2024 Hawaiian Honey Challenge Rules & Instructions

The purpose of the Hawaiian Honey Challenge is twofold. Our mission is to help our State of Hawai’i beekeepers in producing a quality product and a consistent pleasing presentation of it. Second, we are hoping that with the Challenge, we can increase the public’s awareness of, not only the wide variety of honey available in our local areas, but about what they can do to help the honeybees. For the beekeepers, it is a platform for recognition of their work.

The Challenge is open to all beekeepers in the state of Hawai’i, regardless of size of operation, who follow the rules of this contest. Honey samples submitted for entry in the Challenge must be harvested and bottled by the contestant from their own apiary located in the state of Hawai’i. No heat may be used in the extracting or bottling process. No additives, seeding, flavoring or blending of honeys may be used. Honey may be “strained” (strainer mesh size no smaller than 200 microns). The honey should not be processed in any way such as “creaming," “spinning," “churning," “blending” or other manipulations.

All entries are to be submitted in a plain, one-pint wide mouth canning jar (Ball, Kerr, Mason) with metal lid and ring (no rusty rings please) for each category.

Liquid Honey: 3 categories (Light, Medium & Dark)*

The honey sample must fill the jar to within 1/2 inch of the jar lid.
Limited to 1 entry per category.
One wide mouth pint jar per entry.
Judged on Aroma and Taste.

* Light, Medium and Dark will be determined by the Jack’s scale color grader. Enter your sample on what category you think your honey is. Final entry category will be determined by BIBA at BIBA’s discretion.

Solid Honey: Single category

The honey sample must fill the jar to within 1/2 inch of the jar lid.
Limited to 1 entry in a wide mouth pint jar.
Judged on Aroma, Taste and Texture.

Comb Honey: Single category

The comb sample must be a single, rectangle piece that when placed in a wide mouth pint jar it will stand on end and fit the width of the jar. No additional liquid honey should be added.
Important: **All comb entries must be frozen for a minimum of 48 hours. If bugs are found, the entry will risk disqualification.**
Limited to 1 entry in a wide mouth pint jar.
Judged on Aroma, Taste and Texture.

Entry fee: $15.00 per entry

All entries must be received no later than Friday, October 18, 2024

It is advisable to wrap your jars in plastic bags and before securing, with plenty of padding before shipping. To save on shipping cost, use pirateship.com for discounted rates.

Mail completed entry form with honey samples, payment form and your check made out to BIBA to:
Big Island Beekeepers Association
Hawaiian Honey Challenge
PO Box 366
Papaikou, HI 96781-0366

Online payment can be made here

Drop off locations on the Big Island:

1) The Locavore Store

333 Kilauea Avenue, Unit 103

Hilo, HI 96720

Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

**Drop off only between Monday, October 14, 2024, to Friday, October 18, 2024**

2) Big Island Meadery

16-313 Shipman Road

Keaau, HI 96749

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

**Drop off only between Tuesday, October 8, 2024 to Friday, October 18, 2024**

3) Kamana Senior Center

127 Kamana St

Hilo, HI 96720

**Drop off only during meeting BIBA's October Monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 between 6pm-8pm**

A formal judging will be conducted by a panel of judges selected for their honey and/or culinary expertise and based on points scored by the judges in a formal, blind tasting event a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded in each category. Formal judging will be conducted on Saturday, October 26th, 2024.

An informal taste testing will be conducted by the general public to determine the People’s Choice and the top scoring in each category will be awarded 2024 People’s Choice. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be receive a certificate. People’s Choice taste testing will be conducted on Friday, November 1st, 2024, at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, 76 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo (corner of Kamehameha and Waianuenue Ave) between 5:30pm and 8:30pm.

All entries will be assigned and identified by a random number for both the formal judging and informal taste test.

All entries will be classified as multi-floral for the purpose of the competition.

The Big Island Beekeepers Association’s goal is to recognize and award as many producers of quality Hawaiian honey as possible, and we encourage your submissions.

SUBMIT YOUR BEST AND GOOD LUCK.

Entry form can be downloaded here

Pay online for your Honey Challenge Entries. Note that there can only be 1 entry per category. The categories are Liquid-Light, Liquid-Medium, Liquid-Dark, Solid and Comb. When submitting 1 entry for each category, select Quantity of 5.