About Us

Our favorite things in life, though not necessarily in this order, are great FOOD; quality CRAFT BEER; fun, creative PEOPLE; and live MUSIC. Big Island Brewhaus is a community gathering haus that combines all these treasures for our community and visitors to our island.

We create and serve locally sourced, fresh, handcrafted food that is as creative and delicious as the beers we brew. We work closely with local farmers, fishermen, cheese, ice-cream makers and beekeepers (to name a few) whose quality products make our food as fresh and natural as possible. Keeping it small on the Big Island is one way to help sustain our beautiful island & world! We are honored to be certified by the Surfrider Foundation as a Platinum Level Ocean Friendly Restaurant and to have been the 2nd Blue Zone Approved restaurant on the island!

Our passionate, hard-working brewers have been consistently winning awards with the beers they produce in our 10 barrel brewhaus and they have fun doing what they do best — brewing world class beers one batch at a time. We offer a virtual world of beers: lagers, pilsners, porters, stouts, bocks, crème ales, Belgians and of course pale ales and IPAs – all that beg to be paired with our diverse, craft cuisine – turning an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience. Check out our Wall of Fame.

In August of 2023 we transitioned packaging from using imported bottles to locally manufactured cans. This reduces our carbon footprint and it’s now easier to pack in and pack out our quality beers. They can be found throughout the state of Hawaii at retail and on tap at your favorite restaurants, resorts, bars, and retailers.

Live Beer, Live Food, & Live Music! We all deserve great music and this island is an amazing wealth of talent! We support local musicians Open Mic Night every Thursday, and Friday evenings we feature live music to start your weekend.

Mahalo for joining us at Hawaii’s Highest Brewpub at 2,764 feet above the sea!

Aloha! Prost! Cheers! Tom & Jayne Kerns — Owners

About Thomas Kerns

Thomas Kerns began home-brewing for fun in 1988. Fun became fiery passion evolving into a career by 1992. He broke into Oregon’s early micro-brewing scene with McMenamins Breweries, working and learning the trade in many of their various brewpubs between 1992-1995.

Tom was recruited by Forest Brewing Co. in Manila, Philippines in 1996 where he designed, engineered, installed, opened and operated their brewery for one year. The brewery-restaurant did well there – creating a new awareness and appreciation of fine locally handcrafted beer.

In 1997 he moved to Maui to open Fish & Game Brewing Company. Here Tom developed a large following who appreciated his robust & smooth brewery creations. New ownership in 2005 brought more exposure, success, and accolades as newly renamed Maui Brewing Company won two Silver medals at the prestigious 2005 Great American Beer Festival; then Gold and Bronze Awards at the international 2006 World Beer Cup; followed by two Gold, a Silver and Bronze Medals at the 2007 North American Beer Awards; then a Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2007. In April of 2008 his beers won Maui Brewing Company two Silvers and a Bronze Award at the 2008 World Beer Cup and a Bronze Medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival.

In Feb. 2007 Tom was with Maui Brewing Co. as they opened a production brewery in Lahaina, featuring a canning line which started to satisfy the demand for handcrafted beer on the island of Maui, in the state of Hawai’i, and beyond. Maui Brewing Company began canning with, three of their most popular local crafted beers, all originated by Tom, Bikini Blonde Lager, Big Swell IPA, and 2006 & 2008 World Beer Cup Gold & Silver Medal winner, Coconut Porter.

Tom believes that the heart of a community, and the creative culture of a brewpub, are essential to a brewpub’s core attraction. His desire to continue enhancing brewing traditions from around the world with creative, robust yet balanced, quench-worthy beers of many different styles and origins – both new and old – drives him on. His approach continues to create new levels of appreciation in those who taste his creations.

Tom followed his passion to the Big Island of Hawai’i… he and his wife Jayne dreamt of a brewpub in the upcountry town of Waimea and started turning the dream into reality in August of 2008 with the purchase of Tako Taco Taqueria, a sweet little Mexican restaurant in the heart of Waimea. While running the restaurant they made improvements (like building the bar and harvesting bamboo for the beer garden fence!) and built their brewery which had it’s grand opening on March 4th, 2011. Since then they and their team have continued to March Forth! Within 6 months Overboard IPA won a gold medal at the U.S. Open Beer Championships with silvers medals going to the White Mountain Porter and Red Giant in the same competition.

The Brewhaus crew continues to be creatively inspired and grateful to “SHARE THE ALOHA” with Hawai’i Island and beyond.