About
Aloha and e komo mai to Inu A Kena! Inu a kena translates from the Hawaiian to “drink until satisfied” or “drink to quench thirst”. It seems a fitting title for a blog where I try to quench a thirst for knowledge about fine spirits and craft cocktails.
I’m Josh, your intrepid blog host. I’m an amateur bartender and spirit enthusiast living on an island in the the San Francisco Bay. By day I sell desalination and other water treatment systems for use in large industrial settings. By night, I switch from water to spirits, spending much of my time in my home bar dubbed Josh’s Okole Maluna Lounge.
Side note: Okole maluna is a colloquial phrase–don’t repeat it to a Hawaiian kupuna, as s/he may take offense to its literal translation. Fortunately I learned this from a friend who was a Hawaiian Studies major, and not a ticked off Hawaiian elder 
A muted version of bottoms up would be huli pau, which means to capzise or “flip over and be done”.
I love Hawaii and try to get there at least once a year. For me there’s nowhere better to enjoy a nice cocktail than in Kailua-Kona at sunset with my lovely wife, my son, and my favorite ukulele.
Please follow me on Twitter, ”Like” Inu a Kena on Facebook, check out my Pinterest Boards and keep coming back!
Mahalo nui loa,
Josh
Fantastic site! I’ve been looking for a good rum resource for a while, so I’m really glad you commented on our rum post. So much good information! Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Jon. Cheers!
Howzit Brah? I lived on Oahu back in the 80′s working as a dj at KPOI FM. Nothing like a cocktail on the beach at sunset, and after a graveyard shift, at sunrise. Nice info here, I’ll check back often. Mahalo.
DJ Mal
Mahaloz, DJ Mal!
Aloha Josh, I just stumbled to your website. Great reviews/collections. I just purchased a bottle of Appleton 12yr and Ron Zacapa 23yr and I was wondering if I made a good decision. I’m originally from O’ahu now living near Seattle. I’m a big fan of Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, Japanese, and other work whiskeys (~150 bottles). I just started my journey into rums (8 bottles). Thanks for posting all of your review to help me make my purchasing decisions.
Mahalo, Keoni
E komo mai, Keoni, and mahalo for your kind words! If you like the drier end of things, I would seek out the Brugal 1888. You may also want to try the aged agricoles from Martinique such as Clement. If you’re near Tacoma, visit Tacoma Cabana for a great rum selection. In Seattle proper, try Rumba on Pike Street. Cheers!