I'm a Beeliever!
Written by Olivia Throssell
“Remove the bee from the earth and at the same stroke you remove at least one hundred thousand plants that will not survive.” — Albert Einstein.
Joshua Boranian, a 26-year old University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) Tropical Horticulture major, has decided to expand his horizons by combining his degree with Beekeeping and Plant Tissue Culture certificates. “I decided to take a beekeeping course as soon as I saw it was an option. I've always been interested in bees so I felt like it was meant to bee!” He explained about when he discovered UHH offered certification in something he has always been interested in.
UHH Tropical Horticulture major Joshua Boranian with his beehive. Photo courtesy of Justin Avery.
The UHH beekeeping program is extensively known and recognized by both media outlets and the Hawaii State Senate. Organizations have become familiar with the program because of its power in raising awareness about the importance of honeybees. Boranian realizes the value of these insects. “My future goals are to diversify my [family's] coffee farm with plants and insects," he asserted, "that will provide local products and form symbiosis[,] so I will have minimal out of state agricultural inputs. I would also like to start ... [my own] beekeeping program ... [to] provide information to farmers about the financial and ecological importance of housing bees [all] year."
The university's courses on the insects, Entomology 262: Intro to Beekeeping and Entomology 350: Advanced Beekeeping, have enlightened Boranian on many things—the most significant concerned him getting comfortable with bees husbandry. His comfort has given him the chance to acquire talents like splitting beehives, propagating queens, rescuing swarms, and harvesting products with minimal harm or disturbance. These practices will help Borian continue caring for honeybees well after his undergraduate studies.
Taking both beekeeping courses has influenced Boranian's career goals, as he has learned that the complexities of life allow him to grasp the bigger picture. He has made the connection that like farming, beekeeping is not only about cultivation, but more minute facets which also go into bee care.
2015 Adopt-a-Beehive Scholarship recipients with Chef Alan Wong (far right) and UHH Chancellor Donald Straney (far left). From left to right: Victoria Taylor, Joshua Boranian, Rachel Nishikawa. Photo courtesy of hilo.hawaii.edu/adoptabeehive/scholarship.
Recently, Boranian applied for the Chef Alan Wong Adopt-a-Beehive scholarship. The monetary award enables student beekeepers to continue learning about beekeeping as well as promotes research and the development of healthy beehives in Hawaii. Boranian, along with two others, received the scholarship. They will continue developing their beekeeping skills. “I applied for the scholarship," the Tropical Horticulture major points out, "because I felt I had the right criteria and this is a field I intend to be actively involved in.”
For more information on the Adopt-a-Beehive scholarship please visit the UHH webpage on the award. For more information on the UHH Beekeeping Certificate please contact Lorna Tsutsumi at tsutsumi@hawaii.edu.
