We Tried It: Hi Honey Farm Tour

Dress up as a beekeeper, hunt for the queen bee, watch newborn bees hatch, and taste 10+ local honeys at a lush farm on the North Shore.

July 24, 2023

Laura Dornbush,

What: A 1.5-hour bee farm tour and honey tasting

Who: Fascinating for foodies, bug lovers and pollinator afficionados, but anyone age 3 and up is welcome. I was accompanied by “my guys,” a.k.a. husband and 6-year-old son.

Where: Hi Honey Farm in Waialua

When: Sunday morning

Photo: Laura Dornbush

T his past spring, my son Duke was cast as a honeybee in his school play about pollinators, with pipe cleaner antennae and all. So, when I found out about the hands-on, up-close-and-personal experience at Hi Honey Farm, I figured we could piggyback on his base knowledge of the subject for an educational outing this summer.

Early on a Sunday morning, we whizzed up to the North Shore without a hint of traffic. We were greeted at the aptly colored yellow gate by staff who welcomed us onto the small farm down a short gravel road all the while avoiding chickens who roamed freely. We convened with the rest of the tour group participants, a family with grown children from the mainland, under the lānai of a plantation-style cottage.

Photo: Laura Dornbush

First, we had a chance to tour the farm, a honeybee paradise filled with all the plants they love to collect nectar from. Think: 800 banana trees, plus papaya, avocado, ginger, mamaki, taro and sweet potato. And I could go on and on. Duke was intrigued by the sleeping grass plant which retracted its leaves at his touch.

Next up, we got schooled with a mini lesson on bees and honey. Honestly, we learned more about bees than I ever thought possible, but in a good way. The lecture was light in tone with colorful visual diagrams, jokes, and kid-friendly references, such as “technically honey is bee vomit” and “bee boxes are stacked just like LEGO blocks.” Farm founder and owner, Stanislav has an 8-year-old daughter himself, so he knows how to keep kiddos engaged and interested.

Photo: Laura Dornbush

Finally, the time had come to don the beekeeper suits and meet the bees! It was quite a process getting dressed in all the gear: boots, suit, gloves, and hood, which reminded me of getting dressed for a day of skiing. Luckily the staff was right there to assist however needed. In fact, since you can’t take photos while wearing all the protective apparel, the staff take photos for you throughout the experience and then send them to you at the end of the tour.

We trekked the short distance to the 130 bee colonies, equating to millions of bees, which call the farm home. Our mission: remove the frames (rectangular inserts where bees make beeswax and honey) from the bee boxes to get an up-close view and find the queen bee. In the process, we were able to witness a couple of newborn bees hatching. For each one, our group sang “Happy Birthday” to welcome them into the world. Amazingly, the new bees got to work right away helping the swarm clean the hive. At last, our guide found and pointed out the queen bee—an impressive insect almost double the size of the other bees.

Photo: Laura Dornbush

I will admit that it was VERY unnerving having a swarm of bees buzzing so close to my body. Duke was uneasy too, especially when our guide asked if he wanted to hold a frame of bees. But somehow, we got used to it—maybe because the staff was so calm and nonchalant. In the end, we didn’t get bit! Woohoo!

Photo: Laura Dornbush

Our bravery was rewarded with a comprehensive honey tasting of more than 10 varietals made by Hi Honey Farm. Their honey is harvested raw straight from the hive and is not pasteurized or filtered, leaving all of the beneficial enzymes and pollen intact.

Photo: Laura Dornbush

First, we tasted Ohia Lehua Honey, Eucalyptus Honey, and Macadamia Nut Honey—all made by bees from the nectar of these respective plants. Then, we were each served a plate of sliced avocado sprinkled with bee pollen (a good source of protein) and drizzled with spicy Hawaiian Hot Honey. The samples kept coming with a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with Matcha Honey and Pineapple Honey, and a fresh strawberry dotted with Cacao Honey.

Photo: Laura Dornbush

All of the varieties we tasted were amazing, but our family’s favorites were the Eucalyptus Honey for its slightly crystalized texture and the rich, smooth Macadamia Nut Honey. We had a chance to purchase some jars to take home with us from the Bee Bus, a retrofitted truck turned boutique shop, painted with yellow and black stripes in honor of the honeybee. You’ll find us back up in Waialua again as soon as we need a refill!

Photo: Laura Dornbush

Our Tips

1. 1. 1. 1. Know your limits. You will get close to bees, so if you’re allergic to stings or insects aren’t your thing, maybe this isn’t the tour for you.
      2. Sorry, not for babies. Just a reminder that honey is not safe to feed to infants under the age of one.
      3. Stay for the swing set. Yes! There is an on-site swing set, so keiki can play if they lose interest in the educational lesson.
      4. Buzz therapy. Check out a new venture launching in August: AirBeesN’Bed, a hexagonal wooden cabin available for rent in 2-hour sessions to reap the therapeutic benefits of sleeping on a beehive. The bees underneath the bed provide gentle vibrations that are said to help soothe your body and mind.
      5. Bee books. Hi Honey Farm Owner and dad himself, Stanislav recommends these resources for keiki who want to learn more.
      6. Find honey close to home. If you can’t make it out to the farm, you’ll find a few of the honey varietals for sale at Foodland. Or you buy online.

Hi Honey Farm offers tours daily, except Mondays, at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tours cost $110 for kama‘āina adults and $80 for kama‘āina children ages 3-12. 66-1128 Kaukonahua Rd., Waialua. (808) 462-6911, hihoneyfarm.com, @hihoneyfarm