Seventeen months have passed since my last reflection and so much has evolved within five seasons on another island. Beginning a new chapter by expanding Beelieve Hawaii’s services from O‘ahu to Kaua‘i took me a full year to acclimate to (including my personal life). I left my beekeeping gear and supplies behind because the Garden Isle is Varroa mite-free and the state of Hawai‘i has strict interisland quarantines that prohibit the movement of used equipment. Fortunately, I’m all about a fresh start and finding a routine flow wherever I go.
Beehive removal on July 16, 2025 at Na ‘Āina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kaua‘i
My residence switched from Kīlauea Ave of Kaimukī to Kīlauea town on Kauai’s North Shore in July of 2025. Change of address forms were being submitted as I was signing a partnership contract with the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa to create an urban apiary and facilitate immersive educational tours. How ironic is it that their Director of Culinary and Food & Beverage Operations would contact me five months before my move? I received the offering as a blessing from O‘ahu to keep me coming back. Four hives were installed on the mezzanine facing mauka (toward the mountains) and I have been escorting guests to meet the bees once a month from March to December on Fridays or Saturdays.
In this initial year of collaboration, we were able to harvest honey during mid December and on the summer solstice. The last small batch was featured in a seasonal ice pop called: Coco Meli by Pop Culture and was sold exclusively at SWIM Restaurant & Bar to commemorate the resort’s 50th anniversary. It’s truly a pleasure to partner with a global brand that values sustainable apiculture and the ethical approach we embody as our mission.
While the Hyatt celebrates half a century of hospitality, Beelieve Hawaii remembers the last 14 years we’ve dedicated to the conservation of feral honeybees in O‘ahu and Kaua‘i. What began as an alternative solution to pest control has organically grown into an esteemed organization specializing in pollinator education. By observing local ecosystems and listening to the buzz of demographic shifts, we do our best to meet the needs of invertebrate to human species. Beginning with our grassroots Pollinator Outreach Program (POP) Talks to our flourishing mentorship school, Beelieve University, our vision has always been led by the collective’s imagination. When there is a request for curriculum that develops into a demand, we take the initiative as a trailblazer and pave the way for students of all ages.
Cohort 6 of Beelieve University at Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha apiary
On June 18, 2026, Cohort 6 of Virtual Beelieve University’s “Intro to Ethical Beekeeping” course completed their intensive 16-week semester. This was the second group to experience the program through hybrid learning hosted on Teachable and the first time hands-on hive demos were taught interisland. Each quarter, an in-person lesson was taught at Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha and Kaua‘i Farmacy. Since students had to coordinate their own airfare and transportation, attendance at both apiaries showed their commitment. Furthermore, we gathered every other week on Zoom for quiz reviews and a new book club called: Festoon.
After six years of physically guiding cohorts from March to June, I have been advised to broaden VBU’s online course with a self-paced option available all year round. The investment will be $800 + tax, which is a third of the spring semester’s full tuition cost. Mentees that explore this choice and want more interaction will have the opportunity to join any 2027 in-person hive demo lesson for $150. Self-paced students will also be invited to participate in our complimentary book club. This preference will launch on November 14, 2026 — the same day that applications for Cohort 7 open.
If you are interested in studying ethical beekeeping with a holistic approach in harmony with environmental stewardship… Sign up on our waitlist!
https://beelievehawaii.com/vbu-waitlist
Me Ke Aloha (With Love) from my honey heart
💛 Jasmine Joy Woolsey
