LIFE IS THE FLOWER FOR WHICH LOVE IS THE HONEY
VICTOR HUGO
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.
Pualani means ‘heavenly flower’ in the Hawaiian language, a name befitting the floral abundance and divine beauty of Hawaii Island’s eastern coast. Pualani also means ‘child of royalty,' through which we honor the Hawaiian fire goddess, Pele, and her home of Kilauea Volcano. 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.
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
Pualani means ‘heavenly flower’ in the Hawaiian language, a name befitting the floral abundance and divine beauty of Hawaii Island’s eastern coast. Pualani also means ‘child of royalty,' through which we honor the Hawaiian fire goddess, Pele, and her home of Kilauea Volcano. 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.
The geological diversity and warm volcanic microclimates of the Big Island's eastern coastline provide local honeybee colonies with year-round blossoms and nectar flows that enable the bee colonies at Pualani Bee Farm to produce the highest-quality 100% raw Hawaiian artisanal honey varietals, bee pollen, propolis, and beeswax,
WITH THE DIVINE SCENT OF HAWAII
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 in 2017 to Hawaii Island, aka the Big Island.
After the 2018 lava flow erased the lush landscape of the nearby community of Kapho, Barbara started hosting beehives on her land for Hamakua Apiaries (now Raw Hawaiian Honey Company). Despite a life-long fear of bees, Barbara fell in love with the fuzzy little creatures buzzing around her garden and soon acquired her own hives under the mentorship of Scott Nelson, owner and master beekeeper of Hamakua Apiaries.
In the Fall of 2020, Barbara established Pualani Bee Farm, where she . now manages an apiary of between 12-14 colonies of honey bees on her property in Wa'a Wa'a while keeping also small apiaries on host lands in Volcano Village and Mountain View.
