Kona Brewing Hawaii

What Kona Brewing Hawaii does

Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi is Hawaiʻi's longest-running craft brewery, founded in 1994 by Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa in Kailua-Kona as an independent, locally-based operation structured as Kona Brewery LLC. The company produces a portfolio of island-inspired craft beers (Big Wave Golden Ale, Longboard Island Lager, Fire Rock Pale Ale, Kua Bay IPA, Gold Cliff IPA, Lilikoʻi Kea Witbier, Māhea Haze, Kamuela Kolsch, and others), hard seltzers (Strawberry Shave Ice, Lychee Lemonade, Passionfruit Orange Guava), and a non-alcoholic Longboard Island Lager, using local ingredients including Kona coffee, tropical fruits, passion fruit, and coconut. Brewing is conducted at a state-of-the-art 30,000-square-foot sustainable facility opened in 2021 with annual capacity of up to 100,000 barrels, featuring 1,200+ solar panels, a water reclamation system, a high-efficiency mash press, and an on-site canning line.

The business operates a multi-channel revenue model centered on Hawaiʻi-only distribution. Direct-to-consumer sales flow through two brewpub locations—Kona Pub (Kailua-Kona, opened 1998) and Hawaiʻi Kai Pub (Oʻahu, opened 2003)—offering dine-in, takeout, growler fills, and merchandise, supported by daily $25 guided brewery tours with shuttle service. Wholesale revenue is generated through retail stores, bars, and restaurants across the Hawaiian Islands in 6-pack and 12-pack formats, plus draft-only SKUs exclusive to on-premise accounts. The customer base spans Hawaiʻi residents (with Kamaʻāina, military, and first-responder discounts), tourists and visitors seeking authentic local experiences, and retail/hospitality partners. Distribution is deliberately constrained to Hawaiʻi, leveraging high inter-island shipping costs as a structural barrier against mainland competitors. The company employs 200+ Hawaiʻi residents and is supported by community programs including the Makana Local Giving initiative and Ocean Friendly Restaurant certifications at both pubs.

Name

Kona Brewing Hawaii

Legal name

Kona Brewery LLC

Website

https://konabrewinghawaii.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi is Hawaiʻi's longest-running craft brewery, producing Hawaiian-inspired beers, hard seltzers, and non-alcoholic options at a sustainable 100,000-barrel brewery in Kailua-Kona, serving residents, tourists, and retail/hospitality partners exclusively within the Hawaiian Islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Low/No-Alcohol Fermented Beverage Production (Hard Kombucha Base, Dealcoholized) (AFAFAHAI)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Brewpub dining
• Hard seltzer production
• Brewery tours
• Hawaiian craft brewery

Headquarters

HQ city

Kailua Kona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pub Food and Beverage Sales: Dine-in and takeout sales at Kona Pub (Kailua-Kona) and Hawai'i Kai Pub (Oahu), including hand-made pizzas, salads, appetizers, and freshly brewed craft beers on draft
2. Retail Package Sales: Canned and packaged beer sold at retail stores, bars, and restaurants across Hawai'i; also available in 6-packs and 12-packs
3. Growler Fills: Growler Shack at Kona Pub allows customers to fill containers with fresh draft beer for home consumption
4. Brewery Tours: Guided 60-minute brewery tours with shuttle service, including four 4-oz beer samples; $25 per person
5. Merchandise Sales: Exclusive Kona Brewing merchandise sold at pubs and online shop including apparel, accessories, and branded items

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kona Brewing Hawaii operates a craft brewery that produces and packages a portfolio of year-round, limited-release, and draft-only beers, hard seltzers, and a non-alcoholic beer. It sells these products through its own pubs (Hawaiʻi Kai Pub and Kona Pub), Hawaii retail and on-premise wholesale partners, and offers paid brewery tours at its Kailua-Kona facility. All production and sales are confined to the Hawaiian market.

