What Kohola Brewery does

Kohola Brewery, operating under the legal entity Lāhainā Brewing Company, is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2014 in Lāhainā, Maui, Hawaii. It produces a small-batch craft beer portfolio branded as the Koholā Series, consisting of five core SKUs: Lokahi Pilsner, Lahaina Haze IPA, Talk Story Pale Ale, Red Sands Amber Ale, and The Waterman IPA, all packaged in 12oz cans. The company distributes these products through two owned-and-operated taproom locations on Maui (Wailea and Upcountry), a dine-in restaurant concept called Wailea Craft Kitchen at the Wailea site, and statewide retail distribution across Hawaii; it also sells branded merchandise (apparel, hats, koozies) through a Shopify-hosted e-commerce storefront at shop.lahainabrew.com.

The company's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across multiple channels: on-premise draft sales and food service at the taprooms, statewide retail of packaged beer, and a direct online merchandise store. A subscription-based recurring-revenue layer is operated through the Hop Drop Membership program, including a Founder's Membership tier with account-based access. The brand is culturally anchored in Hawaiian language and place-identity (e.g., Koholā meaning "whale," and product names referencing Lahaina, Lokahi, Talk Story, Red Sands, and the Waterman), and the company runs the Lokahi Giving Initiative, a community partnership program that donates a portion of proceeds to local Hawaii nonprofits. Marketing is community-led and experiential — Happy Hour, live music, trivia, and event programming across both taprooms — supported by Facebook, Instagram, and email newsletter channels.

The company is independently owned and operated under Chairman/Owner Greg Lang, with headcount reported at 1–10 employees and no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity. The original Lahaina taproom was destroyed in the August 2023 Lahaina fire, and current operations are centered on the surviving Wailea and Upcountry locations. There is no public disclosure of pricing, financials, or unit economics.

Name

Kohola Brewery

Legal name

Lahaina Brewing Company

Website

https://koholabrewery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kohola Brewery (Lāhainā Brewing Company) is a private Maui-based craft brewer selling a five-SKU canned beer line and operating two taprooms with restaurant service, statewide Hawaii retail distribution, a subscription membership, and an online merchandise store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Small batch beer
• Taproom dining
• Brewery merchandise
• Beer subscription membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Lahaina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Taproom and Restaurant Sales: On-site beer sales and food service at two Maui locations (Wailea Craft Kitchen and Upcountry), generating revenue from draft beer, merchandise, and dining.
2. Retail Beer Distribution: Canned beer products (Lokahi Pilsner, Lahaina Haze IPA, Talk Story Pale Ale, Red Sands Amber Ale, The Waterman IPA) sold through retail stores statewide in Hawaii.
3. E-commerce Merchandise: Online store selling branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies), accessories (hats, koozies), sold through shop.lahainabrew.com.
4. Hop Drop Membership: Subscription membership program offering perks to members, including Founder's Membership tier with account access.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kohola Brewery (Lahaina Brewing Company) brews and sells a small-batch craft beer line — the Koholā Series — including Lokahi Pilsner, Lahaina Haze IPA, Talk Story Pale Ale, Red Sands Amber Ale, and The Waterman IPA. The company operates two Maui taprooms (Wailea and Upcountry) with on-site draft beer, food service via the Wailea Craft Kitchen, live music and events, a statewide retail distribution of canned beer across Hawaii, an online merchandise storefront, and a Hop Drop beer subscription membership.

Product overview

Kohola Brewery (Lāhainā Brewing Company) is a craft brewery with a single unified product offering centered around its Koholā Series of small batch craft beers. The core portfolio consists of five beers: Lokahi Pilsner, Lahaina Haze IPA, Talk Story Pale Ale, Red Sands Amber Ale, and The Waterman IPA, all sold in 12oz cans at retail locations statewide and on draft at their two brewpub locations (Wailea and Upcountry). Supporting offerings include a Hop Drop Membership subscription program for beer deliveries, Wailea Craft Kitchen restaurant providing food pairings, and a merchandise e-commerce store selling branded apparel and accessories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Koholā Series: Product line featuring canned craft beers including Lokahi Pilsner, Lahaina Haze IPA, Talk Story Pale Ale, Red Sands Amber Ale, and The Waterman IPA.

