Rum in the Aloha State
Hawaii is a volcanic archipelago in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between North America and Asia. The eight main islands were formed by volcanic eruptions over millions of years, each with unique geological features and distinct microclimates. All of Hawaii’s islands have a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. However, there are variations between islands.
Kauai and Oahu are generally the windiest islands, and Kauai receives the most rainfall. Maui is known for its beautiful beaches, while Hawaii Island is the youngest, most volcanically active, and home to the state’s highest peak. Oahu and Lanai tend to be drier.
The Hawaiian people have a rich culture deeply intertwined with the islands’ natural environment. Their traditions, language, and art express this connection to the land and sea.
On their migration from the South Pacific, sugarcane arrived in Hawaii by ancient Polynesian voyagers. Commercial sugar production operations in Hawaii were first established in the town of Kōloa in 1835 and it’s believed that rum production began around this time as well.
Sugarcane biodiversity disappeared as big plantations dominated the sugar trade in Hawaii, but today old varieties have made a comeback with help from researchers, scientists, and dedicated farmers. along with craft distillers, there’s been a movement to reclaim native Hawaiian identity.
Rum is made on four islands Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island, which are easiest to reach by plane.
Sugarcane harvesting season in Hawaii typically runs from late summer to early winter, August to December – depending on conditions and seasons. This would be a good time to see the cane juice producers in action. This rum adventure takes you west to east in the Paradise of the Pacific.
Kauai
The Garden Isle is the oldest of the major Hawaiian islands, known for its lush rainforests, dramatic cliffs of Molokai on the Na Pali Coast, and the Waimea Canyon, often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Being over 5 million years old and one of the wettest and most majestic places o
Hanalei Spirits
Hanalei Spirits is a family-owned and operated distillery in Kīlauea on the north shore of Kauai. They produce craft spirits including rum and the farm has its history in sugarcane. Grant and Vindi Wells started in 2016 and first produced rum in 2018.
The range includes Hanalei Spirits White Rum is light-bodied and made with sugar cane and the finest mineral-rich water. Pure tropical rain, collects around Mount Waialeale at the centre of the island. Rooster Rum was born from a love of good beer and great rum. Together with Jim Guerber of Kaua’i Beer Company, they embarked on a limited edition rum that is an aged rum after its time spent in char #3 oak barrels. Hanalei Spirits Dark Rum has deep rich colour from its time spent in new charred white oak barrels. Hanalei Spirits Dark Rum Barrel-aged for 28 months. Sugarloaf Pineapple Rum is a seasonal small-batch release.
You can book a tour and tasting with one of the Hanalei Spirits family members. You can find Hanalei Spirits Rum at stores and bars across Kauai.
Find out more about Hanalei Spirits
Kōloa Rum Company
Kōloa Rum Company is the first licensed commercial distillery on the island of Kaua’i, where the original batch of Premium Hawaiian Rum was distilled and bottled in September 2009. Made from pure cane sugar and rainwater from Mount Waiʻaleʻale, slowly filtered through volcanic strata before reaching vast underground aquifers, imparting its own unique taste. All rums are distilled twice in a vintage 1,210-gallon copper-pot still, built by Liberty Coppersmiths in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1947 and refurbished for use at Kōloa Rum’s Kalaheo distillery.
The range includes rums, Kaua’i White, Gold, Dark, Spice, Coconut, Cacao and Coffee rums. In 2018, the brand added Kaua’i Reserve, which is aged for at least 5 years in charred American white oak barrels. They also have ready-to-drink cocktail blends: Hawaiian Pineapple Passion, Hawaiian Mai Tai, and Hawaiian Rum Punch.
Kōloa promotes sustainable agricultural practices to preserve Kauaʻi’s rich history and support the local community. Visitors can taste rums at the Kōloa Rum Tasting Room, located at the historic Kilohana Plantation in Lihue. They have expanded availability across the states.
Find out more about Kōloa Rum Company
O’ahu
Meaning to gather, this is the most populous island and home to the state capital, Honolulu. O’ahu, shaped roughly like a diamond has two parallel mountain groups and is a blend of urban and natural attractions. It features the iconic Waikiki Beach, the historic Pearl Harbor, and the Koʻolau Mountains, which rise dramatically from the island’s eastern side.
