Kō Hana Rum Distillery

It all starts with “Kō” – the cane. – Every varietal of heirloom sugarcane has a story and flavor profile all its own. At Kō Hana Distillers, home of Kō Hana Hawaiian Agricole Rum, our sincerest hope is to honor and celebrate the Kō we have the privilege to nurture and grow.

Kō Hana Agricole Rum is meticulously crafted from farm to bottle. We grow single varietals that are hand harvested, pressed to juice and then distilled to perfection — resulting in one of the world’s finest pure cane rums.

We cherish sugarcane varietals much like a winery cherishes the grape. KōHana’s Agricole style elevates and celebrates each cane’s nectar to draw you closer to the pure heart of Hawaii.

Kō Hana embraces the natural earthiness and sweetness of the Kō. In stark contrast, the vast majority of the rum in the world is made from molasses — the industrial byproduct of processed sugar manufacturing.

We pay special attention to the unique characteristics of each specific cane varietal.

A select portion of our rum rests in oak barrels to further develop and reveal the essence of the cane. This sensory process is demanding and time consuming, yet necessary, to honor the Kō. We are a boutique distillery where only rums that we love are bottled without compromise.

Nearly a thousand years ago, the first Polynesians set sail for the Hawaiian Islands using only the stars for navigation. Among the canoe plants they brought with them were select varieties of Kō – sugarcane.

These Kō plants were the progenitors of the remaining heirloom varietals of native Hawaiian sugarcane in existence today.

Kō was used in daily living and was purposely planted around homes. In addition to its leaves, Kō was valued for its ease of chewing and ample juice in the stalks. Its sweet juice was a key ingredient in many medicinal recipes. Kō was also used as an offering to the Gods and as a core component in many ceremonies.

In the ancient love ceremony Hana Aloha, as documented by Aunty Mary Kawena Pukui, Kō Manulele was one of three sugarcanes used to arouse a deep and everlasting love.

Every varietal of heirloom cane has a story and flavor profile of its own. At Kō Hana Distillers, our sincerest hope is to honor and celebrate the Kō we have the privilege to plant and grow.