USA, HI: Kona Brewing to build another brewery in Kailua-Kona

After a year-long search that included evaluating multiple sites across the Islands, Kona Brewing Co. on January 20 announced that it has signed a lease with the Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust, a private charitable trust founded in 1909 to serve native Hawaiian children, for a 2.6-acre site in Kailua-Kona. The location, which is just down the street from the original Kona Brewery & Pub, will be the future home of Kona’s new 30,000-square-foot brewery and canning operation.

The Hawaiian craft brewery is investing more than $20 million, which reflects an increase of $5 million from its original plan, to incorporate new innovations in renewable energy and water conservation into the brewery design. The new high-efficiency brewery will boost capacity to 100,000 barrels per year, enabling Kona to meet increasing local demand for its distinctive island-inspired brews, while supporting the company’s long-running commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Construction and the use of local suppliers and vendors will support the local economy, and once the new brewery is operational, the company will expand its Kona Brewing pub to create additional job opportunities. As a result of the extended search and increased sustainability investments, Kona anticipates breaking ground on the new brewery this spring and being fully operational by early 2018.

“When we first decided on Kailua-Kona for our original Kona Brewery 22 years ago, we did it as a result of our respect for the rich culture and spirit of the community,” said Cameron Healy, who co-founded Kona Brewing Co. with his son Spoon Khalsa in 1994. “It’s amazing to see how far Kona Brewing Co. has come in just over two decades. Having the opportunity to build the new Kona Brewery in the same neighborhood where we started is a privilege. Kona and the Big Island of Hawaii are special, and we are grateful to the community for all of their support over these many years.”

In addition to increasing its draft production, the new brewery’s canning operation will enable Kona to expand its package offerings in the Islands. Currently, Kona Longboard Island Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale are the only Kona Brewing beers sold in cans, and the new canning operation will enable Kona to make more of its innovative and seasonal beers available in this increasingly popular packaging option.

Kona Brewing Company was started in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island 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.

Kona Brewing has become one of the top craft beer brands in the world, while remaining steadfastly committed to its home market through a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and community outreach. In 2014, the company achieved a milestone in its home state, selling more than 1 million cases in the Islands for the first time in its history.

22 January, 2016