ea Chapter.

In 2008, Kona employed a sustainability coordinator to further its recycling efforts.[22]

Also, according to the Big Island Visitor's Bureau sustainable tourism practices section, "Kona's restaurant was constructed with recycled materials and adorned with native woods; local produce, fresh-caught fish and sustainably-raised beef on menu. Heat reclamation systems in the brewery greatly reduce energy demand; plastic, paper, metal, glass and cardboard are recycled, takeout containers are made of plant-based materials and automatic faucets and toilets reduce water usage."[23]

"Hawaiian" brewing controversy

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In March 2017, Kona Brewing Company faced a class-action lawsuit on the claim it implied its beer was brewed in Hawaii, when in fact it was brewed in New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington state.[24]

The company settled in 2019.[25]

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ [AB Inbev] now owns the rights to the brand in 49 states and internationally. PV Brewing Partners owns the Hawai’i branch of Kona.[3]

References

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  1. ↑ "Nathalie Carisey". Hawaii Business Magazine. After 30 years of progressive operations leadership experience with Pulse Electronics and Becton Dickinson, Nathalie joined Kona Brewing Hawaii as their Supply Chain Lead in June 2022 and became President in January 2024
  2. 1 2 3 "Kona Brewing hits Ohio shelves, bringing taste of Hawaii to Midwest".
  3. 1 2 Karlovitch, Sara (17 May 2023). "AB InBev's Kona beer surfs into summer with new name, brand refresh". TechTarget, Inc. Retrieved 20 August 2026. Kona Big Wave, a beer brand founded in Hawaii and acquired by Anheuser-Busch (AB) InBev in 2020, launched a new campaign to support a brand refresh, including a new logo and updated packaging, according to a press release. The effort comes as the brand changes its name from Kona Brewing Co. to Kona Big Wave.
  4. ↑ Bartz, Diane (19 September 2020). "U.S. approves Anheuser-Busch deal to buy Craft Brew Alliance". Reuters. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Davis, Mattson (15 February 2006). "Brewing Up Some Success". MidWeek Printing, Inc. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi Finally Gets Its Craft Beer Cred". American Craft Beer, LLC. 10 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026. By the time Kona joined Craft Brew Alliance in 2010, it was already a major American craft beer brand. Craft Brew Alliance had been created through the merger of Redhook Brewery and Widmer Brothers Brewing, and Kona became part of the group through a merger completed in October 2010. Under CBA, Kona expanded dramatically, eventually reaching all 50 states and roughly 30 international markets.
  7. 1 2 Salkever, Alex (2007). "Brewing National Success: Kona Brewing Company's Secret to Mainland Expansion". Hawaii Business Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-06-25. Retrieved 2026-08-24. n 2004, Kona entered the Anheuser-Busch distribution system and joined the Craft Brew Alliance, a marketing and sales group forged by Anheuser-Busch to capitalize on the fast-growing craft brew market. "The month of transition, normally a horrendous month of sales, we were up 40 percent in Hawaii," says Davis.
  8. ↑ "Kona Brewing Co. - Kona Brewing Co". Kona Brewing Co. 27 Aug 2020.
  9. ↑ "Longboard Island Lager | Kona Brewing Co". BeerAdvocate. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  10. ↑ "Longboard Island Lager | Kona Brewing Co". Beerhunter. Archived from the original on 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  11. ↑ "Our Beers". Kona Brewing Co. 2021-09-26. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  12. ↑ "Fire Rock Pale Ale | Kona Brewing Co". BeerAdvocate. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  13. ↑ "Our Beers". Kona Brewing Co. 2021-09-26. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  14. ↑ "Kona Brewing Company to Release Gold Cliff IPA". Brewbound. 2018-04-27. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  15. ↑ "Hanalei Island IPA lands in the Golden State". Kona Brewing Co. 2021-09-26. Archived from the original on 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  16. ↑ Brewers Association 2009 North American brewery rankings[permanent dead link]