Products and services

• Lokahi Pilsner A crisp pilsner beer in the Koholā Series, packaged in 12oz cans and sold through retail stores statewide in Hawaii and on draft at Kohola Brewery's taprooms. Aimed at craft beer drinkers seeking a refreshing, locally brewed pilsner.
• Lahaina Haze IPA A juicy IPA (also referred to as Juicy Lahaina Haze IPA) in the Koholā Series, packaged in 12oz cans for statewide Hawaii retail and served on draft at the brewery's taprooms. Targeted at craft beer enthusiasts who prefer hazy, hop-forward IPAs.
• Talk Story Pale Ale A pale ale in the Koholā Series named after the Hawaiian tradition of casual conversation, packaged in 12oz cans for statewide Hawaii retail and served on draft at Kohola Brewery taprooms. Aimed at craft beer drinkers seeking an approachable, locally themed pale ale.
• Red Sands Amber Ale An amber ale in the Koholā Series referencing local Red Sands, packaged in 12oz cans for statewide Hawaii retail and served on draft at the brewery's taprooms. Targeted at craft beer drinkers who prefer malt-forward amber ales.
• The Waterman IPA An IPA in the Koholā Series celebrating Hawaii's ocean culture, packaged in 12oz cans for statewide Hawaii retail and served on draft at Kohola Brewery taprooms. Positioned for craft beer drinkers who identify with Hawaiian coastal and waterman lifestyle.
• Koholā Series The umbrella product line of Kohola Brewery's small-batch craft beers, encompassing Lokahi Pilsner, Lahaina Haze IPA, Talk Story Pale Ale, Red Sands Amber Ale, and The Waterman IPA, sold in 12oz cans at retail locations statewide in Hawaii and on draft at the Wailea and Upcountry taprooms.
• Hop Drop Membership A subscription membership program offered by Kohola Brewery that delivers perks to members, including a Founder's Membership tier with online account access. Targeted at repeat craft beer consumers in Hawaii seeking ongoing access to Koholā Series beers.
• Wailea Craft Kitchen An elevated pub-fare restaurant at the Wailea taproom featuring local Hawaiian flavors paired with Kohola Brewery's craft beers, offering dine-in food service. Targeted at Maui residents and visitors seeking a full dining and beer experience.
• Kohola Brewery Merchandise Store An online storefront at shop.lahainabrew.com selling branded Kohola Brewery merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies) and accessories (hats, koozies). Targeted at brand fans, craft beer enthusiasts, and visitors seeking brewery-branded merchandise.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Local Nonprofits (via Lokahi Giving Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Lokahi Giving Initiative, Kohola Brewery partners with local nonprofits in Hawaii. The brewery donates a portion of proceeds to support community causes, with the specific mission of making every pour count for something bigger.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stone Brewing: Major U.S. craft brewery (now under Sapporo) with broad distribution and a hop-forward portfolio that overlaps with Kohola's IPA-heavy lineup (Lahaina Haze, Waterman).
• Boston Beer Company: Public craft brewer (Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, etc.) with national distribution and significantly greater scale; overlaps with Kohola in craft beer category dynamics and off-premise competition.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Large, established U.S. craft brewery with broad national distribution; comparable as a craft-beer brand owner competing for the same premium craft shelf and tap handles, though at substantially greater scale.
• Deschutes Brewery: Established regional craft brewery with pub, distribution, and diverse SKU portfolio; comparable as a multi-channel craft operator that Kohola's scaled-up trajectory could resemble.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Large craft brewer (Heineken-owned) with nationwide distribution and IPA/pale ale flagship products directly comparable to Kohola's IPA and pale ale SKUs.

Direct peers

• Maui Brewing Company: Hawaii-based craft brewery operating multiple taprooms and statewide canned distribution; directly comparable to Kohola as a Maui-rooted craft brewery competing for the same on-premise and retail customers.
• Kona Brewing Company: Hawaii-originated craft brewery with statewide Hawaii distribution and broader U.S. reach, now owned by AB InBev via Craft Brew Alliance. Directly comparable product mix (flagship IPAs, ambers, pilsners) and channel strategy.
• Hapa Brewing Company: Maui-based small craft brewery; comparable scale and geography, competing for the same Maui on-premise and tourist trade as Kohola's two taprooms.
• Waikiki Brewing Company: Hawaii craft brewery with taproom and statewide distribution; comparable business model combining brewpub operations with retail canned products in the same state market.
• Honolulu BeerWorks: Oahu-based craft brewery operating a brewpub and bottled distribution; comparable Hawaii craft operator with on-premise taproom plus off-premise packaged sales.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/koholabrewery
• Instagraminstagram.com/lahainabrewingco
• Xx.com/koholabrewery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kohola Brewery