An Evening at Kō Hana Rum

Here on Oahu, we’re blessed with some of the most beautiful venues in the world. Incredible beaches, lush tropical greenery, drastic mountain scapes, crystal blue waters… we will never get enough of the natural beauty so many of our venues offer. But being creatives in the event industry, we’re always on the lookout for new spaces that inspire us with their distinct sense of place and varying looks and feel. That’s why when we discovered Ko Hana Rum Distillery, we were so excited to share it with others! Early this summer, we took it upon ourselves to partner with Kō Hana and some of our favorite go-to collaborators for an evening amongst industry friends. Our aim was to show off the amazing beauty and exciting potential this setting offers for a fresh approach (or even an alternative) to classic ‘island vibes.’

Kō Hana Rum Distillery is set mid-island, nestled in the rolling Kunia foot hills. It’s a humble establishment, with one main building for guests, set on acres and acres of sugar cane fields, with a breath-taking 360* backdrop of the Waianae range to the west, the Ko’olau range in the east, and distant ocean views to the North and South. With it’s tin roof, copper piping and wooden details, the tasting room offers a distinctly warm industrial feel. Right outside the main building, they have a sugarcane garden displaying each of their 34 varieties of sugarcane. A grass lawn and an outdoor area under roof hosts a wood fire pizza truck (DELICIOUS!). It makes the perfect setting for meals, parties and receptions. This location provides a lovely alternative to Oahu’s classic ocean and jungle settings, yet still feels distinctly Hawaiian.

We paired up with Accel to create a fresh grayscale motif, to complement the industrial vibe of the venue and enhance the location’s mature and elegant undertones. Hawaii Calligraphy created laser-cut acrylic place holders for guests, adding a contemporary touch of polish, balancing the matte tones of the flatware and dishes. Ocean Dreamer contributed beautiful white and green arrangements of local flora, showing us that tropical doesn’t always have to mean bright reds and pinks.

Our Roam Rentals lounge followed suit on the black and white theme, pairing some of our most popular ‘island-vibe’ rentals with some more unexpected pieces that add a fresh edge. Classic design basics tell you to play with mixing textures, colors, patterns and solids, scale, and the like to create interest in a design. But we find, especially when it comes to creating lounges, that it’s often the contrast from juxtaposed styles that create real atmospheric magic. Give a go at playing with items in your own space and let yourself be surprised at how you can change the whole tone of the environment by shaking things up a bit!

White Rattan Sofa, Butterfly Chairs, White Moroccan Pouf, Rattan Coffee Table, Wooden Branch Side Table, Jute Rug, Mudcloth Throw, Mudcloth Pillows, Tassel Pillows, Cream Pillows. Photo by Iwalani Photography

This event was an awesome excuse to get industry friends together for a fun night in a new space. But secretly (or maybe not so secretly!) we loved it as an opportunity to freely play with new style ideas alongside our talented vendor partners. It gave us each the chance to try new ideas that we’ve been itching to explore, show off less-popular rental inventory and what it can do, and demonstrate our creativity as designers. While we love a good trend, we’re also very much in love with pushing the edges and being a part of creating new trends. And if we were to wager, our bet is that Kō Hana is one of the hottest new venues on Oahu. See you there!

Til’ next time,

The Roam Rentals Crew

Special thanks to our Dream Team:

Design & Coordination: Marina Tolentino - Bustle Events

Venue: Kō Hana Rum Distillery

Photography: Ashley Goodwin and Iwalani Photography

Specialty Rentals: Roam Rentals

Specialty Tableware, Linen, Chairs: Accel Events

Florals: Ocean Dreamer

Signage and Paper Details: Hawai’i Calligraphy

Chelsy TellezSeptember 4, 2019Comment