Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages

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Waiākea Volcanic Beverages (stylized Waiākea) is an American beverage company founded in 2012 that bottles and sells premium naturally alkaline Hawaiian water and ready-to-drink coffee products sourced from Hawai‘i. The company is headquartered in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, with a mission focused on sustainability and programs that benefit the community; it was certified as a B Corporation in 2025.

Overview

Waiākea was founded in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, in 2012. The company expanded from local production to national distribution during the 2010s and grew into multiple retail channels in the United States. Founder and chief executive Ryan Emmons has been identified in interviews and profiles as a principal founder for the brand.

The company has collaborated with several notable celebrities in sports, music, and art for brand endorsement, including Aaron Judge, Klay Thompson, Myles Garrett, Marcus Mariota, Coco Ho, Kolten Wong, Shane Victorino, Angela Lee, Jocelyn Alo, Dillon Pakele, Ewe Wong, JJ Thomas, Aaron Kai, Kalei Mau, and more.

Products

Waiākea’s product range has included:

• Naturally alkaline bottled volcanic water in several bottle sizes (including rPET, aluminum, and boxed formats)
• Ready-to-drink canned coffees and packaged coffee products.
• The company has marketed its bottles as OceanPlast®, which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic (rPET) collected from ocean-bound waterways, beaches, and cities, boxed water, and refillable aluminum packaging as lower-impact alternatives.

Key Milestones

• 2012: Launched Waiākea, naturally alkaline volcanic water in 100% rPET (post-consumer recycled plastic) bottles
• 2012: Made its first sale of Hawaiian Volcanic Water and formed its first impact partnership with Pump Aid in Malawi, Africa.
• 2015: Expanded its sustainable packaging line to include larger and smaller bottle sizes
• 2017: Launched the Kōkua Initiative to support community and environmental programs.
• 2019: Introduced eco-friendly 15L spouted boxes to its product lineup.
• 2020: Became an official sponsor of the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP).
• 2021: Debuted refillable aluminum bottles and sparkling water.
• 2021: Launched the world's first OceanPlast® bottle made from 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic.
• 2023: Released its first custom-designed refillable aluminum bottle, highlighting MLB star and celebrity investor Aaron Judge.
• 2023: Released its custom label Oceanplast®bottle with Pearl at Kalauao Golf Club

• 2023: Achieved nationwide availability in 7-Eleven stores.
• 2023: Launched Waiākea RTD (Ready-to-Drink) Coffee.
• 2023: Raised over $50,000 to support Maui fire relief efforts.
• 2024: Waiākea was served on board Hawaiian Airlines flights.
• 2024: The Kōkua Initiative officially became a nonprofit organization.
• 2024: Became an official partner of the University of Hawaiʻi Athletics.

• 2025: Earned B Corp Certification.

Sustainability and corporate programmes

Waiākea’s public materials emphasize environmental and social initiatives. The company describes a “triple-bottom-line” approach, putting people and the planet before profit, which includes circular packaging, sustainable sourcing, and a commitment to community. They also established a corporate non-profit foundation, the Kōkua Initiative, focused on local education, conservation, and community support in Hawaiʻi.

In August 2025, Waiākea announced that it had become a certified B Corporation, reporting a high B Impact Assessment score of 126.6, placing it among the top 5 per cent of all B Corps globally and leading the water category. The company and trade coverage reported the certification and the score as a recognition of its environmental and social performance.

Waiākea has also publicized logistics and packaging partnerships intended to reduce carbon intensity in distribution (for example, a commercial partnership with Flock Freight for shared-truckload shipping).

Distribution and retail

Waiākea products have been carried by multiple U.S. retailers and specialty channels. The brand recently announced expanded availability in Sprouts Farmers Market stores across the continental United States and is carried nationwide in 7-Eleven, Speedway, Whole Foods Market, Walmart, Kwik Shop, QuikTrip, 615 Dillion, and many more. The company has also been listed among growing food & beverage brands in business publications.

Community work

Waiākea operates the Kōkua Initiative (a non-profit arm) to support island programmes in Hawaiʻi, including conservation, education, and disaster response. The company has described various local partnerships and volunteer events through that initiative. In 2025, the Kōkua Initiative’s executive director, Geoli Ng, received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award for support of National Guard personnel.

In 2025, Waiākea collaborated with the Hawaiʻi-based streetwear brand In4mation on a capsule collection of clothing. Proceeds from the collection were directed to the planting of native trees in a Hawaiʻi Island bird sanctuary, with the tree-planting carried out by volunteers through the Kōkua Initiative.

Awards and recognition

• Inclusion on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies (2017).
• Coverage in Forbes profiling the brand’s growth.
• Finalist/recognition in industry award programmes such as the World Beverage Innovation Awards and other trade taste/design awards
• Hawai‘i Army National Guard Patriot Award, Geoli Ng and Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages
• Pacific Edge Business Awards - Executive of the Year, Ryan Emmons
• Pacific Edge Business Awards - Finalist, Woman of the Year, Geoli Ng of Kokua Initiative

• Pacific Edge Business Awards - Finalist, Sustainability, Waiakea
• Good Housekeeping Fitness Awards – Finalist
• Zennith Global Water Drinks Awards - Finalist, Best Natural Still Water
• InPack Award - Best of Class Winner
• World Beverage Innovation Awards - Finalist, Best Sparkling Drink
• Greater Good Awards - Finalist, Disaster Relief
• World Beverage Innovation Awards - Finalist Best CSR/Sustainability Initiative
• Gayot.com Top 10 Bottled Waters #3
• The FineWaters Taste & Design Awards - Silver Design Award
• Specialty Foods Association (Fancy Food Show) - Leadership Award for Citizenship

• Inc 500 - #414 in Inc 5000
• Hermes Creative Awards - Packaging / Design Honorable Mention
• Hermes Creative Awards - Corporate Social Responsibility GOLD
• Grub Street - Top 10 Bottled Water
• Best in Business Awards Winner
• FABI Food and Beverage Innovation Award
• World Beverage Innovation Awards - Finalist Best Packaged Water
• World Beverage Innovation Awards - Finalist Best Corporate Social Responsibility Report or Initiative
• Good Morning America - Most Innovative Product Out There
• Dujour - Most elite bottled waters on the market
• Berkely Springs International Water Tasting - Best Packaging Bronze Medal
• Beverage World BevStar Award Winner

• Berkely Springs International Water Tasting