What does giving back mean to you?

For us at Kōloa Rum, giving back means fulfilling our commitment to support organizations and important causes in communities where we do business. It’s both gratifying and empowering knowing we have the ability to impact someone’s life in a positive way. Simply put, giving back is our way of sharing “The Spirit of Aloha” and caring for those who need it most. Mahalo!

How do you give back to your community?

Giving back to our community has always been important to us as a local business. We developed our Worthy Cause Program in the very beginning, and it wasn’t long before we began partnering with other local businesses. It has provided us the incredible opportunity to support local organizations and those who provide valuable services and benefits to our fellow community members. Among our community partners are the Kaua‘i Humane Society, Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association; also, University of Hawai‘i, where we had a commemorative bottle release and proceeds went to support the athletic department as well as Kaua‘i Community College, where we support the Wai‘ale‘ale Project designed to provide college opportunities to local residents. 

What has been the biggest reward? 

Being able to support our local agricultural industry. We’ve done so through valued partnerships such as the ones we have with Lydgate Farms and Kauai Coffee. These types of collaborative efforts help to preserve our valuable agricultural land, diversify our economy, and provide meaningful employment opportunities for local residents. We currently have 52 employees, 43 based in Hawai‘i. We find it gratifying we’ve been able to accomplish all of this, and it’s rewarding to know we’ve defied so many odds. Especially as a manufacturer competing nationally and globally from a very small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We are succeeding in those areas due to the hard work, creativity, and dedication of our team. 

How has Hawai‘i’s unique culture shaped who you are in business?

At Kōloa Rum, we embrace our ‘ohana and strive to demonstrate The Spirit of Aloha in all that we do. We work together toward common goals and objectives, which have been instrumental in our success. Everything we do as a company is done to promote Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i as this incredibly special and treasured place we hold so dear. It really isn’t about any of us individually, but rather this place as a whole and all that it means to each of us. Hawai‘i’s unique culture is embodied in the quality of our products and highlighted in the story of where it’s made, how it’s made, and who makes it. 

What new technologies have you implemented into your business practices?

We are committed to moving our company forward by embracing new technology and processes to improve production capacity and increase efficiencies. This could otherwise be a challenge for us given the limited space we operate from, which is why we’re building a new expanded distillery. The new facility will feature significant upgrades and be highly automated for maximum efficiency to continue meeting increasing demands. Our progress is also due to the hard work our sales team has put in to implement and upgrade their programs, applications, and platforms such as our CRM program, which allows us to better manage our customer and distributor relationships, manage inventories, and keep up with demand. We also continually invest in digital marketing, advertising, and social media to create impactful and engaging communication campaigns to position Kōloa Rum in front of key audiences. 

What have been the biggest turning points in your career?

The turning point in my career was when I was presented an opportunity by a group of folks who wanted to start a distillery on Maui. I fully pursued it, believing I could apply the experience and skills I had learned over the course of my career in a variety of industries to make this distillery a unique and successful business. I was given the chance to work in and learn about the alcohol beverage business while being mentored by some of the industry’s top professionals. Five years and two distilleries later, I was eager to return to Kaua‘i and join a select group of local investors who shared the vision of establishing a world-class rum distillery on The Garden Isle. My time in the sugar industry at Lihue Plantation, coupled with previous HR and electric utility experience, contributed to the knowledge and comfortability I had to join in the effort to create what is now Kōloa Rum. Looking back, I believe it was just meant to be.