Hygienic queen bee rearing class offered
Hanson’s Hawaiian Honeybee Farm and Nutritional Hawaii present a hands-on hygienic queen rearing class for beekeepers, taught by master beekeeper Jeff Ritchie of Winding Road Apiaries of North Carolina from Feb. 18 through 23 in the Pahoa area.
The agenda is as follows:
• Feb. 18: Orientation, hygienic testing of colonies, identifying potential breeder queens, four hours.
• Feb. 19: evaluation of hygienic testing colonies, setting up cell builders, four hours.
• Feb. 20: graft from the best of the hygienic hives tested. Students will watch as Ritchie demonstrates, and will then practice doing it themselves, four hours.
• Feb. 21: checking grafts and cull cells; discuss types of problems associated with cell production, four hours.
• Feb. 26: make up mating nuclei, question-and-answer session, two hours.
• March 1: take cells out of cell builders and place them into incubators, cut out cells in mating nuclei, two hours.
• March 3: place grafted cells into mating nuclei and diagnosing typical problems with nuclei; wrap up with questions, two hours.
• March 23: a day with beekeeper Ron Hanson checking for successful mating and laying queens, three hours.
Because of the duration of this course, it may not be possible for all students to attend all days. Feb. 18 through 21 should be considered mandatory for all students. The following days are recommended for existing beekeepers and yard owners, but all enrolled students are welcome.
The cost for this intensive hands-on training is $150 per person. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Big Island Beekeepers Association.
For more information, or to reserve a spot, call Val Kimbrough at 769-1320.
Hawaii history talks offered in North Kohala
North Kohala Public Library in Kapaau will present a series of three talk story sessions on Hawaii history with North Kohala historian, Boyd D. Bond, in February, March and April.
The first session at 6:30 p.m. Monday will focus on the life of Keeaumoku — “the kingmaker.” Bond will explore the role of Keeaumoku, Queen Kaahumanu’s father, and the man behind the throne bringing Kamehameha to power. In the second presentation on March 24, Bond plans to talk about Hawaii’s alii women. The final program on April 21 will focus on Hawaii in wartime and examine the impact of the Civil War, World War I and World War II on Hawaii.
Each hourlong presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Call the library at 889-6655 for more information and to register. Contact the library three weeks in advance if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is required.
Living cancer free is topic for vegetarians
M. Kelemen will give a presentation on how to live a cancer-free life to Kona Vegetarian Society at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Big Island Chabad Center in Pottery Terrace, Suite 323. Heart health and diabetes will also be discussed. Nonvegetarians are welcome.
Valentine craft for keiki planned
The county Department of Parks and Recreation in Kona is registering for a free Valentine’s Day craft class.
Participants will be decorating a large heart-shaped cookie to give to their favorite valentine or to enjoy the treat themselves. The activity will be offered to children ages 6 to 14.
This activity will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Kekuaokalani Gym. Registration will be limited. For more information or to register, call Marshall Tohara at 327-3565.
Quilters meeting Saturday in Waimea
Mauna Kea Quilters, started in 1997, is a group of patchwork quilters who enjoy sharing the love of quilting with others. The group will meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the meeting room of the Thelma Parker Memorial Library.
For more information, call Becky Parkinson at 937-2159.