A FARM
IN THE MIDST OF A TROPICAL RAINFOREST
Pualani Bee Farm is nestled in the ancient rainforests of Kilauea Volcano’s lower east rift zone, famous for its dramatic lava-lined sea cliffs, tree-formed road tunnels, and newly forged lava landscapes and rugged, black sand beaches. Our beautiful 3.5-acre property is located in the middle of Wa’a Wa’a, an off-grid coastal community located just 8 miles east of the small village of Pahoa.
Tree tunnels line the coastal road to Pualani Bee Farm.
Located in the midst of a rainforest, Pualani Bee Farm is blessed with diverse floral and natural beauty.
The 'ohi'a lehua tree is famously cherished as an important tree to the Hawaiian goddess of fire, Pele. It is also a favorite blossom for honeybees in Hawaii, yielding a popular naturally crystalized, cream colored honey.
Tree tunnels line the coastal road to Pualani Bee Farm.
Hibiscus
Pohinahina
Orchid
Hibiscus
THE FLOWERS
WITH THE DIVINE SCENT OF HAWAII
Pualani means ‘heavenly flower’ in the Hawaiian language, a name befitting the floral abundance and divine beauty of east Hawaii Island’s dramatically formed volcanic coasts and lush tropical rainforests. Pualani also means ‘child of royalty,' through which we honor the Hawaiian fire goddess, Pele, and her home of Kilauea Volcano, which is home also to the honeybees at Pualani Bee Farm. Each queen bee--and her royal descendants at Pualani Bee Farm--are born, bred, and raised on lands forged by the volcano goddess’s eternal presence on Hawai'i Island.
For millennia, the geological diversity and warm volcanic microclimates of the Big Island's eastern coastline have been shaped by the dynamic dominance of Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, which has nurtured and enlarged our nutrient rich island. Living on Kilauea's rift and summit regions, our honeybee colonies benefit from the island's volcanic geology, which provides them with year-round foraging of a wide range of blossoms and nectar flows, allowing Pualani Bee Farm to harvest only the highest-quality 100% raw Hawaiian artisanal honey and hive products.
THE GEOLOGY
THE WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO
THE BEEK (AKA BEEKEEPER)
AND HER BEES
Born on Oahu Island in Hawaii, Barbara Thompson spent much of her professional life as an art historian and curator living and traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad. She returned to Oahu in 2014 before relocating to Hawaii Island, aka the Big Island, in 2017.
After the 2018 lava flow erased the lush landscape of the nearby community of Kapoho, Barbara started hosting "homeless" honeybee colonies from Hamakua Apiaries (now Raw Hawaiian Honey Company) on her land in Wa'a Wa'a. Despite a life-long fear of bees, Barbara fell in love with the fuzzy little creatures buzzing around her flower gardens and soon acquired her own hives under the mentorship of master beekeeper, Scott Nelson, former owner of Hamakua Apiaries.
In the Fall of 2020, Barbara established Pualani Bee Farm, where she manages a family run apiary of between 12-14 honeybee colonies on her coastal property in Wa'a Wa'a, along with two small highland apiaries highland in Eden Roc and just outside Volcano Village on Kilauea's upper reaches.
VICTOR HUGO
LIFE IS THE FLOWER FOR WHICH LOVE IS THE HONEY
