View details of this raise on Seedstage
Kailua Kona, HI
Scaling the revival of Ōkolehao by expanding Hawaiʻi kī agriculture, distillation processing, and go-to-market growth beyond the islands.
- Vertically Integrated Kī Supply: Ola Brew operates a farm-to-bottle approach using 100% Hawaiʻi-grown kī root to keep sourcing and ingredient consistency connected to production.
- Reviving a Historic Spirit: The spirits program rebuilds ʻŌkolehao as a modern category grounded in Hawaiʻi history, including recognition at the 1889 Paris Exposition.
- Ola Distillery Buildout: Infrastructure development includes the Ola Distillery at Wainaku Executive Center, plus taprooms in Hilo and Kona that support ongoing production and guest experiences.
- Award-Validated Quality: Ola Brew reports 75 international awards for Ōkolehao, including Best in Class honors, during its buildout phase.
- Proceeds for Scale and Markets: The raise supports expanding kī agriculture, scaling agricultural processing, and investing in sales and marketing to expand beyond Hawaiʻi.
Ola Brew is raising capital to expand agriculture, scale kī root processing, and invest in sales and marketing to bring Ōkolehao beyond Hawaiʻi to national and global markets. The company operates a vertically integrated model built around 100% Hawaiʻi-grown kī root, using an Ola-operated farm-to-bottle approach that ties production to location and heritage. Spirits production builds on a historic lineage: ʻŌkolehao earned international recognition at the 1889 Paris Exposition and became part of Hawaiʻi’s monarch-era drinking culture before production knowledge was disrupted after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Today, Ola Brew combines agricultural development with distillery infrastructure to recreate the spirit in a modern form with a consistent ingredient base.
Ola Brew runs taprooms on Hawaiʻi Island in Hilo and Kona, alongside a commercial brewery and ongoing spirits production. It has developed cultivation and processing know-how because no prior commercial blueprint existed for growing kī at scale for authentic Ōkolehao. The Ola Distillery project includes commercial distillation, tours, tasting, and event capacity at Wainaku Executive Center. During the buildout phase, Ōkolehao earned 75 international awards, including Best in Class honors. With agricultural supply and production infrastructure established, the raised capital is intended to increase kī throughput and support market expansion through sales and marketing efforts.
Company Info
Ola Brew produces craft beers and hard beverages through Hawai’i taprooms and manufactures ‘Ōkolehao using 100% Hawai’i-grown kī root.
Ola Brew operates a brewery and two Hawai’i Island taprooms in Hilo and Kona, producing and serving craft beers, hard seltzer, and hard juices alongside food and tastings. The company sources island-grown ingredients from local farmers and applies them to specialty, island-anchored beverage programs distributed through the state.
Ola Brew also produces ‘Ōkolehao, a distilled spirit made from 100% Hawai’i-grown kī root. Its approach connects agricultural cultivation to commercial distillation through a vertically integrated supply process, emphasizing consistency of inputs and long-term crop planning. Distillery infrastructure supports future production and visitor experiences, with the resulting spirit positioned as a place-based heritage category that blends familiar premium spirit characteristics with kī-derived flavor structure.





