Sweet Sustainability
Adopt-a-Beehive With Alan Wong
The Buzz
Chef Alan Wong has teamed up with the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo to build awareness of the critical plight of honey bees and to promote local solutions to sustaining the honey bee industry.
Undergraduate students have been receiving instruction in practical beekeeping skills since the late 1970's at UH Hilo's College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management. You can support education in healthy beehive practices by adopting a beehive at the UH Hilo Farm Laboratory in Panaʻewa!
As the adopter of a beehive, you'll receive periodic reports and photos of your assigned bee colony from the UH Hilo student taking care of your hive.
You will also receive your own personal supply of honey/honey products, along with invitations to join Chef Alan Wong at bee- and agriculture-related activities held on campus or at the UH Hilo Farm Laboratory.
Impact of Adopt-a-Beehive
Make a direct impact on the sustainability and health of Hawaiʻi's honey bee industry by joining Chef Alan Wong to:
- Promote research and development of healthy beehive practices, increase the number of successfully managed beehive colonies in Hawaiʻi, and produce a steady pipeline of educated and experienced beekeepers, both professionals and hobbyists.
- Support students in an educational setting in order to develop the next generation of innovative and progressive farmers.
- Train student entrepreneurs in developing business opportunities using honey and honey by-products.
- Educate the public about local food production and the need to reduce Hawaiʻi's dependency on imports, as well as about issues threatening honey bees' role in sustainable agriculture.
Adopt-a-Beehive Program Options
September 2011-May 2012 Season
$300 - WORKER BEE: Your donation of $300 (all but $20 tax-deductible) will support the adoption of a beehive at the UH Hilo Farm Laboratory for one year, and entitle you to receive regular reports and invitations, plus 1 quart of honey from the UH Hilo farm apiary.
$500 - DRONE BEE: Your donation of $500 (all but $50 tax-deductible) will support the adoption of a beehive at the UH Hilo Farm Laboratory for one year and entitle you to have your name placed on the hive. In addition to regular reports and invitations, you'll receive 2.5 quarts of honey from the UH Hilo farm apiary.
$1,000 - QUEEN BEE: Your donation of $1,000 (all but $100 tax-deductible) will support the exclusive adoption of a single beehive at the UH Hilo Farm Laboratory for one year and entitle you to have your name (and company logo, if applicable) placed on the hive. In addition to regular reports and invitations, you'll receive 1 gallon of honey, plus a gift basket of beauty, bath and food products from the UH Hilo farm apiary.
All proceeds from Adopt-a-Beehive with Alan Wong are accepted by the UH Foundation and used to support the priority needs of the UH Hilo Beekeeping Program, including student support as well as supplies and materials.
Sign up!
Please contact the UH Hilo Office of Development at (808) 933-1945 or UHHDevelopment@uhfoundation.org for more information.
- Beekeepers in action. More photos »
Did You Know?
- • More than 80% of our food supply is directly or indirectly associated with honey bee pollination.
- • Honey bee populations around the globe are rapidly declining due to parasites, pathogens, pesticides and other potentially urban-related factors.
- • In the U.S. alone, nearly 40% of managed honey bee colonies are disappearing every year, posing a threat to the nation’s entire food chain.
- • Across Hawaiʻi—where honey bees have helped to sustain agriculture for over 150 years—bee colonies began collapsing in 2007 due to the invasion of the varroa mite.
