Kathleen Wong

It comes as no surprise to hear that Hawaii has a lot to offer. The Aloha State boasts year-round warm weather, picture-perfect sandy beaches and some of the best surf on the planet, not to mention a rich history, fascinating cultural sites and a stunning natural beauty. But did you know that the isolated island chain also has a thriving beer scene? Inspired by flavors unique to the islands and the legendary laidback lifestyle, local craft breweries are making delicious brewskis that can only be found in the Polynesian archipelago and if you're a beer lover, they alone are worth making the trip to this awe-inspiring island paradise. Hawaiian-made beer can be traced back to 1812 after European contact was made. Native Hawaiians have been making alcoholic drinks using ‘awa root since before colonization, but beer as we know it today didn't come about until 1901, according to the Hawaiian Craft Brewers Guild. Still, beer options in Hawaii were limited until around the early aughts when state liquor laws changed so that brewpubs could distribute beer for profit. Since then, local breweries have popped up on the four main Hawaiian islands (Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui and Oahu) with no intention of stopping anytime soon. Moreover, many of these microbreweries don't distribute their products anywhere else in the island chain. From beer made with fresh papaya, Hawaiian vanilla beans and more, here are seven reasons why Hawaii is the hottest new beer scene.