The Enchanting Hawaiian Farm That's Anything But Ordinary
By Megan Shute|Published April 09, 2017
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
Though Hawaii is one of America’s smallest states, there are still plenty of undeveloped gems to discover throughout the islands, including countless incredible farms and ranches – from Maui’s fragrant Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm to Oahu’s Kahumana Organic Farm & Cafe. And while Hawaii Island may be more well known for Parker Ranch – the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States – there is a lesser known bee farm that is anything but ordinary. This is Big Island Bees, and it is a truly remarkable farm worthy of a spot on your Hawaiian bucket list – as long as you aren’t deathly allergic, or terrified, of bees.
Located on Hawaii Island’s Kona Coast in Captain Cook is this stunning bee farm known for making the best single-source artisanal honey around.
The farm produces several varieties of pure and organic honey, with no heating, filtering or blending. Honey varieties include lehua blossom, wilelaiki blossom and macadamia nut blossom. The farm also creates and sells other food products like honey mustard, and even beeswax candles and soaps, lip balm, and t-shirts.
Not only do honeybees produce magnificent honey, they also pollinate flowers, which provides the average person with nearly ⅓ of the foods that make up their diet. In the United States alone, the crops pollinated by bees are worth more than $18 billion dollars.
Farm tours are available at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Saturdays. On this tour, you will learn about bees and honey from skilled beekeepers, and even get to witness an open beehive demonstration - from a safe, screened in viewing area, of course! Reservations are encouraged, and farm tours cost $10 for adults, $8 with Hawaii ID, and nothing for anyone under 18 years old.
Here you can sample honey and learn about bees and beekeeping through various displays. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
