Rooted on Oahu’s North Shore, Hānai Hives welcomes you into the fascinating life of honeybees. Founder and master beekeeper Katie pairs scientific expertise with the Hawaiian tradition of hānai—embracing others as family—to offer ...
Rooted on Oahu’s North Shore, Hānai Hives welcomes you into the fascinating life of honeybees. Founder and master beekeeper Katie pairs scientific expertise with the Hawaiian tradition of hānai—embracing others as family—to offer ...
Katie's North Shore apiary offers an intimate, hands-on beekeeping experience that consistently wins over families and curious travelers alike. Her passion for bees is infectious, creating a welcoming environment where even the most anxious visitors leave with newfound appreciation for these pollinators. The private tour format means personalized attention and the ability to move at your own pace, with guides like Trinity sharing deep knowledge about hive workings while guests suit up and search for the queen bee. The property itself adds to the magic, with diverse fruit trees throughout the lush grounds and a peaceful atmosphere that makes the experience feel special. The honey tasting paired with charcuterie wraps up each visit beautifully, and multiple reviewers mention Katie capturing photos to share afterward. Families with children of all ages seem to thrive here, with staff showing remarkable patience with toddlers and keeping older kids engaged with specific tasks. Beyond the tours, Katie also runs an Adopt-A-Hive program that several locals praise for its ongoing mentorship. The combination of education, hands-on interaction, and genuine hospitality makes this a standout activity worth the drive to the North Shore, though you'll want to budget extra time for potential road construction near Haleiwa.
Knowing we wanted to visit a bee farm, we chose this farm not really knowing the differences of the few tours available here on Oahu. We were pleasantly surprised with the layout of the property at the owner's residence and its history, the abundance of fruit trees, the knowledge of the beekeepers, and the products available by Hanai Hives. We were given a very personal tour, including hands-on as we were dressed in our suits, every question we had was thoughtfully answered and we enjoyed a delicious sampling of the honey produced on location, to include original, Roselle, Cinnamon, Hawaiian Pepper and lavendar along with a tray of cheese, toast, and apples. Although competitively priced, I feel the cost was slightly high....BUT you are not touring with a group of strangers either. I would still recommend friends and family who are visiting the island to make the trip out to Hanai Hives. I intend to visit again to take advantage of their U-pick fruit! The farm offers soursop, calamansi, avocados, and bananas, just to name a few! Loved it!
Nancy B
June 15, 2026
Knowing we wanted to visit a bee farm, we chose this farm not really knowing the differences of the few tours available here on Oahu. We were pleasantly surprised with the layout of the property at the owner's residence and its history, the abundance of fruit trees, the knowledge of the beekeepers, and the products available by Hanai Hives. We were given a very personal tour, including hands-on as we were dressed in our suits, every question we had was thoughtfully answered and we enjoyed a delicious sampling of the honey produced on location, to include original, Roselle, Cinnamon, Hawaiian Pepper and lavendar along with a tray of cheese, toast, and apples. Although competitively priced, I feel the cost was slightly high....BUT you are not touring with a group of strangers either. I would still recommend friends and family who are visiting the island to make the trip out to Hanai Hives. I intend to visit again to take advantage of their U-pick fruit! The farm offers soursop, calamansi, avocados, and bananas, just to name a few! Loved it!
Nancy B
June 15, 2026