Kō Hana Distillers
Started by Jason Brand and Robert Dawson, Kō Hana Hawaiian Agricole Rum is Hawai’i’s first cane juice rum distillery. It’s off-the-beaten-path in agricultural farmlands in the small town of Kunia. Kō Hana is Hawaiian for working cane, the distillery grows 36 varieties of heirloom Hawaiian cane (kō) and harvests by hand (Hana means work or labour). Sugarcane juice is fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled only a short drive from Honolulu.
Kō Hana is a field-to-glass process that is visible from the distillery grounds. They focus on single-cane varietals and labelled on the bottle. On the tour, you can sample their fresh sugarcane juice and see samples of all 36 varieties of sugarcane growing in a small garden outside the distillery.
Kō Hana has the world’s first-ever Koa wood-finished rum. This rum rests in American oak barrels, then is finished in Hawaiian Koa wood barrels. The recent limited-edition release is Distillery Select 100 proof KEA, an unaged Hawaiian Agricole rum. KOHO is a barrel select rum rested in oak barrels. KILA which is Hawaiian for strong or bold is bottled at cask strength. KOKOLEKA is Hawaiian for chocolate, a small-batch blend of raw honey, pure cacao, and Hawaiian cane spirit.
They have various tours and rum flights, like the Estate Farm Tour, and finish your experience with a rum tasting. Kō Hana rum can be found across the US and on the Hawaiian Airlines in-flight menu.
Find out more about Kō Hana Distillers
Maui
Named the Valley Isle for its diverse landscapes, including the Haleakalā National Park, home to the dormant Haleakalā volcano and its stunning sunrise views. Maui has beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, and the historic town of Lahaina. In August 2023, Maui suffered devasting wildfires which affected the island and rum producers.
Hali’imaile Distillery
Hali’imaile Distilling Company is a craft distillery located in the heart of Maui’s pineapple region, Makawao. Founded in 2006, they set out to put “Hawaii in a Bottle” and share Aloha with the world. They have one-of-a-kind proprietary pot stills. Using local Maui ingredients, the range includes Mahina Premium Rum made from raw turbinado sugar, Kona coffee distillate, Madagascar vanilla, cocoa essence, clove, cinnamon, and citrus oils. Mahina Platinum Rum is fermented from premium first-run Caribbean molasses, then distilled and blended with reverse osmosis water to proof.
Mahina Dark Rum is made with first-run Caribbean molasses, then distilled and blended with vanilla, and a touch of cane sugar before resting in oak barrels. Mahina Coconut Rum has ethically sourced flavors of young, fresh coconut lightly-toasted, dried coconut, and a hint of cane sugar.
The distillery tour offers a unique glimpse into the art and craft of these premium rums. You can try their rums nearby at Mama’s Fish House, Hula Grill in Whalers Village, or Sea House Restaurant in Napili Kai Beach Resort.
Find out more about Hali’imaile Distillery
Old Lahaina Rum
Operating since 2006, the first bottle of Old Lahaina Rum was released in 2009. Kolani Distillers is the oldest distillery on Maui. It was the first distillery built on Maui in over 25 years located in the ruins of an 1875 vintage sugar mill in Paia.
Around 2004, they installed 2 handmade copper stills (pictured). These 500-gallon ‘Badger’ stills date back to 1946 and were originally from Boston’s New England Rum Co. This is a small batch rum made from Maui-grown molasses. The range includes Old Lahaina Silver, Gold, and Dark rum.
In 2023, the Lahaina fires severely affected local businesses and tourism, fortunately, no one from the distillery was hurt. The fire wiped out Maui’s most diverse dining town and they started a fire relief fund to help the community. The distillery is not set up for tours but you can find the rum in many places.
Find out more about Old Lahaina Rum
Hawaiian Sea Spirits Distillery
Founded in 2005, Hawaiian Sea Spirits makes Ocean Vodka, gin, and Kula Organic Rum: A rum made from certified USDA Organic sugar cane.
