We are visiting Hawaii for the first time in many years and one year since wildfires wiped out the historic city of Lahaina.
We had been visitors to Hawaii for 25 years. I'm not sure why we stopped coming but we decided in 2022 to return only to get COVID days before. Two years later, we finally made it.
One of the places we loved visiting was Koholā Brewery - a small, local brewery located in Maui Brewing's original location. It had the kind of vibe that comes with warehouse locations, a local hangout with no pretenses. And, the beers were reliably good. We got in the habit of buying small kegs for our longer visits, pulling the shelves out of the refrigerator to make it fit. (Food? What food? Put it all in the vegetable drawers!)
And then, it all burned to the ground. All of it lost in August of 2023. I can't even begin to describe all that was lost by the town and the people of Lahaina in those fires: lives, property, cultural history. It was tragic.
It was a devastating loss to so many. The fact that Koholā Brewery was able to find a way back in a relatively short period of time is a small miracle.
They partnered with Kona Brewing and within a year, they were back to business brewing their flagship beers. Moreover, they had found a new location for a taphouse and eatery in Wailea which only recently opened.
When the fires happened, all of the places we had visited over the years came to mind. One of them was Koholā. It was a joy to rediscover them in Wailea and even more of a surprise when it was across the street from the condo that we rented!
We stopped in for two of their flagship beers: Lokahi Pilsner and Talk Story pale ale, which also happen to be two of our favorites.
Welcome back from the ashes, Koholā. Too much was lost to hope for full recovery for the town of Lahaina. We can only be grateful for each of its successes.
We had been visitors to Hawaii for 25 years. I'm not sure why we stopped coming but we decided in 2022 to return only to get COVID days before. Two years later, we finally made it.
One of the places we loved visiting was Koholā Brewery - a small, local brewery located in Maui Brewing's original location. It had the kind of vibe that comes with warehouse locations, a local hangout with no pretenses. And, the beers were reliably good. We got in the habit of buying small kegs for our longer visits, pulling the shelves out of the refrigerator to make it fit. (Food? What food? Put it all in the vegetable drawers!)
And then, it all burned to the ground. All of it lost in August of 2023. I can't even begin to describe all that was lost by the town and the people of Lahaina in those fires: lives, property, cultural history. It was tragic.
It was a devastating loss to so many. The fact that Koholā Brewery was able to find a way back in a relatively short period of time is a small miracle.
They partnered with Kona Brewing and within a year, they were back to business brewing their flagship beers. Moreover, they had found a new location for a taphouse and eatery in Wailea which only recently opened.
When the fires happened, all of the places we had visited over the years came to mind. One of them was Koholā. It was a joy to rediscover them in Wailea and even more of a surprise when it was across the street from the condo that we rented!
We stopped in for two of their flagship beers: Lokahi Pilsner and Talk Story pale ale, which also happen to be two of our favorites.
Welcome back from the ashes, Koholā. Too much was lost to hope for full recovery for the town of Lahaina. We can only be grateful for each of its successes.
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