PUHI — The Small Hive Beetle research and the second annual honey tasting event at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair will be the topics discussed Friday during the Kaua‘i Beekeepers Association meeting. The meeting is being held in partnership
PUHI — The Small Hive Beetle research and the second annual honey tasting event at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair will be the topics discussed Friday during the Kaua‘i Beekeepers Association meeting.
The meeting is being held in partnership with the Kaua‘i Community College Apiary Program.
The public is invited to this meeting at the KCC Apiary Bee Lab from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The apiary lab is located next to the Electronic and Technology Building located at the north end of the parking lot.
During the informational meeting, a discussion on the passage of House Bill 2100 will be held. HB2100 provides funding for Small Hive Beetle research and was recently signed into law by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, providing $30,000 for small hive beetle work.
Each county will receive $5,000 for local research efforts and input is being sought from Kaua‘i beekeepers to develop strategies for effective use of the available funds.
“This is an opportunity for Kaua‘i beekeepers to engage with the state program and help find some solutions for this harmful pest,” said Jimmy Trujillo, KBee chair, in a release.
The beetle is a new pest to Hawai‘i and recently discovered on Kaua‘i in May. Big Island beekeepers first detected the beetle in May 2010 and subsequent discoveries of the beetle was made on O‘ahu and Maui before the Kaua‘i detection.
“Small Hive Beetle may not be as destructive as Varroa mite, but it can quickly overwhelm a colony if pest monitoring and control methods are not in place,” said Danielle Downey, Hawai‘i state apiarist.
Neil Reimer, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Plant Pest Control branch manager, said the Small Hive Beetle will be difficult to eradicate and control because it feeds on various decaying fruits on the island.
The Kaua‘i Honey Tasting, scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Aug. 23, the opening night of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair, will also be discussed at the Friday meeting.
Local honey producers can submit their 8-ounce sample for the tasting along with contact and labeling information to Trujillo.
Honey tasting samples should be bottled in clear, clean containers and must include contact and product information.
Call Trujillo at 346-7725 for more information on either the meeting or the honey tasting event at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
