We recently connected with Hannah Wilen and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Hannah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Of course! So I’d love to start by sharing a bit about kava more generally and why I started drinking kava. Kava is a drink from the South Pacific and Hawaii that is known for its relaxing and happy effects which promote sociability and meaningful connection. It’s been enjoyed traditionally and ceremonially for over 3000 years and is often considered an alternative to alcohol.

Why I love kava – my whole life, I’ve had crippling social anxiety. But I didn’t realize it until I started college. I was starting to actively avoid any situation where I would have to meet and interact with new people. When I did talk to people, I learned how to just pretend I was listening while I was just panicking inside about what to say next. So I started doing what a lot of people in college do which is drink (alcohol). At first, I thought it cured my anxiety as I was able to talk to people, feel more confident… but I wasn’t remembering anything and it was taking a huge toll on my body, my health, and my relationships. I then started to look for alternatives and I stumbled upon a kava bar. I went in, I tried kava, and for the first time in my life, I actually felt like myself. I didn’t feel this false sense of confidence that alcohol gave me, I didn’t feel out of control of my body, I just felt like me without the anxiety.

When I think about Kavahana, it’s really a reflection of my own journey and desire to offer alternatives to people who, like me, grapple with anxiety or are seeking an alternative to alcohol. I genuinely feel that one of the main reasons people hesitate to embrace kava, despite its benefits, is its distinctive bitter taste. While I love drinking kava in its traditional form with water, with its unmistakably earthy, bitter notes, I recognize it’s not palatable for everyone. That’s why we introduce coconut milk in all of our kava drinks. It lends a subtle sweetness and creaminess which not only pairs beautifully with kava but also strengthens kava’s effects (there’s science to back this up!). At places like the Mar Vista Farmers Market, Brentwood Farmers Market, and our spot with our partner Ola Beach Tennis, I’ve seen firsthand the transformation – people trying, savoring, and genuinely enjoying the kava experience!!!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Yes! I got into kava because I was looking for something to help me with my crippling social anxiety that wasn’t alcohol.

I learned about kava by going to a really fun kava bar near campus, and for the first time ever, I felt like me but without the anxiety – fully in control of my body, able to interact with others and actually listen to them without thinking about what to say next, and just having a great and genuine time.

I wanted to capture that same experience I had with my new business Kavahana. I feel like everyone looking to try an alternative to alcohol or something to help with their social anxiety should consider trying kava. I’m really proud of far we’ve come with Kavahana in just a few short months. When we first started, we served kava at raves! Now, we serve kava on the beach for beach tennis players, at wellness events, at farmers markets, at night markets, and we may be on a yacht next week serving kava (just kidding) – but also who knows!

How did you build your audience on social media?

Absolutely! If there’s one word that encapsulates Kavahana, it’s ‘authenticity’. My business partner, Neil, and I have poured our hearts into the brand. Instead of going for polished, high-budget campaigns, we’ve embraced shooting all our content straight from our phones. Whether it’s someone seeking an alternative to alcohol, searching for something for their anxiety, or just craving a vibrant, sober-friendly experience in LA, our content captures ‘feeling’, which I think is the most important thing, especially now and since COVID with everything becoming more digital and distant!

And speaking of this, outside of social media and digital marketing, we capture our audience through our in-person events! Building relationships is at the heart of everything we do. We take the time to connect with every single person we meet, to hear their story, and to share ours. It’s this genuine, one-on-one interaction that has fostered a deep sense of community and engagement with our audience. When I say authenticity, I mean it.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

We built a reputation within the kava world by taking the time to meet and learn from the leaders of the industry. I started by reaching out to a famous kava scientist (our now mentor) named Ed Johnston, who is the godfather of Hawaiian kava. I had the opportunity to visit him and his beautiful kava farm in Hawaii where I learned so much about kava, the science behind it, and how the industry has evolved over time.

After learning from Ed, I reached out to more and more leaders in the industry, taking the time to understand pain points, why people try kava for the first time (outside my story), and what got everyone into the kava industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kavahana.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kavahanabar/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kavahanabar
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kavahana
• Other: https://linktr.ee/kavahana