What’s All the Buzz About?

by Shannon Takahashi

The Bee House at the CTAHR Maui Extension Office is making a triumphant return after a three-year-long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Led by 4-H Youth Development Agent Nancy Ooki and Master Gardener Coordinator and Beekeeper Eric Demaria, the project seeks to teach youths about the importance of bees to Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems. 

The Bee House hosts a variety of educational activities to show youths what pollinators do and how they are essential to Hawaiʻi’s agriculture, economy, and environment. Inside the Observation Beehive building is a fully encased beehive where school tours and 4-H groups can safely observe the behavior and work of the bees. Youths can also visit the Pollinator Garden to enjoy a variety of flora and use magnifying glasses to check out local pollinators like the Monarch butterfly in action. Using virtual reality technology, visitors are able to examine and interact with pollinators in a virtual environment and learn about the impact that bees have on the world. 

“We're really excited to reopen the Bee House and start up our educational tours with our schools and 4-H club members again,” said Nancy. “If you live on Maui, or you happen to be on Maui, stop by the CTAHR Maui County Extension Office and learn more about this wonderful program.” 

Check out this Video for more information.