Product overview

Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi is Hawaii's longest-running craft brewery founded in 1994, producing a portfolio of island-inspired craft beers and hard seltzers. The company offers a diverse product portfolio including year-round flagship beers (Big Wave Golden Ale, Longboard Island Lager, Kona Light Blonde Ale, Kua Bay IPA, Gold Cliff IPA, Fire Rock Pale Ale), seasonal and limited release offerings (Lilikoʻi Kea Witbier, Māhea Haze Hazy IPA, Kamuela Kolsch, Lemongrass Lūʻau, Pili Pilsner), a hard seltzer line (Strawberry Shave Ice, Lychee Lemonade, Passionfruit Orange Guava), and non-alcoholic options (NA Longboard Island Lager). Draft-only exclusive beers include Duke's Blonde Ale, Hanalei Island IPA, Lavaman Red Ale, Black Sand Porter, Koko Brown Ale, Hula Hefeweizen, Pipeline Porter, Wailua Wheat, and Castaway IPA. The company operates two pub locations (Kona Pub and Hawai'i Kai Pub) with full dining, and offers brewery tours at their sustainable 30,000-square-foot facility capable of producing up to 100,000 barrels annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Big Wave Golden Ale A flagship golden ale in Kona Brewing's year-round lineup, sold packaged in Hawaii retail and on draft at the company's pubs and partner accounts. Designed for general adult consumers seeking an approachable local craft beer.
• Longboard Island Lager A flagship lager in Kona Brewing's year-round lineup, sold packaged in Hawaii retail and on draft at the company's pubs and partner accounts. Targeted at general adult consumers.
• Kona Light Blonde Ale A lighter blonde ale in Kona Brewing's year-round lineup, sold packaged in Hawaii retail and on draft. Targeted at consumers seeking a lower-calorie local craft beer option.
• Kua Bay IPA An India Pale Ale in Kona Brewing's year-round lineup, sold packaged in Hawaii retail and on draft at pubs and partner accounts. Targeted at craft beer drinkers seeking a hop-forward local option.
• Fire Rock Pale Ale A pale ale in Kona Brewing's year-round lineup, sold packaged in Hawaii retail and on draft at pubs and partner accounts. Targeted at craft beer drinkers.
• Liliko'i Kea Witbier A witbier in Kona Brewing's year-round lineup featuring Hawaiian liliko'i (passionfruit), sold packaged in Hawaii retail and on draft. Targeted at craft beer drinkers seeking a Hawaiian-inflected local option.
• Pili Pilsner A limited-release pilsner in Kona Brewing's rotating lineup, sold on draft in Hawaii. Targeted at craft beer drinkers seeking limited local seasonal offerings.
• Kamuela Kolsch A limited-release Kölsch-style ale in Kona Brewing's rotating lineup, sold on draft in Hawaii. Targeted at craft beer drinkers.
• Lemongrass Lū'au A limited-release Hawaiian-inspired beer featuring lemongrass in Kona Brewing's rotating lineup, sold on draft in Hawaii. Targeted at consumers seeking local Hawaiian flavors.
• Gold Cliff IPA A limited-release IPA in Kona Brewing's rotating lineup, sold on draft in Hawaii. Targeted at craft beer drinkers seeking hop-forward limited local offerings.
• Māhea Haze A limited-release hazy-style beer in Kona Brewing's rotating lineup, sold on draft in Hawaii. Targeted at craft beer drinkers.
• Non-Alcoholic Longboard Island Lager A non-alcoholic version of Longboard Island Lager in Kona Brewing's lineup, sold packaged in Hawaii retail. Targeted at consumers seeking a non-alcoholic local craft beer option.
• Strawberry Shave Ice Hard Seltzer A Hawaiian-inspired hard seltzer flavor in Kona Brewing's seltzer lineup, sold packaged in Hawaii retail. Targeted at consumers seeking a local Hawaiian-themed hard seltzer.
• Lychee Lemonade Hard Seltzer A Hawaiian-inspired hard seltzer flavor in Kona Brewing's seltzer lineup, sold packaged in Hawaii retail. Targeted at consumers seeking a local Hawaiian-themed hard seltzer.
• Passionfruit Orange Guava Hard Seltzer A Hawaiian-inspired hard seltzer flavor in Kona Brewing's seltzer lineup featuring passionfruit, orange, and guava, sold packaged in Hawaii retail. Targeted at consumers seeking a local Hawaiian-themed hard seltzer.
• Duke's Blonde Ale (Draft-Only) A draft-only blonde ale exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Hanalei Island IPA (Draft-Only) A draft-only IPA exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Lavaman Red Ale (Draft-Only) A draft-only red ale exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Black Sand Porter (Draft-Only) A draft-only porter exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Koko Brown Ale (Draft-Only) A draft-only brown ale exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Hula Hefeweizen (Draft-Only) A draft-only hefeweizen exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Pipeline Porter (Draft-Only) A draft-only porter exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Wailua Wheat (Draft-Only) A draft-only wheat beer exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Castaway IPA (Draft-Only) A draft-only IPA exclusive to Kona Brewing's pubs and Hawaiian on-premise accounts. Targeted at on-premise consumers seeking pub-exclusive local craft beer.
• Brewery Tours Paid guided tours of Kona Brewing's Kailua-Kona brewery offered to visitors, including a standard tour at $25 per person. Targeted at tourists and craft beer enthusiasts visiting Hawaii.
• Brewpub Dining (Hawaiʻi Kai Pub and Kona Pub) On-premise food and beverage service at Kona Brewing's two company-owned pubs (Hawaiʻi Kai Pub and Kona Pub), offering pub menu items paired with Kona's draft beer lineup. Targeted at Hawaii residents and tourists.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ula'ula Fish CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal fishing company founded by Jeff Silva, a Kona-born expert waterman. Has supplied fresh ahi (tuna) to Kona Pub for over 20 years, used in fish tacos, poke bowls, and other seafood dishes. Represents the company's commitment to locally-sourced ingredients and supporting local fishermen.
• Surfrider FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization that certifies Kona Brewing's Hawai'i Kai and Kona Pubs as Ocean Friendly Restaurants. The certification recognizes commitments to reducing plastic waste and implementing ocean-friendly practices.
• Local Hawai'i Farmers and RanchersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of approximately a dozen Hawai'i-based fishermen, farmers, ranchers, and makers supplying key ingredients. Includes Kona grown coffee and vanilla, tropical fruits, greens, herbs, and vegetables. Supports local island economy while reducing carbon footprint from shipping.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stone Brewing: Established U.S. craft brewery with strong brand recognition and on-premise taproom operations. Comparable craft-beer peer competing for premium draft placements in Hawai'i retail and hospitality.
• Deschutes Brewery: Oregon craft brewery with pub, distribution, and sustainability credentials. Comparable craft incumbent with similar brewpub-plus-wholesale structure, though with broader U.S. distribution.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Pioneering U.S. craft brewery with national distribution and sustainability leadership. Comparable in scale, sustainability focus, and breadth of portfolio, but operates mainland-wide versus Kona's island-only model.
• New Belgium Brewing: Large national craft brewery (Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger) with sustainability-led branding and pub operations. Comparable as a sustainability-positioned craft incumbent, though at substantially greater scale.

