Business

‘All Hands’ Are Brewing

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‘All Hands’ Are Brewing

Ever since Chris Cook first opened Kalihi Beer, formerly known as Broken Boundary Brewery, he’s always seen the business as a reflection of its neighborhood — a place of pride for the community.

“When I was talking to people in Kalihi and … asked them, what does Kalihi need? We were all thinking donations to churches, donations to schools, fundraising, and the answer that I got, universally, was pride. The people who grew up here and come out of here are proud of what they accomplished with their life.

“When you look at the businesses in Kalihi, you see these people who built it up with their own hands and had stuck with it. And that’s a work ethic I really identified with, and when I think of Kalihi, that’s what I think of.

“Not the challenges, not the problems, but the people who work hard to make the most of what’s there. And so that’s why we took on the name, and we took on Kalihi Beer to show our connection to the neighborhood and our dedication to it.”

Although the business’s Kalihi location closed earlier this year, the brand is paying homage to its old neighborhood while creating a new home in Chinatown — a neighborhood with just as much pride and community spirit.

The brewery itself is now called Olohana Brewpub by Kalihi Beer — a shoutout to its original roots. Olohana in Hawaiian is a transliteration of “all hands,” a phrase that was often used by John Young, who was governor of Hawaii island and adviser to Kamehameha I, and is an important reminder of what it takes to support a community.

“Our mission statement for a long time has been to improve the vitality of our communities, and this plays into that as well,” Cook says.

Chinatown, with many hands coming together to breathe new life into the historic neighborhood, drew him to the area — along with a space equipped to support a successful operation.

With the move comes new offerings. Alongside fan-favorite brews like the Rappa Red IPA ($9) and Everybody’s Devil tripel ($9), the brewery is also featuring other local breweries like Howzit Brewing, Hana Koa Brewing Co., Big Island Brewhaus and Paradise Ciders. A full cocktail menu rounds out the drink selection, from old fashioneds and margaritas to Aperol spritzes and mimosas.

Chef Nickie Tavares serves pizzas and bar snacks designed to pair perfectly with any drink.

Guests can enjoy whole or sliced cheese and pepperoni pizza, or try one of the 12-inch Neapolitan-style pies.

For a whole pizza to share with the table, the Saucy Sausage Swagger ($26) is a red-sauce pie topped with Italian sausage, roasted onions, fire-roasted red peppers, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

For those who like a mushrooms, the Fun-Gi Bonanza ($26) is the way to go. This pizza features a caramelized onion bechamel (a creamy white sauce) topped with caramelized onion, a mushroom medley, fresh thyme, mozzarella, Parmesan and truffle pate.

Snack options include a chef’s selection charcuterie ($17), a hummus platter ($12) and pretzels served with Olohana beer cheese ($14). If you’re looking for something lighter, two salad options are also available — a Mediterranean salad ($18) and summer salad ($19).

Olohana also caters to Sunday football fans with its Olohana Football Brunch, featuring dishes like spinach and feta quiche ($16), sausage and pepper frittata ($14), avocado toast ($16) and bagel lox ($14).

Taco lovers are in for a treat, too: The popular Tijuana-style taco vendor, Taco Invader, will be popping up from noon to 9 p.m. on various days. Follow @tacoinvaderhi on Instagram to see its schedule and satisfy your taco

Olohana Brewpub reflects Cook’s love for his old neighborhood while creating a space where people from all walks of life can gather and collaborate. Stop by for a refreshing drink, tasty bites and good conversation — you might just feel the community pride in every pour.