“Old Oakum” was one of the odd characters of Honolulu u to about thirty years ago. He was a harmless creature whose one talent was that of collecting honey from bee trees without being stung. Where he came from or was born, or just what his nationality was, were matters not well known, for “Old Oakum” seemed to have forgotten all about himself long before coming to Honolulu which must have been in the early 50s. Continue reading
It would be a difficult thing to fix the date of the beginning of the bee industry in the Hawaiian Islands. As far back as the “oldest inhabitant” can run his thoughts, honey has been gathered in the mountains. Back in the ’60s one of the characters of the city was Dwight Holcomb, known to the small boys and natives as “Old Oakum.” He was an eccentric individual and was the “bogie man” to the young boys of that time. Continue reading
Death of “Oakum.”—The half crazy vagrant who has for years been well-known in and about Honolulu by the name of Oakum, died at the Insane Asylum on Monday morning last, where he has been for some months, suffering from aneurism. His real name was Dwight Holcomb, he was about 50 years of age, Continue reading
New honey.—The honey bees at Dr. Hillebrand’s place are making new honey and it is very fine, just like the honey made by bees in other places. Continue reading
Honey in the mountains.—There are a lot of honey bees in the mountains of Oahu nei. We see all the time buckets full of honey that is gotten in the uplands of Manoa and Kalihi by the haole man, Okamu. It is said that it is abundant in the cliffs of the Koolau. Friends, do try tasting this thing called honey; it is very good with bread.
[It seems today is Honey Bee Day. There are many articles dealing with bees and honey from early on in the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers. I posted some earlier and they should be easily found by doing a search on the top of the right-hand column…
Also, if you are lucky enough to be on Kauai today, according to the Garden Isle Press, there are fun and educational activities being put on by the Kauai Beekeepers’ Association at Kauai Community College! Go check it out!!]
(Kuokoa, 11/25/1865, p. 2)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke IV, Helu 47, Aoao 2. Novemaba 25, 1865.
Honey [Meli].—Our forests will perhaps be filled with Honey. Earlier, a certain person in Kalihi valley had ten pounds of Honey. The Bee [Nalo Meli] hive was atop a kukui tree where that amount of Honey mentioned above was gotten.
(Kuokoa, 11/1/1861, p. 2)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke I, Helu 2, Aoao 2. Novemaba 1, 1861.
HONEY BEES.—One of our friends has written to us saying that the family of honey bees of Rev. E. Bona [Bond] of Kohala is doing well; that is great.
(Kuokoa, 2/15/1862, p. 2)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke I, Helu 12, Aoao 2. Feberuari 15, 1862.
Honey Bees [nalo meli]. Brought upon the ship Fanny Major from California were four boxes of bees. Currently they are in the garden of Dr. Hillebrand [Kauka Makaainana].
The doctor will attempt raising the bees, and should this progress, we will be blessed, because there are two good things done by bees. 1. They make honey, which is very delicious and valuable. 2. They make plants fruit, because when bees fly to flowers in search of the nectar within, it takes with them pollen from non-fruiting flowers to fruiting flowers and deposit it, and that is what helps fruiting. Therefore, all you people of Honolulu nei, do not kill or abuse the bees when you see them. Bees are a great help to all, without any harm.
[According to Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor at The Nature Conservancy of Hawai’i, Sam Ohu Gon III, “In the big picture, in our modern agricultural world, honeybees are vital, but we should never forget our little-known native bees…”]
(Hae Hawaii, 11/18/1857, p. 134)
Ka Hae Hawaii, Buke 2, Ano Hou.----Helu 34, Aoao 134. Novemaba 18, 1857.
nupepa 