Join our hands-on beekeeping tour on a working farm just 15 minutes from downtown Hilo - kept small and easygoing so it never feels like a crowd. You'll get an "up close and personal" introduction to the bees that provide our honey while touring the actual hives we work every day. Suit up, walk out to the apiary with us, and spend real time inside an active honeybee colony. The tour ends with a tasting of raw honey straight from these hives.
90 minutes | 2–6 guests | $85 per person
What to Expect
Warm Up
You'll meet Beekeeper Kelli and will be introduced to the world of bees. Learn a little about the farm and surrounding forest (where the bees forage for nectar), get an introductory lesson on what you'll be seeing when the hives are opened up, and get any early questions answered before we head to the hives.
Gear Up
Everyone puts on their bee suits; full protective gear is provided and required. (Guests bring their own closed-toed shoes.) You'll get acquainted with the tools of the trade - the smoker, hive tool, and more - before we head out to the hives.
Hands-On
Hive Check
Your guide will open a hive and take you on a honeybee scavenger hunt. See if you can spot all stages of brood (from eggs to adult), tell the difference between workers and drones, and look for the elusive queen. When you're ready, take a comb into your own hands and feel the buzz.
Honey
Tasting
The tour wraps up with the opportunity to sample a few of our honeys, including our infused and creamed varieties. If you fall in love with one (fair warning: it's a distinct possibility), jars are available for purchase and can be taken home that day, or shipped anywhere in the U.S.
Good to Know
We're located just 15 minutes above downtown Hilo. It’s a beautiful drive with incredible views. The whole tour is an easy morning adventure that wraps up before lunch.
This tour is outdoors. Guests will walk across uneven terrain that may be muddy. Closed-toed shoes are required.
2-person minimum. Traveling alone? You can join another group, or reach out and we'll figure something out.
Ages 8 and up, given the hands-on nature of the tour. Younger guests may join at our discretion - contact us directly and we’ll talk it over.
Additional logistical details (arrival time, driving directions, facilities, etc.) will be sent after your booking is confirmed.
For safety reasons, our working apiary cannot accommodate guests with known severe or anaphylactic bee sting allergies. Please contact us prior to booking if you have questions regarding accessibility.
Want a more private experience?
Add $100 and no one else joins your slot - same tour, same hives, all yours.
Weather turns quickly here at the apiary, and sometimes we have to cancel in order to keep both the bees and our guests safe and comfortable. If we cancel due to weather conditions, we'll give you the option of rescheduling or getting a full refund.
If you need to cancel on your end, give us at least 48 hours' notice and we'll refund you in full. With less than 48 hours’ notice, we're not able to offer any refund - by then we've usually turned away other bookings for that slot.
Cancellation Policy
About the Beekeeper and Guide
Beekeeper Kelli has been working with bees on Hawai‘i island for almost 20 years, and was an elementary school teacher for most of that time. Combining these two worlds while teaching people about beekeeping is a dream job, and Kelli's enthusiasm for the world of beekeeping is contagious.
We’re a real working farm, and we’re excited to share what we do here. We keep our tours small and intimate, with a guide who genuinely loves to share the world of bees, tell stories from the hives, and answer any questions along the way. Booking a tour helps support the values, the labor, and the small family farm behind it. And you'll leave having tasted raw Hawaiian honey straight out of the hives you just visited.