The Big Island Bees beekeeping tour in Captain Cook is a 1-hour farm visit with a live hive opened behind a screen, a short video and a tasting of single-flower honeys. It suits families and coffee-country day-trippers who want a cheap, low-effort stop. The main drawback is a weekday-only, two-slot schedule that must be reserved in advance.
Highlights
A beekeeper opens a live hive while guests watch from behind a screened area; no bee suits are needed
Tasting of the farm's single-varietal honeys (lehua, macadamia blossom and a chili-pepper blend were named by a 2025 visitor)
Tours run Monday to Friday at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm only, with reservations required
Stroller and wheelchair accessible, with minimal walking and covered indoor and outdoor areas
Google listing shows 4.8 stars from 906 reviews as of October 2026
What to Expect
You sign a liability waiver that is emailed the night before, then arrive at the farm on Meli Road in Captain Cook, about 35 minutes south of Kailua-Kona.
A 2025 visitor reported being greeted with iced tea and a honey-caramel-macadamia tart before the tour began.
The group watches a roughly 10-minute video on how honey goes from flower to jar, then asks the guide questions.
Outside, the guide puts on a bee suit and opens a working hive while you watch from behind a screen, learning about the queen and the colony.
The tour ends with a tasting of several honey varietals in the honey house.
Afterwards you can browse the farm store and the free museum, which does not need a reservation.
What's Included
Guided hive tour and inspection
Short video on honey production
Samples of the farm's honey varietals
What's Not Included
Honey jars, honey ice cream and other farm-store purchases
Transportation to the farm
What to Bring
Comfortable clothes; the operator says shorts, sleeveless shirts and sandals are fine, but a 2025 visitor recommends closed-toe shoes because the grass is often wet
Sun protection and an umbrella, since rain is common on this part of the Kona coast
A pre-arranged ride back if you come by taxi or rideshare; the area is rural and cars are not readily available
Restrictions and Requirements
Reservations required; space is limited
Adult tickets are for ages 18+, youth tickets for ages 13 to 18; pricing for children under 13 was not shown on the fetched page
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at least 48 hours before the tour for a full refund. Checked October 2026 on Greetwell.
Big Island Bees, 82-1140 Meli Rd, Captain Cook, HI 96704
Ratings from every source we could find
Google
4.8
906 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Apiary tours in South Kona are frequently mentioned as an under-the-radar addition to a coffee-farm day, with tasting quality as the most-cited highlight.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 1 Google review republished on Greetwell (September 2026), Greetwell's summary of its review feed, and 1 detailed blog review from a family visit (hawaiitravelwithkids.com, visited in February, year not stated). Public platform scores were collected in October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Honey tasting with the story behind each varietal(2 of the 2 reviews we read)
Both reviews single out the tasting as the high point, because the guide explains the flower source and history of each honey rather than just handing out samples.
— Google via Greetwell, 5★, September 2026: the sampling was much more enjoyable with story and history included
Guide is knowledgeable and keeps it educational without being dull(2 of the 2 reviews we read)
The blog reviewer noted the guide had a zoology degree and more than six years of tour experience, and her 9-year-old asked questions throughout; the Google reviewer named the guide as the reason the tour worked.
— Blog review, family visit in February: the hour felt educational but not boring, and the child stayed engaged for most of it
What Reviewers Complain About
Younger children may lose interest before the hour is up(1 of the 2 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: year not stated (blog, February visit))
The blog reviewer's 9-year-old drifted after about 45 minutes of the hive demonstration, and she doubted toddlers or preschoolers would last the full hour.
— Blog review, February: son lost interest after about 45 minutes at the hive
Wet grass and rain catch out guests in sandals and sundresses(1 of the 2 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: year not stated (blog, February visit))
The operator says sandals are fine, but the blog reviewer saw other guests uncomfortable on wet grass and advises closed-toe shoes and an umbrella.
— Blog review, February: visitors in sundresses and sandals were uncomfortable on the wet grass
One report of a product-quality complaint(1 report (Greetwell review summary) · operator issue · most recent: date not shown)
Greetwell's summary of the review feed mentions a single complaint about product quality and notes the guide's comedy can feel heavy to some guests; we could not read the underlying review.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At about $30 to $33 per adult for an hour, this is a reasonable add-on for anyone already driving the South Kona coffee and Captain Cook corridor, and the 4.8-star Google score across 906 reviews suggests the format works for most visitors. It is not a destination in itself: the weekday-only 10:00 am and 1:00 pm slots fill up, and there is no swimming, hiking or scenery component. Book it as a planned stop, not a spontaneous one.
Book This Tour If…
You are visiting Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, the Painted Church or a South Kona coffee farm on a weekday and want a second stop nearby
You travel with children aged roughly 8 and up who can sit through a 10-minute video and a 45-minute demonstration
You want to taste and buy single-source Hawaiian honeys with an explanation of each one
You need a wheelchair- or stroller-friendly activity with minimal walking
Skip This Tour If…
Your only free days are Saturday or Sunday, when no tours run
You are traveling with toddlers or preschoolers who may not last the hour
You expect to handle bees or wear a suit; guests stay behind a screen throughout
You are staying at the Waikoloa resorts and would spend more than two hours round trip for a 1-hour stop
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Reserve online in advance; the operator and gohawaii.com both say tours fill up
Wear closed-toe shoes and bring an umbrella, as 1 of the 2 reviews we read describes wet grass and frequent rain
Arrange your return ride before arriving if you use a taxi or rideshare; Greetwell warns that cars are not readily available in the area
Allow time after the tour for the free museum and farm store, which are open weekdays 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Big Island Bees beekeeping tour?
The Big Island Bees beekeeping tour in Captain Cook lasts about 1 hour, with hawaii-guide.com quoting 1 to 1.5 hours. It combines a roughly 10-minute video, a live hive demonstration from behind a screen and a honey tasting, and you can stay longer afterwards for the free museum and farm store.
What days and times does the Big Island Bees tour run?
The beekeeping tour runs Monday through Friday only, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, according to gohawaii.com and hawaii-guide.com. The museum and store are open weekdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Reservations are required because space on each tour is limited, and the operator says slots fill up fast.
How much does the Big Island Bees beekeeping tour cost?
Greetwell listed the Big Island Bees tour at $33.21 per adult (18+), $22.14 per youth (13 to 18) and $27.68 for Hawaii residents with ID in October 2026. A family blog reported $30 adult, $20 youth and $10 child when booking direct in 2025, so check the live FareHarbor price before you go.
Do you need protective clothing for the beekeeping tour?
Protective clothing is not needed on the Big Island Bees tour because guests watch the open hive from behind a screened area while the beekeeper handles it. The operator says comfortable clothes, shorts and sandals are fine, though one blog reviewer recommends closed-toe shoes because the grass is often wet from rain.
Is the Big Island Bees tour wheelchair and stroller accessible?
Yes, the Big Island Bees beekeeping tour is listed as stroller and wheelchair accessible, with minimal walking and both indoor and outdoor areas under cover, according to the Greetwell listing. The hive demonstration and honey tasting take place in a small area near the farm store on Meli Road in Captain Cook.
What is the cancellation policy for the Big Island Bees tour?
The Big Island Bees beekeeping tour can be cancelled for a full refund if you give at least 48 hours' notice, according to the Greetwell listing checked in October 2026. The operator's own weather-cancellation terms were not shown on any page we fetched, so confirm them when you book.
Contact
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TripReviewAll is an independent review site and does not operate this tour. For changes to an existing booking, contact Big Island Bees directly.