Direct peers

• Lanikai Brewing Company: Oʻahu-based craft brewer and brewpub. Comparable craft/Hawaiian lifestyle positioning targeting residents and tourists in the same on-premise channel.
• Big Island Brewhaus: Big Island craft brewery with brewpub and retail presence. Closest geographic peer on Hawaiʻi Island and competes for local draft and packaged sales.
• Waikiki Brewing Company: Oʻahu craft brewery with brewpub locations and statewide distribution. Operates in the same Hawaiian-local-craft segment and competes directly for on-premise draft placements.
• Honolulu Beerworks: Oʻahu-based craft brewery operating its own brewpub and retail distribution across Hawai'i. Comparable craft-only, brewpub-and-packaged model serving the same Hawaiian consumer and tourist base.
• Maui Brewing Co. Hawai'i's largest craft brewery, also family-founded (1995) on Maui with a comparable brewpubs-plus-distribution model, island-inspired brand identity, and strong local-ingredient sourcing. The closest comparable operator in geography, scale, and strategy.

Others

• Surfrider Foundation: Environmental nonprofit that has certified Kona Brewing's pubs as Ocean Friendly Restaurants. Included as an adjacent ecosystem/partner rather than a competitor, illustrating the sustainability positioning the brewery leverages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/konabrewinghawaii
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/konabrewinghawaii

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Kona Brewing Hawaii