Keeping it Green, Keeping it Local
Maui Brewing Co. (MBC) was one of several businesses honored today at the second annual Who’s Keeping Hawaii Green Celebration.
HONOLULU & Hawaii Business magazines held a reception and awards presentation to honor those individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving and enhancing the environment and doing their essential part to keep Hawaii green. MBC was this year’s recipient of the “Business with Green Program” award.
Other 2008 honorees included the National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), Hawaii Regional Cuisine, Styrophobia, Evolution Sage, Unlimited Construction Services Inc., Philip White Architects & Philpotts & Associates Inc., Actus Land Lease LLC, UH Environmental Law Program, Re-use Hawaii, Ramsay Taum, Bob King of Pacific BioDiesel Inc., Ceilana, Town & Downtown Restaurants, Muumuu Heaven, Four Seasons Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu, John Kelly Jr. and Jack Johnson.
With a strong commitment to the environment and the local economy, MBC practices environmental responsibility and stays true to its fiercely local commitment. Aluminum cans are used for packaging to guarantee their beers are as fresh as possible — providing the beer the ultimate protection from light and oxygen. Although cans and bottles are both recyclable, bottles still break and may pose a risk at beaches and other public areas. Further bottles are not made locally and are limited in their recyclable life. Plastic rings are dangerous to marine life and therefore, recyclable MBC is the first and only to use a new and unique recycled and reusable plastic carrier.
In further support of the local economy, the cans used by MBC are made on Oahu and packaging designs are by local Maui artists. The spent grain from beer production is donated to local ranchers for cattle feed and any cans damaged in production are donated to the Maui Humane Society. MBC also utilizes equipment purchased from the former Maui Land & Pineapple, preserving a piece of Hawaii’s canning history.
Maui Brewing Co.’s brewpub has been undergoing an extensive remodel and is expected to reopen in early October. The remodeling includes a complete solar energy installation: 80kw to supply a minimum of 75% of the energy consumed via a PV array, skylights providing natural lighting, ceiling fans, CFL lighting, and other energy-efficient upgrades. The production brewery will also be adding solar energy to produce 100% of its electrical needs and about 75% of its water heating needs. BioDiesel made from the fryer at the pub, and supplemented by Pacific BioDiesel, is used in all company vehicles.
Founder Garrett Marrero and his wife, Melanie, run a 7-barrel brewpub at the Kahana location as well as the 25-barrel full production brewery and canning facility in Lahaina. Maui Brewing Co. is a truly local beer as 100% of their products are made in Hawaii as opposed to other “Hawaiian” beers.
