Volcano Island Honey Co. (VIHC) was recognized for its ongoing commitment to social and environmental principles in business as the winner of this year’s Kuleana Award. The Kuleana Award is presented each year at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Kuleana Green Business & Environment Conference. VIHC is a member of Green America and the Kuleana Green Business Program- both programs which screen businesses for social and environmental practices.

A Leader in Triple Bottom Line Businesses on the Big Island and the State of Hawaii
Richard Spiegel started Volcano Island Honey Company as a hobby in the late 1970’s and formalized the business around 1993. Before anyone on the Big Island even heard of “triple bottom line” business, Richard was doing it. I think it can safely be said that Volcano Island Honey Company is the original “triple bottom line” business of the Big Island, and maybe even in the state. Even though VIHC is a small company, from the beginning Richard was passionate about caring for employees and the community, making as little environmental impact as possible, improving the environment whenever possible, making a profit, and sharing the profits with employees and the community through non-profit donations. He has codified these practices into the business and calls Volcano Island Honey Co. a business with an “Uncommon Philosophy.” Read more about the specific environmental and socially responsible practices of Volcano Island Honey Co.


An Environmental Advocate
Richard has taken a leading role in the beekeeping industry to advocate for safe and non-toxic treatment of varroa mites. The general trend is to use toxic chemicals in hives, which the mites eventually develop resistance to. This is bad for bees, people, environment and the agricultural industry that relies on bees. He could care just about his own business, but he has spent many precious hours fighting for all the bees, the environment, and our agriculture industry. Richard has also worked for years to preserve the Puako Kiawe forest instead of having it developed into a golf course. The Puako Kiawe forest, located on the South Kohala coast on the Big Island, is one of the largest contiguous kiawe forests in the state, is a major forage habitat for bees, and a potential source of firewood, and other value-added products. VIHC, in partnership with Neil Logan, has developed a conservation and sustainable management proposal for the forest with the intention of identifying a philanthropic investor who can take advantage of the tax benefits of a conservation purchase.


Most people think of kiawe as a junk tree, but VIHC knows better. VIHC has invested over ten thousand dollars into the study of the community economic and environmental benefit of kiawe. Did you know that the bean makes a high protein flour? It is a delicious cooking flour and could help contribute to island food self-sufficiency!


Posted by Andrea Dean.

Recently a Canadian film crew came to film us for the show Chef Abroad, hosted by Chef Michael Smith. The show is called Island Flavors, Hawaii and will air on Food Network Canada, on Friday, November 27th at 9:30 pm EST and Saturday, November 28th at 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm EST.

This will be our 5th interview for national and international TV.  We are delighted to have the opportunity to share internationally our long held belief and practices of earth friendly and life sustaining farming.

Did you watch the show? Post your comments here!

Yesterday a film crew from Japan interviewed Richard Spiegel at the Volcano Island Honey Company apiary in Ahualoa on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. They were filming for a show called the Voyage of Kona Coffee and were also featuring other Hawaii Island artisan products.

Richard opened up a beehive and spoke about our organic, non-toxic and non-violent methods of beekeeping. Many people, the interviewer included, wonder why our honey is so white and creamy. People mistakenly think the honey is whipped, but its not, it is naturally crystallized! Rare Hawaiian Organic White Honey is kiawe (a tree, similar to the mesquite) honey, kiawe honey crystallizes more quickly than other honeys and the white color is also a characteristic of the kiawe honey. The honey crystallizes naturally, and the smooth texture results from how we treat the honey all the way throughout the process. Learn more about our unique process of harvesting raw, organic honey.

Richard also discussed our “Uncommon Philosophy” – a triple bottom line or people, planet, profits- approach to business.

Posted by Andrea Dean