Whether you know it or not, honey is one is Hawaii’s most popular exports (along with coffee, macadamia nuts, and salt).
I was lucky enough to get a look inside a homegrown honey operation when I was on Maui last month.
By day, Josh Rezentes is a conservation resources enforcement officer in the Hawaii department of Land and Natural Resources. And in his free time – that part of it when he is not chasing after his son, Hayes, and their dog, Hershey – he tends to his honey hives.
The bright floral notes of Hunny Girl – a colloquial term of endearment here – hit you with the very first spoonful of honey. The medley of flavors comes from the unique flora surrounding Josh’s hives, with everything from avocado trees to eucalyptus and winterberry, a local bee favorite.
Josh and his family have kept Hunny Girl true to their upcountry roots. Some of the hives sit on protected land, abundant with fruit trees and all kinds of shades of green, some are on his family’s ranch, in close proximity to papaya trees, chickens, rescued deer, goats, and cattle at pasture. The bees sure seemed happy to be there.
Hunny Girl is still growing. For now, the honey is made in small, seasonal batches and sold in popular island stores and used by happy cooks all around Maui.
For more information, contact: hunnygirlmauihoney@gmail.com
{p.s.} Read more about Hunny Girl and my Maui Top 5 in the upcoming Travel Issue of VRAI Magazine!
and for more recipes using honey, try out these baked apples with cheese and honey, homemade ricotta, edible flowers with honey.
I would never have thought that honey was such a big export product of Hawaii. There is always something to learn for your posts, Ksenia.
Thank you, Karen, that is always nice to hear!