The exciting news about the growth of Maui Brewing Co. detailed in yesterday's Maui News shows how a single entrepreneur can impact a community.
In a mere seven-year span, Garrett Marrero has taken his company from a seven-barrel brew pub to projected sales of 24,000 barrels this year. Those sales are up from 18,000 barrels last year.
Now Marrero has plans for a major expansion at the Maui Research & Technology Park in Kihei that will result in capabilities of producing 150,000 barrels of beer per year. As Marrero told the newspaper, "it will more than quintuple our capacity."
Most importantly from Maui's and Hawaii's standpoint, the expansion will more than double Maui Brewing's workforce. It will add around another 80 jobs to the existing 61.
Marrero emphasizes that his products are "truly local, truly no ka oi." While he sells to 11 markets in the U.S. and five international markets, all of Maui Brewing Co.'s products are made on-island.
A commitment to good products and the courage to pursue a dream define a successful entrepreneur. Garrett Marrero is living proof that such ideals still work in our world.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
