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The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday approved an application by Ola Brewing to convert the former Wainaku Executive Center into a restaurant and distillery.
In March, the Hawaiian Ola Brewing Corporation submitted to Hawaii County an application for a special management area use permit to renovate the 12,000-square-foot building to house a micro-distillery and agricultural processing facility, in addition to a restaurant and bar area seating up to 60 people.
Ola Brewing purchased the building for $7 million in 2022 from the previous owner, the Edmund C. Olson Trust.
The $2 million plan to redevelop the site is expected to take roughly five years.
The Windward Planning Commission approved the SMA application with little discussion.