Kauaʻi bees are creating a buzz at the County Council and at tasting tables as officials move forward with a zoning amendment that would allow beekeepers to operate apiaries in residential and other nonagricultural areas as local beekeepers spotlight their honey at community events and competitions.
On Oct. 13, the Kauaʻi Planning Commission approved proposed Bill 2997 after the county Department of Planning presented revisions addressing hive density, swarms, nighttime lighting and signage.
The newly revised ordinance adds stricter limits on the number of honeybee hives allowed on smaller properties and new requirements for residential properties with apiaries.
The revised proposal would limit properties of 10,000 square feet or less to eight hives, while lots larger than 10,000 square feet but smaller than 20,000 square feet could have up to 15.
The original proposal allowed up to 15 hives on all lots smaller than 20,000 square feet and allowed the planning director to approve additional hives.
The revisions also clarify several rules for beekeepers.
Instead of requiring beekeepers to prevent swarming altogether, the proposal would require them to use recognized management practices to reduce the likelihood of swarming and make reasonable efforts to recover swarms when practical.
The nighttime lighting rule would also be more specific, requiring hives to be positioned or shielded so artificial light from neighboring properties does not illuminate the hive or its entrance.
Additionally, properties with apiaries in residential zoning districts would be required to post a weather-resistant sign reading “Notice: Honeybee Hives On Property.”
The sign must measure at least 10 by 12 inches and be visible from the street.
The county also removed proposed definitions of “animals” and “livestock” because officials determined they were unnecessary to regulate apiaries.
The revised proposal narrows its environmental language to recognize honeybees’ contributions to agriculture and food production without making broader claims about benefits to native ecosystems, amid differing scientific perspectives raised in public testimony.
The county did not recommend additional restrictions near conservation areas, mandatory beekeeper education or registration, or new limits on hive components known as supers.
The Planning Department continues to recommend allowing apiaries in the zoning districts identified in the original proposal, with the revised operational requirements.
The changes do not alter the overall purpose of the measure, which is to establish apiaries as an allowable use in specified zoning districts.
These actions followed a buzzkill in August, after the Kauaʻi Planning Commission expressed the need for more safeguards for neighbors and the public.
The department also noted during the meeting that only one complaint involving residential hives has been reported to the enforcement division, and that a violation notice was issued.
Before the mayor signs Bill 2997 and Bill 3015, county officials will confirm their final legal status on Nov. 12.
“I’m absolutely buzzing with excitement that the bee bill passed through the Planning Commission,” Ariel Bishop, a second-generation beekeeper and bee educator with “Bees on Kauaʻi” told Kauaʻi Now.
“The updates made throughout the process strengthened the bill, and I believe we’ve built a version that can work for beekeepers and the broader community alike.”
As the bill moves to the County Council, Bishop said local beekeepers and the public now have another reason to talk about bees: honey.
On Oct. 17, the inaugural honey challenge was held at Kauaʻi Community College, where five judges from across the island were invited to evaluate locally produced Kauaʻi liquid honey in three categories — light, medium and dark.
Judges assessed each entry for aroma, taste and complexity, recording their impressions on scorecards that also included suggestions for beekeepers in written comments.
Bishop emphasized that the feedback could help local beekeepers better understand how consumers experience their honey.
The distinguished panel of judges included Romina Migliorini, Director of Food & Beverage at the new Hale Hōkūala hotel in Līhuʻe; Richard Loero, owner of Kauaʻi Roastery Coffee on Kauaʻiʻs west side; French chef and food truck owner of Caba Hanapēpē, Sonya Cabacungan; Holey Grail Donuts Kauaʻi co-owner Brandon Baptiste, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay; Director of Culinary, chef Pete Ghione; and Kauaʻi Now journalist and lifestyle photojournalist with AAA Magazine Hawaiʻi Edition, Xiomara Yamileth, who wrote this story.
“As coffee roasters and growers on Kauaʻi, we believe it is vital to highlight and promote local agriculture and small businesses, such as honey producers,” Loero said.
“We appreciate and support Kauaʻi Community College and Ariel’s team in this endeavor. It was truly an honor to participate alongside such an elite panel of judges.”
The tasting sparked a flavorful, broader conversation about beekeeping, including the distinctive characteristics that set one honey apart from another and what’s to come once the residential beekeeping bill is passed.
“Passing the residential beekeeping bill is vital because it empowers our community to protect the ʻāina, boost our bee population, and deepen local sustainability,” Ghione said.
