HANALEI — Kona Brewing Company launched its latest craft beer Hanalei Island IPA in the destination of the brew’s inspiration — Hanalei. The event celebrated the Kauai community bringing generations of locals together including stand up paddleboarder Mariko Lum and
HANALEI — Kona Brewing Company launched its latest craft beer Hanalei Island IPA in the destination of the brew’s inspiration — Hanalei.
The event celebrated the Kauai community bringing generations of locals together including stand up paddleboarder Mariko Lum and surfer Reef McIntosh, both brand ambassadors for Kona Brewing Company.
“We are excited to launch Hanalei Island IPA here on Kauai, the island that inspired our latest creation,” said Cindy Wang, director of brand marketing, Kona Brewing Company. “With the distinct and beloved locally-inspired flavor profile, featuring POG — passionfruit, guava and orange, the drinkable IPA will sure to become a new favorite for beer drinkers.
Lum said she liked Hanalei Island IPA.
“I typically don’t gravitate toward IPAs, but this had a nice, refreshing, fruitier taste to it,” she said.
That it was named after one of Kauai’s iconic towns, Hanalei, is special, too, Lum said.
She noted the launch party was at the St. Regis Princeville Resort, overlooking Hanalei Bay. It was a gorgeous evening, made even better with a cold Hanalei Island IPA.
“That was pretty cool,” she said. “It’s fitting.”
A beer named for Hanalei, Lum said, is a great concept and flavor, she added.
Kona Brewing Company continued its long standing tradition of giving back to the local Hawaii community by acknowledging the Waipa Foundation, which committed to the restoration of the local 1600-acre land division of Waipa in North Shore Kauai.
To honor the year of unveiling Hanalei Island IPA, Kona Brewing Company presented Waipa Foundation with a check for $2,016. Keeping with paying homage to Hanalei, the event venue overlooked the land division (ahapua’a) managed by the Waipa Foundation.
“Launching Hanalei Island IPA in the place of its inspiration is very special to Kona Brewing Company,” Wang said.
Lum said she appreciates the efforts by Kona to be part of the community.
“One thing I love about being a part of Kona Brewing, they want to give back to the community,” she said. “
Hawaii locals will be first to sample Kona Brewing Company’s latest IPA before it hits the mainland market in the coming months.
Kona Brewing Company was started in Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaii in the spring of 1994 by father and son team Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa, who had a dream to create fresh, local island brews made with spirit, passion and quality.
Today, Kona is Hawaii’s largest and favorite craft brewery, known for top-selling flagship beers Longboard Island Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale and award-winning innovative small-batch beers available across the Islands.
The Hawaii born and Hawaii-based craft brewery prides itself on brewing the freshest beer of exceptional quality closest to market. This helps to minimize its carbon footprint by reducing shipping of raw materials, finished beer and packaging materials.
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The following kauai venues will be serving Hanalei Island IPA:
Tahiti Nui, Kalypso’s, Olympic Cafe (Kapaa and Poipu), Brenneckes in Poipu, St. Regis , Bali Hai/Happy Talk Lounge, Lava Lava, Hanalei Gourmet, Kauai Beach Resort (Shutters and Driftwood), Klub at Kiahuna, Merriman’s, Paradise Bar, Hanalei Dolphin and Street Burger.
