About

Kaua‘i is at the heart and soul of Kōloa Rum Company, where history, tradition, and craftsmanship come together in every bottle. Sugarcane first arrived in Hawai‘i with the ancient Polynesian voyagers, who carried it across the vast Pacific as a vital part of their way of life. Centuries later, in 1835, the town of Kōloa became the birthplace of Hawai‘i’s first successful commercial sugar plantation. By 1837, the island’s rich volcanic soil had yielded its first harvest—two tons of raw sugar—and, as local legends tell it, rum production quietly began soon after. Today, Kōloa Rum Company carries forward this storied legacy, crafting premium, small-batch Hawaiian rum that embodies the essence of Kaua‘i and honors Hawai‘i’s deep-rooted connection to this bygone era.

Kōloa Rum uniquely captures “The Spirit of Aloha.” Not just a phrase, but a way of life. The indescribable feeling of being present that can only be awoken by an extraordinary moment, like taking a deep breath at Poipu Beach or seeing the majesty of a rainbow framed by the waterfalls of Mt. Wai`ale`ale. More than just a vacation in a bottle, Kōloa Rum offers a new way to cherish Hawai‘i and is committed to bottling this feeling with intention. 

As the first licensed distillery on the island, Kōloa Rum sets the standard for supporting Kaua`i’s local agricultural industry. Through Kōloa Rum, respect for the land comes in spades, using only the finest local ingredients, including pure cane sugar and pristine rainwater from Mount Wai‘ale‘ale, then twice distilled in copper pot stills. The results are evident in the Kōloa Kaua‘i White, Gold, Dark, Spice, Coconut, Cacao, Coffee, Cane Fire, and Aged Rums, as well as the ready-to-drink Mai Tai, Rum Punch, Pineapple Passion and Sweet Tea Cocktails. Kōloa’s artisanal rums are smooth, flavorful, award-winning, distinctly different, and uniquely Hawaiian. 

Kōloa Rum’s first batch was distilled and bottled in September 2009, which coincided with the opening of the Koloa Rum Tasting Room and Company Store at Kilohana Plantation in Lihue. We invite you to taste the rich history and vibrant spirit of Koloa Rum today. Aloha!