By Big Island Weekly

“Going Green” was a top priority for Kona’s Brice and Lisa Ginardi

even before they opened their new business, Okolemaluna Tiki Lounge in

Alii Sunset Plaza. “It’s the way we’ve been doing things since the

beginning; everything from the sustainable materials we sourced for

construction to the fresh local products we use to make our drinks and

pupus,” says Lisa.

Okolemaluna, which means “bottoms up” in Hawaiian, opened last

November as a vintage tiki bar offering carefully crafted original and

classic specialty tropical cocktails. It features fresh-squeezed

juices, homemade flavorings and premium spirits in a relaxing setting

sporting thatched roofing, tapa cloth and carved tiki.

The couple employed green business practices from the lounge’s

inception. “We reconfigured the existing facility, using whatever

structure, appliances, etc. we could, and repurposed the building

materials in our renovation,” shares Brice. “Nearly everything we

pulled out during demolition was reused later.”

The Ginardis relied on sustainable bamboo, vintage furnishings and

décor, plus locally-sourced tiki to give a Hawaiian feel to the

interior, while drywall and finish scraps were used as needed. Low VOC

paint added a splash of color. Water-regulating faucets, low-flow

toilets and an on-demand tankless hot water heater were installed.

“During construction, every light we added or replaced was an energy

efficient CFL or LED,” adds Brice. “All new electrical

appliances are Energy-Star qualified.”

When planning the lounge’s menu, the couple decided to commit to

buying locally sourced food as much as possible. They also wanted to

revive popular tropical cocktails from the past so they researched

classic recipes, working with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, expert and author

on tiki drinks and one of Imbibe magazine’s “25 Most Influential

Cocktail Personalities of the Past Century.”

“Our belief is that artisanal, farm-to-glass cocktails have no

better home than this lush, tropical island,” states Brice, an

award-winning bartender who oversees Okolemaluna’s drink menu. Local

tropical and citrus fruits, organic cane sugar, 100 percent Kona

coffee, herbs and spices are sourced, whenever possible, to not only

create cocktails, but also to provide the ingredients for each

libation’s components.

“Our attention to detail is all about preserving the art of the

cocktail,” muses Brice. “It is a multi-step process dependent on the

correct blending of the right ingredients.”

While the Ginardis offer both beer and wine, only Hawaii-brewed beers

are on tap to reduce their carbon

footprint. “Our complex doesn’t have a recycling program so we haul any glass

bottles and Hi-5 each week for recycling, along with all cardboard and

mixed recyclables,” notes Lisa. In addition, all biodegradable straws,

paper products and to-go containers, are purchased through Sustainable

Island Products. “You won’t find any Styrofoam or plastic in our

place,” she adds.

Similar to the drink selection, the Ginardis designed

Okolemaluna’s “Pupu and Tidbits” menu to utilize local ingredients in

season. “We currently offer Keahole-raised shrimp and fresh ahi,” says

Lisa, who oversees the kitchen. “Upcoming pupu specials will feature

grass-fed local beef and Puna goat cheese.”

Back-of-the-house eco-friendly practices include recycling cooking

oil for bio-diesel. “We don’t dump any grease,” Lisa details, “and we

use earth-friendly cleaning supplies whenever possible.”

While the mission of Okolemaluna Tiki Lounge is to “deliver

impeccable cocktails in an exotic atmosphere,” the Ginardis say their

business is really a celebration of “all things local.”

“We respectfully follow sustainable business practices, conserve

our resources to use just what we need and support our local food and

drink producers,” notes Lisa. “We make drinks the way they used to be

made and should be made-carefully and with fresh quality ingredients.”

Okolemaluna Tiki Lounge is open 3 p.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 3

p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. For more information, call

808-883-TIKI (8454) or visit www.okolemalunalounge.com.