Waiakea Water
Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water is a privately held premium beverage company founded in 2012 in Hilo, Hawai'i, selling naturally alkaline volcanic water (pH 7.6–8.2) and RTD coffee via DTC e-commerce subscriptions and North American retail, with a sustainability-led packaging portfolio including algae-based inks and OceanPlast bottles.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Waiakea Water does
Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water is a privately held premium beverage company founded in 2012 by Ryan Emmons in Hilo, Hawai'i, operating with 11–50 employees. It sources naturally alkaline volcanic water (pH 7.6–8.2) from a Hawaiian volcanic aquifer, where water is filtered through more than 2,000 feet of porous volcanic rock over 25+ years. The source sits roughly 2,500 miles from the nearest industrial landmass and is operated under the blessing of indigenous kupuna and konohiki, anchoring the brand's provenance and sustainability claims.
The core product line comprises Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water (in formats including the Iki 24-pack and 500mL bottles), Mauna Mocha ready-to-drink volcanic coffee, and branded merchandise. The company has invested heavily in sustainable packaging — pioneering 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles in the US (2017–2018), launching OceanPlast bottles made from ocean-bound plastic (2019), and in February 2026 commercializing ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, the first large-scale beverage-sector application of carbon-negative algae-based ink developed over a five-year R&D partnership with Living Ink Technologies, ACTEGA, and NextGen Label Group.
Waiākea operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce on waiakea.com with a subscription/autoship program offering 10% savings and 14/28-day delivery cadence, alongside physical retail distribution via a store finder locator across North America. The brand is supported by a community-led growth model featuring the 'Ohana Ambassador program with professional athletes (NFL, MLB, NBA players, pro surfers) and student-athletes, plus content marketing, events such as "The Drop In," and a rewards/referral program. Revenue derives primarily from bottled water and RTD coffee product sales, with one disclosed $5.5M funding round in 2016 and no subsequent institutional rounds on record.
Waiakea Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Waiakea Water
- Legal name
- Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water
- Website
- https://waiakeasprings.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water is a privately held premium beverage company founded in 2012 in Hilo, Hawai'i, selling naturally alkaline volcanic water (pH 7.6–8.2) and RTD coffee via DTC e-commerce subscriptions and North American retail, with a sustainability-led packaging portfolio including algae-based inks and OceanPlast bottles.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Waiakea Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Bottled Water
- NAICS
- Bottled Water Manufacturing (312112), Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bottled Water (Still, Sparkling, Enhanced) (CRADAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mineral Water Bottling (Naturally Mineral) (AFAFACAB), Alkaline/Ionized Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAG)
Keywords
Where Waiakea Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Waiakea Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Bottled Water Products: Sale of naturally alkaline volcanic water in various pack sizes (24-pack, etc.) through e-commerce and retail. Subscription model offers 10% savings with recurring delivery.
- Ready-to-Drink Coffee: Sale of volcanic coffee products including Mauna Mocha RTD coffee in 12oz packs. Subscription option available.
- Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including performance hats and apparel through e-commerce platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Iki Water 24-Pack with subscription saves 10% |
| Subscription | Monthly | Mauna Mocha RTD Coffee 12-Pack with subscription saves 10% |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Performance Hat |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Waiakea Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Waiākea sources, bottles, and sells premium naturally alkaline Hawaiian volcanic water from a volcanic aquifer in Hilo, Hawai'i (pH 7.6–8.2), sold direct-to-consumer online and through retail. The portfolio also includes Mauna Mocha ready-to-drink volcanic coffee and branded merchandise, with pioneering sustainable packaging such as 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles, OceanPlast bottles made from ocean-bound plastic, and algae-based label inks.
Product overview
Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages offers a focused product portfolio centered on premium naturally alkaline volcanic water and ready-to-drink coffee. The core offerings include Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water (pH 7.6-8.2) available in various formats including 500mL bottles and 24-pack cases (Iki line), Mauna Mocha RTD Coffee in 12oz cans, and branded merchandise. The company has pioneered sustainable packaging through its OceanPlast™ bottles made from ocean-bound recycled plastic, representing an extension of its environmental mission. All products are sourced from Hilo, Hawai'i, and emphasize sustainability, with prior commercialization of 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OceanPlast: Bottles made from ocean-bound plastic, representing Waiākea's sustainable packaging innovation in North America.
- Mauna Mocha
- Waiākea Kōkua Initiative
Products and services
- Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water Premium naturally alkaline volcanic water sourced from a Hawaiian volcanic aquifer and naturally filtered through 2,000+ feet of porous volcanic rock over 25+ years. Available in 500mL bottles and 24-pack cases (Iki line), with pH of 7.6–8.2.
- Mauna Mocha RTD Coffee
Companies that use Waiakea Water
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Waiakea Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Waiakea Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- CheePono FoundationminorWaiākea Partner and Ambassador Yesod Williams (Pepper) and the CheePono Foundation launched a music scholarship for Big Island artists at Musicians Institute, supporting the next generation of local artists.
