Un-bee-lievable Things to Do in Maui: Bee-come a Beekeeper
Set on the sun-soaked slopes of Haleakala, the most darling little farm awaits! As the name hints, Maui Bees is home to honey bees, a bee museum, its Hands-on Honey Bee Workshop, as well as a farm stand serving culinary delights. While Brandon and I had sampled the delicious artisanal honey before, we had never visited the farm. We were really intrigued at the thought of learning more about bees, suiting up as beekeepers and of course, eating honey right out of the hive. *Spoiler Alert* The experience did not disappoint! Add this to your list of musts for things to do in Maui immediately and…
Come with us to see what all the buzz is about!
BEEFORE YOU GO:
Beefore we dig in like Winnie the Pooh with a honey jar, let’s review some important know-before-you-go tips. First, while Maui Bees’ farm stand is open daily, its Hands-on Honey Bee Workshops are currently only offered weekly on Friday mornings. Book online in advance. Once you receive your confirmation, please note important details like:
- arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time
- wear light clothing (this will be worn under a bee suit which can get hot) and bring a change of clothes in case you are really sweaty after
- wear close-toed shoes
- notify Maui Bees if you have a known bee allergy and plan accordingly
BEE INFORMED:
The Hands-on Honey Bee Workshop begins at Maui Bee’s bee museum, a trailer full of information with an observation beehive (behind plexiglass). Here, our guide, Kylie, taught us all about the honey bee. She helped us find the queen, explained the different roles of the worker bees and pointed them out. From the attendant bees who serve the queen, to the foragers who communicate where the best flowers are through a dance called the waggle, to the cleaner bee, who you guessed it, is the colony’s maid, we learned how the bees work together in harmony. It was fascinating and we beecame fast fans!
BEECOME A BEEKEEPER:
After learning about these important creatures, we headed over to the picnic tables and suited up. That’s right! Brandon and I donned full beekeeper attire. The good news is that the suit is meant to be baggy so it can easily fit over your clothes. The not-so-good-news is that you may end up looking like the Michelin Man or Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters… but hey, that’s just part of the fun!
Once we fastened the protective headpiece with veil and secured our gloves, we followed Kylie over to the gate. As she prepared the smoker, she explained how smoke keeps the bees from communicating perceived danger. Armed (with a smoker) and ready, we approached the hive and watched Kylie open it and begin smoking. The loud initial buzz quieted somewhat quickly allowing Kylie to show us different parts of the hive, including the colony of bees and the honey. We even got to… drum roll… eat honeycomb straight from the hive! Don’t worry, we did that at a safe distance from the main hive box. It was delicious! After a few spoonfuls, we returned to the hive box and were invited to help Kylie get everything put back together and use the smoker!
BEEHIND THE SCENES:
Next, we said bye to the bees and headed to the honey processing facility on the farm. It was so cool to see the machinery and learn how everything we just watched is produced into thousands jars of artisanal honey sold at the stand, farmers market and select island locations.
BRING YOUR SWEET TOOTH:
After our tour, we removed the beekeeping suits and sat down at the picnic tables for a honey tasting. Since Maui enjoys warm weather year-round, Maui Bees is able to produce both a Summer and Winter variety of honey, each with a distinct color and flavor. The Summer honey is described as a light amber color with floral notes and an understated spice from the forests of Wilelaiki. In contrast, the Winter honey is darker with whispers of caramel, Eucalyptus, blackberry and more. The honey is also made using a cold press so it has a creamier texture and is rich with enzymes. Friendly PSA, raw honey should not be consumed by young children. While we loved both, our favorite was the Winter honey!
BUY LOCAL:
As our time as beekeepers came to a close, we stopped by Maui Bee’s sweet farm stand on the way out. Here, they sell both Summer and Winter honey, and honeycomb. They also offer a cafe menu and fermented foods, as well as a variety of other tasty treats. If you’re not going to visit Maui for a little while, but can’t wait to try the honey, visit the online “stand.”
Looking for more farm-related things to do in Maui?! Buzz on over to Kula Country Farms here.
