Duke Kahaulelio-Yadao starting his career at Kōloa Rum Company in 2018 on the bottling line. But the Kauaʻi native quickly worked his way through nearly every stage of rum production, which included being sent to Kentucky to learn more about the craft from distilling experts at Moonshine University.
Now, at just age 30, he is the companyʻs new head of Distillery Operations.
“I was young and thirsty, so to speak,” Kahaulelio-Yadao told Kauaʻi Now.
Kahaulelio-Yadao’s career at Kōloa Rum Company began after a family friend recommended it as a good place to work. But what started as a job stacking cases and preparing pallets eventually opened the door to blending, production and distillery operations.
His progression through the company has given him firsthand experience with the work behind each bottle, from bottling and labeling to blending rum and overseeing quality control. He also worked as a bartender at the company until early this year, giving him experience on both the production and customer-facing sides of the business.
Kahaulelio-Yadao said he is proud to grow professionally at a company rooted in the island where he was born and raised.
“I feel truly honored to have the opportunity to represent a company that shares the same place I call home,” he said. “Having to work in every step of the production process, I’ve seen firsthand the hard work and the dedication that goes into making our products.”
In his new role, Kahaulelio-Yadao will oversee distillery operations and production, guide employees and help maintain the company’s standards for quality and craftsmanship.
Kahaulelio-Yadao was raised on his family’s farm in Kalāheo, about 10 minutes from the distillery, where he grew up helping with cattle, horses, pigs and vegetables grown for farmers markets.
The farm was not a large-scale operation, he said, but the work taught him the value of persistence.
“I feel like having that mindset of work, work, work, without having a tally or prize at the end, kind of gave me that attitude as I grew up,” Kahaulelio-Yadao said.
That approach carried into his working life and helped him advance from the bottling line to the blending team, where he learned to combine rum with other ingredients during production.
The company later supported his professional development by sending him to Moonshine University in Louisville, where he completed a two-day fermentation workshop and a five-day distilling course.
The training covered the science of fermentation, including how yeast converts sugars into alcohol, and the technical processes involved in distilling spirits.
Kahaulelio-Yadao said the East Coast visit gave him access to experienced distillery operators, master distillers and other industry specialists.
“It was my first time on the East Coast and it was all around a new experience,” he said.
He hopes to pass that knowledge along to his team as he settles into his new position.
“Being able to share that with my employees now and more people to come, I feel like it will help them in the future also,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kahaulelio-Yadao wants to improve production efficiency, address logistical challenges involving shipping and incoming materials, and identify ways to reduce costs without compromising quality.
He also hopes to mentor the next generation of distillery workers and prepare someone to eventually take on greater responsibilities.
“At the end of the day, you teach the next one to be better than yourself,” he said. “And I do want the next generation to be better.”
Kahaulelio-Yadao also hopes his advancement will encourage young people in Hawaiʻi to consider professional opportunities available in their home communities.
Growing up, he said, he did not know much about the distilling industry or the range of careers it offered. He hopes his experience demonstrates that local residents can build careers in specialized fields without leaving the islands.
“I always knew that there was something special I was meant to be for,” he said. “I always worked hard, and hopefully I can show the younger generations that working hard and putting your mind, body and spirit into something you believe in, you can do anything.”
To learn more about Kōloa Rum Co. and its history, book a tour, or to shop ahead of the holidays, click here.