- IN4MATIONminorWaiākea and Hawai'i streetwear brand IN4MATION collaborated on Chapter 2 of their 'Collab w/ Purpose' Series, launching 'Hawai'i Loves Wahine Sports' merch capsule celebrating women's athletics and University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine.
- ACTEGAcoreInk and coating specialist ACTEGA partnered with Living Ink Technologies to introduce ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink. The collaboration began with Waiakea and Living Ink five years prior, before ACTEGA joined in 2024. ACTEGA enabled Waiakea to replace all traditional petroleum-based black ink in its labels through NextGen Label Group's production integration.
- NextGen Label GroupcoreNextGen Label Group handled production integration for the algae-based ink, enabling Waiakea to replace petroleum-based black ink in all labels at commercial scale.
- Living Ink TechnologiescoreBio-based pigment innovator Living Ink Technologies developed the carbon-negative Algae Black pigment derived from waste algae biomass. Five-year collaboration with Waiakea that began in approximately 2019-2020 led to the commercial development of algae-based beverage labels.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Waiakea Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Essentia Water: Ionized alkaline bottled water with pH 9.5+, marketed on hydration performance and pH benefits. Most direct functional analog to Waiakea's naturally alkaline pH 7.6-8.2 positioning, with national US retail and DTC distribution.
- Core Hydration: pH-balanced ultra-purified bottled water with added electrolytes, marketed on hydration performance. Functional analog to Waiakea's alkaline-water positioning with broad US retail distribution.
- JUST Water: Spring water packaged in plant-based cartons with a strong sustainability and B Corp narrative. Comparable to Waiakea as a sustainability-led, premium-priced, founder-driven water brand seeking national distribution.
- FIJI Water: Premium still bottled water sourced from a single natural artesian aquifer in Viti Levu, Fiji. Closest direct peer to Waiakea in the 'premium single-source bottled water' positioning, with similar natural-mineral-purity storytelling and premium pricing.
- Voss Water: Norway-sourced premium still and sparkling bottled water, marketed as a lifestyle/premium product in iconic cylindrical bottles. Competes with Waiakea on the same premium-hydration shelf and direct-to-consumer channels.
- Boxed Water Is Better: Water packaged in recyclable paper-based cartons with a circular-economy positioning. Comparable to Waiakea on the 'premium water + sustainability' wedge and similar DTC/retail distribution model.
- Mountain Valley Spring Water: Premium spring water sourced from a single protected spring in the Ouachita Mountains, sold in glass bottles with heritage branding. Comparable to Waiakea on single-source provenance and premium-positioned still and sparkling water SKUs.
Emerging players
- Liquid Death: Mountain-spring water and sparkling water in cans, marketed with a heavy lifestyle/counter-culture brand. Overlaps with Waiakea on premium still/sparkling water with sustainability packaging cues and a strong social/influencer-driven DTC motion.
- AquaHydrate: High-pH alkaline bottled water (pH 9+) with electrolyte mineralization, originally founded by actors and athlete investors. Comparable to Waiakea on alkaline-water functional positioning and athlete-backed marketing.
Broad incumbents
- Smartwater (Glaceau, The Coca-Cola Company): Vapor-distilled premium bottled water with added electrolytes, owned by Coca-Cola. Represents the large-incumbent competition Waiakea faces in the premium-still-water category, with vastly greater marketing and trade leverage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Waiakea Water social profiles
Digital presenceWaiakea Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Waiakea Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Waiakea Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Waiakea Water M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Waiakea Water
What does Waiakea Water do?
Waiākea sources, bottles, and sells premium naturally alkaline Hawaiian volcanic water from a volcanic aquifer in Hilo, Hawai'i (pH 7.6–8.2), sold direct-to-consumer online and through retail. The portfolio also includes Mauna Mocha ready-to-drink volcanic coffee and branded merchandise, with pioneering sustainable packaging such as 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles, OceanPlast bottles made from ocean-bound plastic, and algae-based label inks.
Is Waiakea Water a public or private company?
Waiakea Water is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Waiakea Water founded?
Waiakea Water was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Waiakea Water based?
Waiakea Water is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Waiakea Water make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bottled Water Products are the primary driver. The others are ready-to-Drink Coffee and merchandise.
Who are Waiakea Water's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Essentia Water, Core Hydration, JUST Water, FIJI Water, Voss Water, Boxed Water Is Better and Mountain Valley Spring Water. Emerging players are Liquid Death and AquaHydrate. Smartwater (Glaceau, The Coca-Cola Company) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Waiakea Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for Waiakea Water.
What industry is Waiakea Water in?
Waiakea Water's product category is Premium Bottled Water. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAHAC, Bottled Water (Still, Sparkling, Enhanced), with a secondary code of AFAFACAB, Mineral Water Bottling (Naturally Mineral). Its NAICS code is 312112 and its SIC code is 2080.