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 roots (tuber-like structures) in an imu, the heat transformed the starches into fermentable sugars, creating the foundation for Hawaiʻi’s earliest, and likely only, subtly alcoholic beverages.

That humble beginning set the stage for something extraordinary. While much remains to be uncovered about ʻŌkolehao’s earliest chapters, many believe that in the late 1700s foreign voyagers introduced new tools and techniques that dramatically changed what kī could become. By applying distillation methods brought from abroad, early makers learned to concentrate the naturally fermented kī into a far more potent spirit—one that was unmistakably a product of Hawaiʻi, yet shaped by this meeting of cultures.

English sailor Nathaniel Portlock is said to have brewed kī-root beer aboard his ship, and the escaped Australian convict William Stevenson may have introduced iron-pot distillation—repurposing whalers’ try-pots to create the first true ʻŌkolehao spirits. Its name—“ʻokole hao,” or “iron butt”—came from the rounded iron pots that shaped this early craft. What emerged was an entirely new kind of spirit, grown, born, and unique to the island chain—and seen no where else in the world.

A Spirited Rise, A Tumultuous Century

ʻŌkolehao spread quickly across the islands, but the 1800s brought waves of bans, reversals, and renegotiations. In 1818, under pressure from missionaries, Kamehameha I outlawed all strong drink, marking Hawaiʻi’s first era of prohibition. The ban was lifted in 1833 by Kamehameha III, and production continued—sometimes legally, often not. Valleys like Waipiʻo and Waimanu became known for exceptional distillations, and in 1889 a smuggled bottle earned a bronze medal at the Paris Exposition, placing ʻŌkolehao on the global stage. Yet even as it gained fame abroad, its future at home remained uncertain, shaped by shifting laws, foreign influence, and the islands’ changing political landscape.

Hidden Stillhouses and Outlaw Years

The early 1900s transformed ʻŌkolehao once again. With Hawaiʻi’s 1918 prohibition—enacted even before the U.S. mainland—production was forced underground. Bootleggers crafted ʻŌkolehao deep in remote valleys, keeping the tradition alive through ingenuity, secrecy, and community ties. Federal agents raided stills, yet moonshiners endured, and during WWII, soldiers stationed in Hawaiʻi developed a fondness for the potent local spirit. These outlaw decades cemented ʻŌkolehao’s place as a symbol of resilience and local identity—something made, shared, and protected by the people who refused to let it fade.

Nearly Lost—Then Found Again

By the mid to late 20th century, true kī-root ʻŌkolehao had nearly disappeared. Commercial versions became diluted imitations—bourbon or neutral spirits flavored with kī extract and sold in souvenir decanters. In 1984, the U.S. Supreme Court even misclassified ʻŌkolehao as a brandy, reflecting decades of confusion around a once-proud tradition. Production dwindled until authentic ʻōkolehao vanished entirely from the market. But the story didn’t end there. In the 2000s, a new generation of distillers began reviving the craft—researching old methods, collaborating with historical practitioners, and returning to kī root as the heart of the spirit. Producers across the islands aimed to bring back integrity, using local agriculture, copper distillation, and barrel aging to restore what had been lost. Today, ʻŌkolehao is experiencing a renaissance—earning international awards and reclaiming its rightful place as Hawaiʻi’s original spirit.

Continue the Story With Us

ʻŌkolehao’s journey spans centuries—rooted in local knowledge, shaped by global encounters, tested by prohibition, nearly erased, and now reborn. At Ola’s oceanfront distillery, the next chapter unfolds through farming, fermentation, distillation, and ocean-barrel aging—all guided by a commitment to authenticity and respect for the kī plant that started it all.

Bookings are now open for guided tastings, historic experiences, and tours exploring the full arc of ʻŌkolehao’s past and future. Register below to sign up for an immersive distillery tour, and experience ʻŌkolehao, The Spirit of Hawaiʻi, first hand at our world-class location in Hilo, Hawaiʻi .