ʻŌkolehao History

Introduction: A Spirit Generations In The Making

Born of Land and Legacy Long before it became Hawaiʻi’s own distilled spirit, ʻŌkolehao began with the kī plant. Revered and propagated throughout Hawaiʻi’s island chain. When Hawaiians baked its r...

Introduction of ʻŌkolehao Distillation in Hawai‘i

Author: Perry Arrasmith “He was the first who introduced into the island the mode of distilling a spirit from the tee-root, of which, however, he became so fond that the king was obliged to deprive...

‘Rawhide Ben’ and The Saga of the Paris Exposition

Author: Perry Arrasmith In 1889, an illegally distilled liquor traveled from an underground distillery in Hawaiʻi Island's Waimanu Valley to the halls of the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) i...

ʻŌkolehao and The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi's Overthrow

“Rep. Waipuilani presented a resolution that the House request the Attorney General to order the Marshal to publicly pour out the 20 gallons of okolehao that are now stored in the Police Station. H...