(BIVN) – A developer of a planned brewery in Kea’au was given more time to construct the facility during a Windward Planning Commission meeting on Thursday.

The applicant, Hawaii Brewery Development Co., Inc, sought to amend a previous condition of a special permit (No. 842) which allowed “the development of a brewery, water and soft drink bottling facility on 14.587 acres of land” located just east of Highway 11 and north of Highway 130 in Kea’au, Puna.

“The applicant has had extensive experience in the food and beverage industry,” said planning consultant Sidney Fuke on behalf of his clients. “He was the founder of Blue Moon, Kai Vodka, and also Hawaiian Springs.”

Fuke said one of the lots was sold, and a well with a capacity of 360,000 gallons per day was recently dug. Fuke said it is his understanding that the owner of the lot with the new well wants to fully develop either a water company or a distillery, and have something come online in 2019.