Bruce Smalling|Down to Earth|DTE2125|Robin Bonaccorsi|Ryan Pointer

Down to Earth – Princeville Botanical Gardens

The Princeville Botanical Gardens, situated within the lush confines of Princeville on Kauai’s North Shore, originally sprouted from the personal hobby of Bill and Lucinda Robertson, burgeoning into a notable point of interest following their full-time move to Kauai in 2004. Transitioning land, previously designated for cattle and overrun by invasive species, into a botanical spectacle, the Robertsons, alongside a team of enthusiastic gardeners and collaborators, utilized organic fertilizers, self-made compost, and sustainable practices to cultivate this garden sanctuary. With a botanical repertoire that includes native and “canoe” plants, potent medicinals, and globally-sourced useful economic plants, the garden doesn’t merely stand as a testament to botanical beauty but doubles as a protective enclave for a diverse range of plant species. Inaugurated to the public in August of 2010, the garden extends its arms to visitors through intimate, guided tours, offering a rare lens into a family-operated botanical enterprise, replete with a mosaic of exotic flowers, delectable fruit trees, and authentic, homegrown chocolate. Moreover, the garden produces and shares its organic chocolate and honey, which visitors can savor during the tours, highlighting their commitment not only to botanical preservation but also to sustainable food production practices. The team, including the Robertsons, Jason Robertson, Michael Wise, and an assortment of tour guides, manage and maintain the garden’s flourishing expanse, while also spearheading educational efforts through their guided tours and experiences.

In a serene escapade through Princeville Botanical Gardens, the visitors are afforded a detailed guided tour, unraveling the intricate tapestry of the garden’s diverse botanical collection and the underlying stories of various plant species. Here, the rich diverseness of tropical plants and exotic flora is not merely exhibited but intricately detailed by knowledgeable guides, who delve into the unique history, cultural connotations, and medicinal applications of the foliage that envelopes visitors on their journey through the garden. Engaging in a multisensory experience, visitors bask in the fragrant blooms and ambient natural sounds, while also having opportunities to engage in experiential learning through activities such as lei making and sampling of exotic fruits and homegrown chocolate. This is not merely a journey through lush greenery but a deep dive into the heart of Hawaiian culture, environmental preservation, and sustainable practices, encapsulated within the verdant expanses of Princeville Botanical Gardens. The gardens stand not just as a beacon of serene natural beauty but as an embodiment of conservation and sustainable practices, intertwining visitor experiences with a deeper understanding and connection to the environmental and cultural tapestry of Hawaii.

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Down to Earth – Kaua‘i Nectar

Nestled in Kauai, Hawaii, Kauai Nectar Co. champions an ethically grounded and environmentally conscious approach to beekeeping and honey production. The organization stands out for allowing honeybees to forage naturally on indigenous wildflowers, sidestepping the stresses typical to commercial beekeeping, such as translocation for monocrop pollination and artificial feeding practices. The bees, thriving in a varroa mite-free environment, access a smorgasbord of tropical flowers, yielding nectar not only sufficient for their sustenance but also producing a surplus, harvested for human consumption. Moreover, the absence of varroa mites eradicates the necessity for chemical interventions. 

The operation comprises seven apiaries, spanning from Kalihiwai in the North to Kalaheo in the South, utilizing hives robust enough to generate their own queens. These queens, mating in the wild, safeguard a rich, diverse gene pool, starkly contrasting the narrowed genetic focus on Italian queen bees prevalent in mainstream commercial beekeeping. The resilient bees of Kauai are celebrated for their robust genetics, vigorous vitality, and the pristine environment in which they thrive.

Kauai Nectar Co. underscores the significance of not merely preserving the bees but safeguarding the beekeepers too, custodians of generations of vital knowledge essential for future bee adaptation and survival in an evolving world. The diminishing global beekeeper population is a point of concern. Employing a diversely skilled team, the company extends opportunities to individuals from varied backgrounds and life stories. Products developed, such as “Honey Infused Garlic & Ginger” and “Pure Raw Honey,” are pivotal, serving as the primary financial backbone, facilitating the ongoing integrity-rich beekeeping and ensuring the sustenance and propagation of healthy, wild bee populations into the future.

In a visit to Kauai Nectar Co., host Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama navigates through the meticulous and nuanced world of sustainable beekeeping. Viewers are offered an insightful look into the day-to-day operations, witnessing first-hand the careful and considered approach taken by the beekeepers to ensure both the welfare of the bees and the purity of the honey produced. The video serves as both an educational and experiential journey through the lush, flower-laden landscapes of Kauai, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the bees and their environment. Beekeepers, embracing their roles as stewards of these vital pollinators, guide viewers through processes from hive management to honey extraction, revealing the delicate balance maintained to protect the bees, preserve their environment, and produce high-quality honey products, all while underscoring the pivotal role bees play in our ecosystems and our responsibility towards their conservation.

Kaua‘i Nectar   Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram