As this island is known as the Garden Island, it is logical that Kauai should have plenty of pollinators tending to the local flora. And it does. But it’s not just native pollinators who make their home here.

A quick Google search brings up the names of five Kauai honey producers who depend on this island’s honey bee population for their product.

Even the Kauai Community College is into bees. Because of its successful apiary program, the HDOA (Hawaii Department of Agriculture) named the college as a certified queen bee breeder and exporter. Products of the college hives include wax, propolis, body lotions, lip balm, candles, and baked goods.

Hawaii has always had its native pollinators, the most notable being the well known, easily recognized yellow-faced bee. Year after year those solitary bees have efficiently pollinated the native flora, helping the islands to thrive. Honey bees, though, were non-existent here until introduced into the Islands in the 19th century.

In October of 1857, three hives of dark honey bees were loaded on the bark, Fanny Major. After an 18 day sail from San Francisco, the hives, with their slightly confused occupants, were off loaded in good condition, and sold to the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society.

The hives were settled in the Nu’uanu Valley on O’ahu. Within a year those busy bees had increased the three original hives to nine colonies. Happy bees make happy neighborhoods.

Since the world has been made aware of the current dangers to bees, more and more researchers study bees, hoping to reverse even a few of the problems affecting them. After all, bees are responsible for pollinating about a third of the world’s food supply.

Studies proved that when hives of bees were brought in to pollinate avocados, blueberries or cucumbers, crop yields increased dramatically.

Researchers discovered that if a hive lacks enough young worker bees, older bees will take up the slack by actually reverting to their younger, more energetic selves. The reverse-aging bees also live longer. More studies are needed to understand the whys and hows of this phenomena.

Turns out that bees are smarter than we thought, even though their brains are the size of a poppy seed. Bees can recognize human faces. In an experiment, an image of a human face was paired with sugar water. Bees remembered the face promising the sweet food, returning to that image even if the reward was missing.

As important as it is for everyone to be aware of the dangers to our pollinators, it is just as important to actually take action by contributing to different citizen science projects. The Bee Conservancy website explains how everyone can help by simply taking pictures with a cell phone.

Helping our bees includes supporting the local bee community. Kauai is a small island, so finding a beekeeper whose honey is a perfect match for your particular taste buds should be easy – as well as a good excuse for spending a few days just tasting honey.

Hawaiian Beekeepers

Backroad Beekeeping
Kauai Bee Team
Kauai Nectar
Lees Bees
McPhee’s Bees