Department of Agriculture

Learn more about pollinators on Saturday

NR15-07
June 18, 2015

HONOLULU — While bees may scare some people, our community is learning more about how bees are beneficial and critical to us as pollinators of many of our agricultural crops. To celebrate all of our insect pollinators, the Honeybee Project of the University of Hawaii @ Manoa – College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) Apiary Program will host an educational display this Saturday, June 20, at the Honolulu Zoo from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Gov. David Ige and Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui have signed a proclamation dedicating June 15 – 21 as “Hawaii Pollinator Week.”  The proclamation will be on display at the booth along with hands on activities, games for keiki, and honey harvesting and beekeeping equipment demonstrations. Captured live bees and butterflies will also be on display. Researchers in the field will also be available to provide information on native bees and butterflies and to update the public on issues and concerns about the pollinator population here in Hawaii and around the world.
“It is estimated that one in three bites of food relies on honeybee pollination,” said Danielle Downey, Apiary Section Chief of HDOA. “So, it’s not just about honey – if you like to eat, you need pollinators, Downey added.

Honeybees pollinate more than $200 million worth of crops statewide and more than $15 billion across the nation.  This week is also National Pollinator Week:  https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2015.htm

For more information about Hawaii’s bees, contact Dr. Ethel Villalobos at [email protected].

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