“As a chef, tasting the incredible variety of honeys was a thrilling journey across Kauaʻi through flavors that highlight why bees are essential pollinators for a thriving, balanced ecosystem.”
The 2026 Kauaʻi Honey Challenge winners are as follows: In the light category, First Place: Andrew Smithers of Wailua; Second Place: Gennady Bronshteyn of Kapaʻa; and Third Place: Kapaʻa Honey Factory.
In the medium category: First Place, Allie Dreux from Kīlauea; Second Place, Kauaʻi Nectar Co (Multiple Apiaries); and Third Place, Kei’s Apiary in Līhuʻe.
In the dark category: First Place: Robin & Keison of Kei’s Apiary from Līhuʻe; Second Place: Kapaʻa Honey Factory; and Third Place: Cory Todd from Waimea.
“It truly takes a hive!” Bishop added.
“Both efforts reflect the potential we have to grow small-scale agriculture on our island, support local producers, and strengthen our connection to the food we produce.”
Judges assess each entry based on its sweetness, acidity, and any distinctive flavors derived from the nectar source. (Xiomara Yamileth/ Kauaʻi Now)- The winners in the light category were: First Place, Andrew Smithers of Wailua; Second Place, Gennady Bronshteyn of Kapaʻa; and Third Place, Kapaʻa Honey Factory. (Photo Credit: Ariel Bishop)
- The winners in the medium category were:First Place, Allie Dreux from Kīlauea; Second Place, Kauaʻi Nectar Co (Multiple Apiaries); and Third Place, Kei’s Apiary in Līhuʻe. (Photo Credit: Ariel Bishop)
- The winners in the dark category were: First Place: Robin & Keison of Kei’s Apiary from Līhuʻe; Second Place: Kapaʻa Honey Factory; and Third Place: Cory Todd from Waimea. (Photo Credit: Ariel Bishop)
- On October 17, 2026, five judges spent more than two hours tasting different honeys from across the Garden Island. (Xiomara Yamileth/ Kauaʻi Now)
- By the end of the Oct. 24, 2026, block party, more than 100 people had tasted and voted in the challenge. (Photo Credit: Ariel Bishop)
- The Līhuʻe Rice Block Party was a success, with visitors and residents gathering to try Kauaʻi’s honey. (Xiomara Yamileth/ Kauaʻi Now)
The buzz continued on Oct. 24 at the Līhuʻe Rice Street block party, where a People’s Choice honey challenge gave the public an opportunity to sample entries and weigh in on their favorites.
The tasting introduced the public to the work of local beekeepers for the first time and showcased a variety of honey produced by bees foraging among the island’s seasonal flowering plants.
People’s Choice winner in the light category: In First Place: Gennady Bronshteyn from Kapaʻa. In Second Place: Andrew Smithers, Wailua, and in third place, a tie between Kapaʻa Honey Factory, Kapaʻa, and Kei’s Apiary of Līhuʻe.
In the medium category: In First Place: Kauaʻi Nectar Co, Multiple Apiaries; In Second Place: Allie Dreux, Kīlauea; and in Third Place: Kauaʻi Community College in Līhuʻe
Winner in the dark category: First Place: Lisa Prinzing in Kalaheo; second place: Kei’s Apiary in Līhuʻe; also second place: Kauaʻi Nectar Co, Multiple Apiaries; and a tie for third place: Cory Todd from Waimea and Kauaʻi Kai Farms in Anahola.
By the end of the event, more than 100 people tasted and voted in the challenge.
“The winners are all just backyard beekeepers!” Bishop explained. “Andrew just got started this year after taking the Intro to Beekeeping class at Kauaʻi Community College; his apiary is in Wailua.”
Father and son and first-place winners in the dark category, Robin & Keison of Kei’s Apiary told Kauaʻi now that not only were they happy about winning but that the bill now heads to the county council.
“Bees play an important role in pollinating flowering plants and supporting agricultural production,” said Keison.
“But keeping colonies also involves managing hive placement, responding to swarms, and considering the effects of beekeeping on surrounding properties, and we were glad those practical concerns were reflected in the Planning Department’s proposed revisions,” he said.
“Weʻre excited for whatʻs to come.”
Bishop added: “thrilled by the turnout and enthusiasm at the Honey Challenge tasting. “People were genuinely curious, engaged, and excited to experience the diversity of honey produced right here on Kauaʻi.
“I’m incredibly grateful to all the beekeepers who shared their honey, our judges and volunteers, and the community partners who helped bring this event to life. I’m hopeful we’re laying the groundwork for a more vibrant future for beekeeping on Kauaʻi, and that’s something worth celebrating!”