Kula, meaning ‘open meadows,’ is home to a beautiful Botanical Garden and the rum-making farm sits on the western slopes of Haleakalā Volcano. The rums are made using fresh sugarcane juice, deep ocean mineral water, and are distilled on column stills. There are three expressions; Kula Organic Rum, Kula Dark Rum, and Kula Toasted Coconut Rum.
You can visit their site at Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery, they have a Farm Café with tastings, pairing events, and a shop to explore.
Find out more about Hawaiian Sea Spirits Distillery
Hawaiʻi Island
The largest island in the chain and also known as the Big Island. It’s home to active volcanoes, including Mauna Loa and Kilauea, as well as the Mauna Kea, the world’s largest astronomical observatory. Mauna Loa is snow-capped and the world’s largest active volcano. Further south is the incredible Volcano National Park popular with visitors. In the north, close to some great beaches, at around 3000 ft elevation, Waimea is the centre for ranching activities and paniolo culture. The name Waimea means reddish water and has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years. You’ll find luxury resorts, golf, and rum being made nearby.
Kuleana Rum Works
Kuleana Rum Works was founded in 2013 as farmers, distillers, and blenders. The rum is made from fresh cane juice of estate-grown Hawaiian heirloom sugarcane (kō) on their farm in Kohala. The sugarcane juice is fermented using a special yeast and distilled in a handmade, copper pot still. This slow, careful process makes delicious and flavorful rum that showcases the magnificence of the kō.
The range includes: Kuleana Huihui (meaning mixed, mingled, united, or pooled together) is a blend of light molasses-based Papua New Guinea rum, Hawaiian Rum Agricole made from fresh sugarcane juice, and Agricole from Martinique,
Kuleana NANEA (means absorbing interest, fascinating, enjoyable to have a good time) is a blend of aged Hawaiian Rum Agricole made from fresh sugarcane juice aged 18 months in Cognac barrels, molasses rum from Guatemala aged 2 years in Bourbon barrels, molasses rums from Venezuela (aged 2-8 years in ex-Bourbon barrels), Trinidad (aged 3-5 years in ex-Bourbon barrels), and El Salvador (aged 5 years in ex-Bourbon barrels
Kuleana Hōkūlei (garland of stars, a constellation) is a blend of 7 rums aged 18-months to 18 years, including their Aged Hawaiian Rum Agricole, and molasses rums from Panama, Nicaragua, Barbados, Trinidad, and Venezuela.
You can try the rums at the Kuleana Rum Shack Queens’ MarketPlace in Waikoloa Beach which features a tasting room, restaurant, cocktail receptions, celebrations, bespoke dining, and special events.
Find out more about Kuleana Rum Works
Where to Enjoy Rum in Hawaii
There are many places to enjoy rum across the island’s luxury resorts, hotel bars, and restaurants. Here’s a selection to seek out.
Oahu
Honolulu: Mai Tai Bar at Royal Hawaiian Hotel, House Without A Key, Skull & Crown Trading Co., RumFire Sheraton Waikiki, Suzie Wong’s Hideaway, Tipsy Tiki, La Mariana Sailing Club, Tiki’s Grill & Bar, Moku Kitchen, Bar Leather Apron, Fête Hawaii, Arnold’s Beach Bar
Kapolei: Monkeypod Kitchen – Waikiki
Maui
Kaanapali: Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman
Kihei: South Shore Tiki Lounge
Lahaina: Kitchen 5315 Restaurant & Tiki Bar, Hula Grill Kaanapali, Pau Huaka’I Bar, Makai Tiki Bar, Duke’s Beach House Maui
Wailea: Botero Lounge, Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman
Wailuku: Esters Fair Prospect
The tropical Mai Tai cocktail (rum, lime, orgeat, and curacao or triple sec) has become synonymous with Hawaii but the tiki cocktail didn’t originate there.
Hiking, golf, surfing, beaches, nature, wildlife, resorts, locally produced rum, and a year-round warm climate – Hawaii has something for everyone.
Travel between the islands is best done by air, Honolulu to Maui with Southwest or Hawaiian Airlines has frequent 40-minute flights.
For more general travel advice on Hawaii Tourism
For travel planning use our Hawaii Rum Map
Thanks to the brands for contributing to this article, and permission to use their images. Other image credits to Canva Pro, and user contributions.
