Waiakea Water: The Naturally Electrolyte-Rich Water

What has made Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water so popular? The name invokes images of waterfalls, tropical foliage and volcanoes. The water is filtered through 14,000 feet of rock through the Mauna Loa volcano. Water filtered through the world's largest active volcano is hip, however, in 1,000 years, no one will know hip we were because the Waiakea bottles break down in only 15 years. We average water bottle takes about 1,000 years to break down. Waiakea's bottle is 100 percent recyclable and made out of 100 percent recycled plastic. In the United States, we throw away 38 billion plastic water bottles in the ocean and landfills every year and we are not even in the top five of the world's worst ocean polluters.

Founded in 2012, Waiakea set out to be a sustainable premium water company that gives back to the community. In only five years, they have reached their sustainable goal; the company was already certified Carbon Neutral for their low emission shipping methods before they developed the bottle that breaks down in 15 years. The company also uses 25 percent renewable energy in its water collection process. Waiakea participates in regional reforestation and for every one liter of Waiakea water sold; the company donated 650 liters of water through the charity Pump Aid. Additionally, Waiakea supports the Kama’aha Education Initiative, which stresses a math, technology, science and engineering-rich education for Native Hawaiians.

Waiakea water is good for you, with naturally occurring potassium, chloride, magnesium and sodium, which are all electrolytes that help restore the fluid balance in a person's body. Their water is naturally alkaline with a PH of 7.6, as well, adding to the volcanic water benefits.

Ryan Emmons owes his establishment of the Hawaii volcanic water company to a trip he took to his mother's family in Hawaii. He loved the taste of the water, but he wanted to bottle it in an eco-friendly manner, something that wasn't being done by other companies in the bottled water industry. Emmons and Waiakea's co-founder, Matt Meyer, had no experience in the industry, however, the Hawaiian volcanic water tasted so good, their company took off. In 2015, Waiākea Water won a Best in Biz Award for CSR in North America and in 2017, the company made Inc's. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America list. Not bad for a company that five years ago was delivering its premium bottled water in U-Hauls.

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