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Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative and Kō Hana Distillers

Launch First Rum Aged in Koa Wood Barrels; Each Batch Supports Reforestation       

Available on Black Friday, the first 50 of 437 bottles are numbered and packaged in a limited-edition koa box

Honolulu, Hawaii, November 20, 2019 – The nonprofit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) and Kō Hana Distillers, the Oahu-based maker of Kō Hana Hawaiian Agricole Rum, have partnered to create Hawaii’s first-ever rum aged in koa wood barrels.

This farm-to-bottle, hand-crafted rum includes 437 bottles of 375 milliliters each. The rum is entirely made on Oahu from sugarcane grown by the distillery, inspired by the French style (rhum agricole) of using fresh cane juice, rather than molasses often found in mass-produced rums. Kō Hana grows nearly three dozen varieties of native Hawaiian sugarcane.

“The processes behind this heirloom cane rum took years to develop,” said Robert Dawson, co-founder of Kō Hana. “As a boutique distillery, our rums are crafted without compromise, and by using koa barrels, we are able to introduce a new sensory experience that honors the essence of the cane while creating something new. We call this rum expression Kō Hana Koa, and it is the culmination of over 6 years of dedication to our craft.”

The first 50 bottles from the inaugural batch will be individually numbered and packaged in a koa wood box, while bottles 51 through 437 will be numbered with a commemorative koa wood medallion. Fifty koa Legacy Trees will be planted by HLRI. Each batch thereafter will add another 50 trees to the forest.

The rum, which was aged for a minimum of 2 years, will be available exclusively at the Kō Hana tasting room at 92-1770 Kunoa Road in Kunia (Exit 5 off H1) starting Black Friday, Nov. 29, 2019. The tasting room is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

“Since its inception, the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative has developed innovative ways to support our mission of reforesting 1.3 million native and endemic trees throughout Hawaii, and Kō Hana is a perfect way to show how a Hawaii company can incorporate reforestation into its operations,” said HLRI Executive Director Jeffrey Dunster.

HLRI has reforested nearly half a million native and endemic trees on Oahu and the Island of Hawaii since 2010, including koa, Hawaiian sandalwood, milo, ohia, and mamane. HLRI is promoting long-term forest health, carbon sequestration, ecosystem diversity, and unparalleled data collection for research and development, all while creating permanent green jobs for Hawaii families. Each sponsored tree is individually tagged and can be tracked throughout its lifetime. Trees may be sponsored online or through award-winning planting tours at Hawaiian Legacy Tours.

About HLRI: Through state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies, HLRI works with landowners to establish and preserve economically viable and sustainable endemic Hawaiian forests, protect endangered species, sequester carbon and recharge watersheds. HLRI’s Legacy Trees are sponsored by businesses and individuals, with a portion of proceeds donated to other charities worldwide. For more information, visit LegacyTrees.org. About Kō Hana: Oahu-based Kō Hana Distillers makes Kō Hana Hawaiian Agricole Rum, one of the world’s finest hand-crafted pure cane rums. This small-batch rum is made from single varietals of hand-harvested sugarcane, pressed to juice and distilled to perfection. A selection of Kō Hana rum and accessories is available online and at select retailers throughout Hawaii and the West Coast. For more information, visit KoHanaRum.com.

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