On November 17, 2009, Dr. Stephen J. Martin of University of Sheffield in Western Bank, Sheffield, UK visited Volcano Island Honey Company. Dr. Martin is internationally recognized for his research on the biology and population dynamics of social insects (hornets and honeybees) and their pests, parasites and pathogens.

The Varroa Mite is spreading rapidly on the Big Island, and beekeepers are scrambling to learn how to manage and control the destructive pest.

Researchers know that colonies heavily infested with varroa mites have high levels of viruses including Chronic Paralysis virus, Acute Bee Paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus and Deformed Wing Virus- but no one has studied the virus levels in specific colonies before the mite arrived and then after the mite infestation. Volcano Island Honey Company does not currently have varroa mites in our hives, therefore Dr. Martin is studying our colonies to get baseline virus levels before and after a varroa mite infestation.

Of course, we are hoping we never have a mite infestation, but the scientists say, “We’ve heard that hope before,” and then they emphatically repeat “You will get the mites.”

Dr. Martin took samples of live bees and eggs from the brood nests of twenty of our colonies. He explained that a normal healthy colony has defenses against viruses that infect the bees through normal transmission channels, like the entering through the digestive system; but when the Varroa mite parasitically feeds on the bee pupa or adult bees it injects the virus into the pupa’s or adult’s bodily fluids from which the bee host has no defense.

Currently, the Varroa mite is spreading across the Big Island faster than anyone had predicted. And we are hoping against hope, and scientific evidence to the contrary, that this blight will pass us over.

Posted by Candice Choy and Andrea Dean

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

This fall Richard launched a four week class called Beginning Organic Beekeeping. With thirty years experience in organic beekeeping and producing artisan honey- the demand to learn from Richard is high! Twelve lucky people are in the class now and there is already a list for the next class. With bees under attack by the varroa mite and other diseases, having a few managed hives in many backyards is a good way to help perpetuate Hawaii’s honey bees.

Posted by Andrea Dean

Richard Spiegel & Candice Choy from Volcano Island Honey went to Oahu this week to see the Hawaii premiere of The Last Beekeeper as a part of the Hawaii International Film Festival. Beekeepers from Maui, Oahu and the Big Island all gathered to watch the film and share their honey at a tasting afterward. Whole Foods sponsored the event to help raise awareness about Colony Collapse Disorder and the many problems facing bees and beekeepers right now.


The film was powerful. The film used the compelling personal stories of a few beekeepers to tell the story of the challenges that bees and beekeepers face today. Here on the Big Island beekeepers are facing their own challenges. While we don’t have Colony Collapse Disorder, we now have the varroa mite which seems to be spreading rapidly around the island. Beekeepers, Volcano Island Honey among them, are scrambling to adjust to this new hive management reality. Volcano Island Honey does not have the mite, but is monitoring the hives closely.

Posted by Andrea Dean