“Aloha Distilled” // Summit 2.0, Libations

“Just as shōchū can be enjoyed in practically any context, Hawaiian Shochu Company’s unique lineage and process make an equally important statement. Yukumoto, enjoying his third glass, says it best: ‘What is truly wonderful is that Hirata-sn uses all local ingredients. The end product is something from traditional Japanese origins but uniquely Hawaiʻi.’”

For this edition of the “Libations” column in Summit, Randy Wong profiled Hawaiian Shochu Company, a family operation located in Haleʻiwa on Oʻahu’s North Shore, run by Ken Hirata and his wife, Yumiko. I got to visit the distillery, take a tour and shoot some photos. Ken and Yumiko are some of the nicest people you’ll meet. Ken insisted on giving me a sample bottle of his delicious product to take home with me.

Photographed: November, 2015

Location: Hawaiian Shochu Company distillery, Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu