Aloha's Kona Bar
The award-winning plant-based brand’s newest product celebrates sustainable farming in Hawaii while giving back to the next generation of environmental stewards.
The bar features responsibly sourced ingredients, including 100% Kona-grown coffee from Greenwell Farms and 100% Hawaii-grown macadamia nuts from the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company. It also is the first food product to contain Ponova oil, a sustainable plant-based oil made from the beans of ultra-regenerative, climate-resilient pongamia trees on Oahu.
Aloha is donating 10% of proceeds from every Kona Bar sold to Kupu, a nonprofit investing in Hawaii’s youth through land stewardship and hands-on education. In addition to being a leader in plant-based food and impact, Aloha is aiming to be a category leader in sustainability with its commitment to becoming Climate Neutral Certified this year. No other plant-based protein brand has obtained this certification to date.
“The launch of the Kona Bar underscores our commitment to supporting sustainable farming and agricultural practices, with Hawaii as a prime example of what the future of farming and land stewardship should look like,” said Brad Charron, CEO of Aloha.
“As we grow, we're committed to finding new and innovative ways to use our business as a force for good. This is a critical step in delivering on our mission to create delicious and nutritious food while making a positive impact on the world.”
Crafted by food and agriculture innovation company Terviva, Ponova oil is a gamechanger in the world of plant-based oils and regenerative farming.
It’s made by expeller pressing and lightly refining the beans of pongamia trees in a process similar to olive oil. Pongamia is a climate-resilient, super-tree that revitalises the land and communities where it’s grown. Historically used for reforestation in Asia, it sequesters carbon while improving soil health and water quality. From tree to plate, Terviva harvests and transforms pongamia beans into healthy and delicious food ingredients called Ponova.
“Ponova oil is a delicious, premium oil containing Omega-9s that is climate-friendly and helps convert distressed farmland into sustainable, productive acreage,” said Naveen Sikka, CEO of Terviva.
“We’re proud to partner with ALOHA to bring this innovative ingredient to market.”
Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company uses environmentally friendly cultivation practices, never any potentially harmful insecticides or fungicides, and never any fossil fuels.
For instance, to dry their nuts they convert the energy of clean burning macadamia nut shells into steam. The farm also generates nearly all electricity via solar and biomass energy.
Greenwell Farms is one of the oldest and most respected Kona coffee farms on the island of Hawaii.
Established in 1850, this award-winning, fifth-generation family-owned farm handles every aspect of coffee making from farm to cup, including harvesting and processing to roasting and shipping. Greenwell Farms is committed to regenerative farming practices that nurture the health of its trees and land for generations to come.
The Kona Bar is high in protein, low in sugar, Non-GMO Project Verified and made without gluten, dairy, soy, and sugar alcohols. The bar packaging features original artwork by Honolulu-based artist Kelsie Dayna and encapsulates the harmony of land, people and community that the bar represents.
Available on Thrive Market, the Kona Bar is currently the platform’s fastest growing and second best-selling brand in the entire bar category.