LIHU‘E — Beekeeping hobbyists Francis and Joyce Takahashi of Lihu‘e and Steelgrass Farms came home with sweet news earlier this month. The Takahashis, hobbyists for just two years, were named winners in the liquid honey division at the First Hawaiian
LIHU‘E — Beekeeping hobbyists Francis and Joyce Takahashi of Lihu‘e and Steelgrass Farms came home with sweet news earlier this month.
The Takahashis, hobbyists for just two years, were named winners in the liquid honey division at the First Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge held at Komohana Agriculture Research Station in Hilo on the Big Island.
The Big Island Beekeepers Association sponsored the event.
Using the label Miki Macs, the Takahashis submitted an entry gathered from bees dining on macadamia nut, citrus and tropical blossoms and harvested in the Kalaheo area.
Steelgrass Farms of Kapa‘a finished in a tie with Hilobees.com of Hilo for the runner-up position in the best appearance category of the liquid honey division, a BIBA release states.
Steelgrass Farms, a commercial beekeeper and diversified-crop operation in Wailua Homesteads, submitted an entry from palm blossoms, while Hilobees.com used a Hilo blend.
“We were honored — that is, our bees were honored — to be awarded a first prize at the 2010 Big Island Honey Challenge,” said Will Lydgate, farm co-owner.
“Biggest surprise of all, the prize was accompanied by a check for $20.”
The Homesteads honey, Kaua‘i Palm Blossom Honey, is 100 percent organic. See www.steelgrass.org for more information.
The honey competition drew 33 entries, with Jenny Bach of Papa‘aloa’s Bee Love Apiaries dominating the solid honey division, collecting 89.5 points out of a possible 100. Her solid honey from fruit, citrus and palm flowers in Lower Puna set the standard in judging based on aroma, appearance, taste and texture, the release states.
She is a commercial beekeeper with eight years’ experience and maintains 34 colonies on the Big Island. This compares with the Takahashis, winner of the liquid honey division, who maintain a total of five colonies.
Shawn Harris of Hawaiian Acres’ Wao Kele Farm captured the People’s Choice award with a liquid lehua and dragon fruit honey.
Other runner-up winners include John Hanson, best aroma in the liquid honey division, for his Kapoho-area blossoms. Hanson also was named runner up for best aroma in the solid honey division for his ‘ohi‘a blossom honey from Volcano.
Harris pocketed a runner up for best appearance in the solid honey division for his kiawe and coconut blend, and was two of a three-way tie for best taste in the liquid honey division for his lehua and dragon fruit and a liquid kiawe and coconut blend.
Dona Willoughby of La‘akea Community was the third runner-up with its ‘ohi‘a, tremia and garden plants blend.
Henry Iucker’s Daddy’s Stolen Honey of Hilo was a runner up with a lehua honey gathered in Volcano, and Ruby Piano’s Puna wildflower blend earned a runner up for best texture in the liquid honey division.
Paul Patnode of Volcano earned the runner up spot for best texture in the solid honey division for his lehua honey collected from Fern Forest.
Visit bibahawaiibees.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
