Born and raised in California while spending winters and summers with his family in Hawai'i, Ryan Emmons gained an incredible appreciation for the environment and the active lifestyle these unique places offer. This, and his longstanding charitable efforts in Africa, led him to begin developing the concept for Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water after discovering his Hawaiian family had access to one of the most naturally healthy, pure, and sustainable water sources in the world.

Emmons graduated early to launch Waiākea and its unique triple bottom line platform into what it is today- one of the fastest growing beverage companies, and the fastest growing premium bottled water, in the United States. Emmons was selected as a Bridge Entrepreneur by SVN (Social Venture Network) in early 2014 for Waiākea 's initiatives and groundbreaking social platform. He remains committed to Waiākea's vision to sustainably provide healthy, delicious, Hawaiian Volcanic Water, while contributing to and promoting clean water access to people in need in Africa and throughout the world.