Brewers’ inspirations for creating beers can come from anywhere. Sometimes there’s a desire to re-create classic flavors, such as deep rich chocolate and espresso. These are found in Imperial Stouts. At other times, ideas can come from their own backyards and a desire to utilize ingredients that are local or have a special meaning.

This was the case for Kona Brewing Co.’s Makana Series. To celebrate its 21st anniversary, the team at Kona Brewing decided to make four limited-release beers, each representing nature’s elements — earth, fire, water and wind — and incorporated a specific local ingredient to correspond with each element. The fourth beer, Makani (wind) Wheat Ale, makes use of two local indigenous ingredients.

For Makani the company partnered with the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative to harvest rare koa blossom honey. The initiative has been working to plant more than 1.3 million endemic koa, sandalwood and other endangered Hawaiian species across the state. On Hawaii island it manages 1,100 acres of koa forest on the slopes of Mauna Kea, and it’s in this forest that the bees pollinate the koa blossoms and create a rare honey that is unique to the islands.

“Because the … forest is principally home to koa trees, the bees maintain the character of the koa blossoms, with little crossover of other tree or plant species commonly found in other Hawaiian honeys,” said Sandi Shriver, Kona Brewing’s operation manager. Kona Brewing helped harvest the honey and planted new koa saplings to support the initiative.

The brewers also used a special yeast strain for the beer. Isolated on the slopes of Mauna Loa by University of California, Davis, professor Herman Phaff, Hawaiian Ale Yeast produces unique gentle floral aromas and flavors. Kona Brewing has used the yeast in a few different beers.

Makani is light-golden straw in color and only 4.5 percent alcohol by volume. The gentle wheat base allows the delicate honey notes to infuse the aroma, and the honey also adds wonderful floral notes to the flavor while helping keep the beer dry and light. Flavors and aromas in Makani are subtle, with no single element taking center stage.

A portion of sales of Makani will be donated to the initiative. Find it on Oahu at Duke’s Waikiki, Hula Grill Waikiki, Tropics Bar & Grill Waikiki, the Hideaway Bar Waikiki, Tiki’s Grill & Bar, Yard House, Whole Foods Kahala, Whole Foods Kailua, Kona Brewing Co.’s Koko Marina pub, REAL a gastropub, BREW’d craft pub, Monkey Pod Kitchen Ko ‘Olina, Roy’s Ko ‘Olina, Taps and Apps, and Breakers Restaurant and Bar.