Deep ocean sea salt is sea salt made from seawater drawn from far below the ocean's surface rather than from near-shore surface water. Kona Sea Salt begins with deep ocean water drawn from 2,200 feet below the Pacific Ocean off the Kona Coast of Hawaiʻi Island.
At this depth, the water is cold, dark and far removed from many of the influences that affect surface seawater. We bring this remarkable water ashore at our site at the Hawaiʻi Ocean Science & Technology Park (HOST Park), then slowly evaporate it using Kona's abundant sunshine to create our hand-harvested Hawaiian sea salt.
It is the water source that makes Kona Sea Salt fundamentally different.
What Is Deep Ocean Sea Salt?
Most sea salt is produced by evaporating seawater collected at or near the ocean's surface. Deep ocean sea salt starts somewhere very different.
At the Kona Salt Farm, our seawater is drawn from 2,200 feet below the Pacific Ocean through the deep ocean water system at HOST Park on Hawaiʻi Island.
Deep ocean water has spent centuries circulating through the world's deep ocean currents, isolated from sunlight and largely removed from the seasonal and environmental influences occurring at the surface.
We believe that if you want to understand a sea salt, the first question to ask is simple: Where did the water come from?
Why Does the Depth of the Water Matter?
The ocean is not one uniform body of water.
Surface seawater is continually influenced by sunlight, rainfall, evaporation, rivers, runoff, winds, biological activity and human activity. Its conditions can change with location and season.
Deep ocean water exists in a very different environment. At 2,200 feet, there is no sunlight, the temperature remains consistently cold, and the water is removed from most surface runoff and coastal influences.
That makes our water source remarkably stable and uniquely suited to making sea salt.
A Centuries-Long Journey to Hawaiʻi
The deep ocean is constantly moving. Cold, dense seawater sinks in polar regions and becomes part of the enormous system of deep ocean circulation that moves water around the planet.
The deep ocean water reaching Hawaiʻi has traveled through these currents for centuries before arriving in the Pacific surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.
At the Kona Salt Farm, we have the rare ability to access this water through a set of deep sea water pipelines and bring it directly to shore.
Deep Ocean Salt vs. Regular Sea Salt
Most commercial sea salts begin with surface or near-shore seawater. Kona Sea Salt begins with deep ocean water from 2,200 feet below the surface.
Our water is then filtered through a 1-micron filtration system before entering our covered solar evaporation system.
Rather than rapidly boiling the water or using high-temperature industrial evaporation, we allow Kona's sun and warm climate to slowly concentrate the seawater and form salt crystals naturally.
Our salt makers monitor the crystallization carefully and harvest at the point when the sodium chloride crystals have formed while much of the magnesium-rich concentrated brine remains liquid.
The result is a clean-tasting, naturally pristine and white Hawaiian sea salt with a distinctive crystal structure and delicate crunch.
How Is Kona Deep Ocean Sea Salt Made?
Our process begins with one extraordinary ingredient: deep ocean water.
1. Drawn from 2,200 feet below the Pacific
Deep ocean water is brought ashore through HOST Park's deep ocean water system on the Kona Coast.
2. Filtered
Before entering our salt-making system, the water passes through a 1-micron filter to remove particles while dissolved minerals remain in the water.
3. Slowly solar evaporated
The seawater enters our covered solar evaporation tunnels, where Kona sunshine gradually removes the water and concentrates the natural salts and minerals.
4. Hand harvested
Our salt makers watch the crystallization process carefully and harvest the salt by hand when the crystals are ready.
5. Rested and finished
After harvesting, our sea salt rests while remaining moisture and concentrated brine continue to drain. It is separated by different crystal sizes for cooking, finishing or to be used in grinders.
6. Pure Sea Salt
There are no whitening agents or anti-caking ingredients added to our Pure Kona Sea Salt.
Just deep ocean water, sunshine, time and the work and knowledge of our salt makers.
Deep Ocean Sea Salt FAQ
What is deep ocean sea salt?
Deep ocean sea salt is salt made from seawater sourced from deep below the ocean's surface rather than from surface or near-shore water. Kona Sea Salt is made from deep ocean water drawn from approximately 2,200 feet below the Pacific Ocean off Hawaiʻi Island.
Where does Kona Sea Salt come from?
Kona Sea Salt is harvested at the Kona Salt Farm on the Kona Coast of Hawaiʻi Island using deep ocean water supplied through the Hawaiʻi Ocean Science & Technology Park.
How deep is the water used to make Kona Sea Salt?
Approximately 2,200 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
Is deep ocean sea salt different from regular sea salt?
Yes. The primary difference is the source water. Most sea salt begins with surface or near-shore seawater. Kona Sea Salt begins with cold deep ocean water from 2,200 feet below the surface and is slowly solar evaporated and hand harvested in Kona.
Does deep ocean sea salt contain minerals?
Sea salt naturally contains sodium chloride along with smaller amounts of other minerals and trace elements. The precise mineral composition varies according to the source water and harvesting process.
Is Kona Sea Salt processed?
Kona Sea Salt is filtered, solar evaporated, hand harvested, rested and prepared into different grinds. Our Pure Kona Sea Salt contains no added whitening agents or anti-caking ingredients.
Is Kona Sea Salt really made in Hawaiʻi?
Yes. Kona Sea Salt is made at our working oceanfront salt farm on Hawaiʻi Island using deep ocean water drawn from offshore Kona.
Where can I buy authentic Kona deep ocean sea salt?
AnswerPure Kona Sea Salt is available directly from Kona Sea Salt online and at our Kona Salt Farm Store on Hawaiʻi Island and our many local retail partners.
