Committee approves beekeeping registry and biosecurity provisions after data concerns

SB 2160, which clarifies registration for beekeepers, requires DAB to provide guidance and support to registered beekeepers, and limits liability for registered beekeepers following industry best practices, passed out of committee with amendments. Testimony highlighted biosecurity risks and the need for data to understand the bee industry and pathogen threats.

Katie Metzger, founder of Hanae Hives and a full‑time beekeeper on Oahu, urged reinstating an apiary unit and a voluntary registry to enable researchers to collect data on varroa mite and other pathogens. "A registry would help with University of Hawaii that's been trying to collect data regarding the varroa mite and other pathogens...it is really hard for those researchers to be able to reach beekeepers to collect that data without a registry," she said. DAB and Plant Pest Control acknowledged their inspection data is limited to port inspections and committed to supplying available NASS reports and inspection data to the committee within a week to three weeks.

The committee adopted amendments recommended by the Hawaii Food Policy Council to change language from "swarm prevention" to "swarm management" and to consider genetic traits for requeening, and passed the bill (4–1).