Liloa Papa

He then moved back to Hawaii where he eventually landed a position with the newly opened Southern Wine and Spirits of Hawaii. There he spent 10 years learning and enjoying everything about fine wine and spirits.

Sake has secretly been his passion for the last 18 years, a passion he discovered while studying Japanese in college. Unable to contain himself anymore, he fervently embarked on a journey where he could learn everything there is to know about sake, a journey that is never ending.

He has completed the Sake Professional Course Level I in Tokyo and was a part of the first Sake Professional Course Level II, also in Tokyo.

He is also only the second non-Japanese to win a sake blind-tasting competition held in Tokyo. The first,  his instructor and friend, John Gauntner, the leading non-Japanese authority on sake, in the world.

Leaving the comforts of his native home, Liloa truly embarked on a journey last year by accepting a position with SakeOne as their Western Regional Manager. Now, he is able to truly continue his quest for knowledge about sake on a daily basis as SakeOne’s Western Regional manager. More importantly, he is able to share what he has learned with all who are interested in learning.

He just recently spent some time working in a Sake brewery in Japan to learn about the intricacies of the sake making process; part of his annual ritual of visiting Japan to enjoy and learn something new about sake, Japan’s heralded libation.