Ola Distillery Opening Featured on KITV: Reviving ʻŌkolehao, The Spirit of Hawaiʻi
Originally aired on KITV Island Life Live.
Ola Brew President and Co-Founder Naehalani Breeland recently joined KITV's Island Life hosts Live to discuss the revival of authentic ʻŌkolehao, Hawaiʻi's historic spirit distilled from 100% kī root, along with the opening of the new oceanfront distillery in Hilo.
During the interview, the team shared how the project has grown from a vision into a destination where visitors can experience guided tours, tastings, and eventually a speakeasy overlooking Hilo Bay. They also discussed the history of ʻŌkolehao, the traditional production process, and Ola Brew's mission to bring this nearly forgotten Hawaiian spirit back to life.
Watch the Original Interview
Watch the full interview on KITV:
https://www.kitv.com/island-life/island-life-live/ola-brews-revival-of-kolehao-distillery-the-spirit-of-hawaii/video_ed02a6b5-23c3-50fa-8db4-a25555f546d5.html
Interview Transcript
KITV Island Life Live – Ola Brew's Revival of ʻŌkolehao (Cleaned Transcript)
Host: Let's get started! It's Island Life Live, and we're joined by the President and Co-Founder of Ola Brew Distillery, Naehalani Breeland. How are you doing?
Naehalani: Really, really well. Thank you.
Host: Thank you both for coming in. I'm excited to have you here to talk about the distillery. You guys have been working incredibly hard to make this place look amazing, and you've done an incredible job so far. But you've still got a few more things in the works, right?
Naehalani:: Yes! We're now open for tastings and tours by reservation only, and we have more exciting things coming down the pipeline. We're opening a speakeasy in July, where guests will be be able to enjoy craft cocktails. It's going to be a great experience.
Host: For viewers who may not know, can you explain exactly what ʻŌkolehao is?
Naehalani:: That's a great question because there's still a little confusion about what ʻŌkolehao actually is. It's Hawaiʻi's heritage spirit, originating in the 1790s when distilling first came to Hawaiʻi. We use the root of the kī plant, ferment it, and then distill it. Over time, it became a uniquely Hawaiian art form. It's been an incredible journey for me personally to learn the history of ʻŌkolehao and help bring that story back to life.
Host: What does it mean to you to take on the responsibility of reviving this historic spirit?
Naehalani:: I think it's incredibly important that we know our history, understand where it came from, and recognize that ʻŌkolehao was an art form created here in Hawaiʻi. Being able to tell that story alongside the story of our Hawaiian monarchy is really meaningful. Here in Hawaiʻi we know and deeply respect our aliʻi, but there are many people around the world who don't know that history. For us, ʻŌkolehao becomes a vehicle for sharing Hawaiʻi's history while honoring what came before us and bringing this important tradition back to life.
Host: Kentucky has bourbon. Tennessee has whiskey. Champagne comes from France. You're working to create similar protections for ʻŌkolehao, right?
Naehalani: Exactly. We're working with the Legislature to establish legal standards for what can be called ʻŌkolehao. Our proposal requires it to be made from at least 51% Hawaiʻi-grown kī root and distilled here in Hawaiʻi. Just as Kentucky bourbon and tequila have protected geographic identities, we believe Hawaiʻi deserves the same protection for a spirit with such incredible history and cultural significance.
Host: Beyond the legislation, what's your vision over the next five years?
Naehalani:: Our distillery has tremendous production capacity. Historically, an article from the 1860s described the Hamakua Coast as a place where nearly every other household was making or selling ʻŌkolehao. Our facility can produce roughly 300,000 cases annually, and more importantly, we want to open those opportunities to local farmers. We don't want to be the only ʻŌkolehao producer; we'd love to see dozens of producers across Hawaiʻi. Farmers with just a few acres could grow kī as an additional source of income while helping build a stronger local economy.
Host: We recently toured the fermentation room, the distillery, and the upcoming speakeasy. Everything was beautiful, and the views over Hilo Bay were spectacular. Thank you so much for inviting us and letting us be part of the experience.
Naehalani:: Thank you so much for coming.
Note: This transcript has been cleaned from the embedded captions. The source captions available in this conversation cover the interview through approximately 5:46; the ending is truncated, so this document reflects the available content.
