2025 Green Brewery & Distillery Forum

The Hawai’i Green Business Program invites you to the 2025 Green Brewery & Distillery Forum on October 23 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm in Honolulu. The forum will feature presentations from Green Breweries (Kona, Lanikai, and Maui) and Distilleries (Kō Hana Rum), along with an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy’s no-cost energy technical assistance programs and projects, and Hawai‘i Energy rebates and incentives. 

This event is hosted by the Hawai‘i State Energy Office (HSEO), Hawai‘i Energy, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Western Region Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) and Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) teams.

Register here by October 9, 2025. Space is limited for in-person attendance. Confirmation will be sent a week ahead of the forum by October 16, 2025. For more information, see the flyer or email [email protected]. 

To apply to become a Green Brewery or Distillery, complete the checklist on the HGBP 10-Entry Level page. 

Agenda

2:00 pm  Welcome and Introduction – Hawai‘i State Energy Office (HSEO)
2:05 pm  Western Region Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP)
2:15 pm  Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) teams
2:25 pm  Hawai‘i Energy Incentives/Rebates
2:35 pm  Local case studies
2:55 pm  Panel with local businesses*
3:05 pm Updated checklist
3:15 pm  Q&A / Open discussion
3:30 pm  Site Tour / Networking
*Local panelists from Kona Brewing Co., Lanikai Brewing Co., Maui Brewing, and Kō Hana Rum

Presenters:

Jonathan Whelan is the Director of the Western Region for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP), where he leads efforts to deliver no-cost onsite energy feasibility analysis and renewable energy procurement for breweries and distilleries alongside other industrial facilities and large energy users in Hawai‘i, California, Nevada, and Arizona.  With over 20 years of experience, Jonathan has helped public and private sector clients advance onsite energy projects across the country. 

Farzan Kazemifar, Ph.D., P.E., is an Associate Professor and the Associate Chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at SJSU. He is the Founding Director of SJSU Industrial Assessment Center (ITAC) and an Associate Director of the Western Regional Center of Excellence ITAC. His activities are focused on energy systems, sustainability and energy efficiency in industrial and commercial buildings, as well as education, and training programs.

Melissa Onishi  is an Energy Advisor with Hawai‘i Energy with a B.S. and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, She provides consultation on energy efficiency and conservation initiatives for restaurants, grocery, agriculture, and food production and distribution to identify opportunities for energy savings, develop tailored solutions, and secure financial incentives.

Robert Dawson is the co-founder of Kō Hana Distillers, a pioneering 100% farm-to-bottle rum distillery specializing in agricole-style rums. What began in 2009 as a farm, evolved into a distillery in 2011, focusing on rediscovery of native Hawaiian sugarcane called kō. While most rum is made from molasses (a byproduct of sugar production), Kō Hana uses hand-harvested, fresh-pressed sugar cane juice.