Wild Bee Program
HAWAIIAN WILD BEE PROGRAM
In ancient times, riding on the great winds of the Pacific Ocean, one tiny yellow-faced traveler reached the most isolated archipelago in the world — the Hawaiian Islands.
In a tale of courage that equals the `Oiwi (People) that later arrived by following the signs, the yellow-faced bee Hylaeus, came from an unknown location and made it to the `Aina. This one species evolved into 63 endemic species that live across the islands from the shore to heights such as 10,000 feet on Mauna Kea on the Big Island and Haleakalā on Maui where they pollinate the sacred Silversword.
Our special endemic bees are in trouble right now! In particular, modern times have brought invasive and competing species and the endemic bees are disappearing. Many are endangered or extinct.
You can be part of helping our unique bees to have better chances by making sure that you don’t remove the native plants that they need for their specialized nectar gathering. You can also plant the species that they love. They are beautiful and enhance any garden.
Please do your part! It’s our kuleana.
ʻAʻohe puʻu kiʻekiʻe ke hoʻāʻo ʻia e piʻi.
No cliff is so tall it cannot be climbed.
For a complete list of plants, check your area on this great document by the University of Hawai`i Master Gardener Program.
https://gms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/gs/handler/getmedia.ashx?moid=30817&dt=3&g=12
Hey, don’t BUG me! I’m busy.
News on endangered species.
https://webtopnews.com/hawaii-yellow-faced-bees-declared-endangered-us-2549-2016/
Here are nests you can put out to help the endemic bees here.
https://www.islandconservation.org/hawaiian-yellow-faced-bees/