  17. ↑ Kona is in the top 50 for 2009, Pacific Business News, April 14, 2009
  18. ↑ du Terenne, Veronique (March 25, 2010). "Beer label art matches the quirky character of the microbrews". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 20, 2026. At Kona Brewing Co., the message is all about Hawaii. Take Longboard Island Lager, for instance, where surfers backed by Hawaii's volcanic mountains ride blue, blue waves toward a broad and sandy beach. The logo itself echoes a tribal tattoo, adding to the local vibe. "Orange crates of the past were trying to deliver a sense of place," says Mattson Davis, Kona Brewing's president and chief executive. "Wouldn't you like to be in this beautiful field? Wouldn't you like to be eating this succulent fruit?" Kona's label is also all about the narrative, Davis says. "Here we say, 'Let's go talk story,' " he says. "That's the social engagement — let's go relax. Let's go have a beer."
  19. ↑ Lukovitz, Karlene (May 9, 2017). "Kona Brewing's 'Bruddahs' Mystified By Screen Obsessions". Marketing Daily. MediaPost Communications. Retrieved August 20, 2026. For Kona Brewing Co.'s first-ever national TV campaign, the "Bruddahs"—Hawai'i's own David Bell and Blake "Brutus" LaBenz return to the screen and poke a little fun at today's always-connected consumer with some island and Kona inspired solutions to bring a little more aloha into our everyday lives. The three new 30-second ads will air throughout the NCAA's March Madness tournament on national TV and on local TV in select markets, with the first national spot running March 21, 2019.
  20. ↑ Genegabus, Jason (June 1, 2016). "Kona Brewing brings 'Bruddahs' back for new ad campaign". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Carpenter Media Group. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2026. Two years after introducing their version of the Bruddahs to beer drinkers around the country, Kona Brewing Company is back with a new series of commercials starring local actors Dave Bell and Brutus La Benz.
  21. ↑ "Brew, Blue Water - quite a splash". the.honoluluadvertiser.com. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  22. ↑ Sudick, Jennifer (2008-06-29). "Brewing with a conscience: Island breweries go green". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2026-08-20. Isle brewing giant Kona Brewing Co. hired a sustainability coordinator earlier this year to research and implement a recycling program for the Big Island brewery. The brewery already has cut its trash output by half, said Mattson Davis, president and chief executive. A decade ago, Kona shifted its bottling operations to the mainland amid concerns that it was not environmentally or economically sustainable to operate a packaging facility here. "It does not make a sustainable positive carbon footprint," Davis said. "The other models aren't sustainable if you want to grow your brand. Hawaii is not a manufacturing state."
  23. ↑ "Big Island Visitor Bureau". Archived from the original on 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  24. ↑ Filloon, Whitney (2 March 2017). "Kona Brewing Co. Sued for Not Actually Brewing Its Beer in Hawaii". Eater.com. Vox Media. Retrieved 24 August 2026. Two California drinkers are suing the maker of Kona Brewing Co. beers, Reuters reports, saying they were falsely led to believe the product is produced in Hawaii. The plaintiffs certainly aren't alone in thinking the beer comes from Hawaii: The labels feature hula dancers, surfers, and other beachy themes, and have names like Wailua Wheat and Longboard Island Lager. But in fact, as the suit filed earlier this week in a San Jose court lays out, Kona Brewing parent company Craft Brew Alliance Inc. produces most of the beer in the continental U.S. — in the decidedly non-tropical regions of Oregon, Washington state, New Hampshire, and Tennessee.
  25. ↑ Stempel, Jonathan (30 May 2019). "Kona beer settlement in U.S. offers partial refunds over 'Hawaii' claims". Reuters. Retrieved 24 August 2026. The maker of Kona beer agreed to offer partial refunds to settle a lawsuit claiming it misled consumers in the continental United States into believing the craft brew was actually made in Hawaii, causing them to overpay.
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