HCC §4-5-3
What the words mean in this bee law
Read the official text at hawaiicounty.gov ↗This section defines the words used in the bee rules. It explains what counts as a bee, an apiary, a beekeeper, a colony, a disease, a flyover barrier, and a hive. It also says that wasps, hornets, and Africanized bees are not included in the definition of bee.
landowners
The ordinance, as written (Hawaiʻi County) — Definitions
A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by Hawaiʻi County is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
As used in this article, unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended: “Africanized honeybee” means all life stages of the animal subspecies Apis mellifera scutellata or Apis mellifera adanosii. “Apiary” means a site where one or more colonies of bees and beehives are kept and maintained. “Bee” or “honeybee” means all life stages of the common domesticated honeybee European subspecies Apis Mellifera. This definition does not include wasps, hornets, African subspecies, or Africanized hybrids. “Beekeeper” means a person who intentionally owns, operates, maintains, possesses or otherwise is in charge of an apiary. “Colony” means an aggregate of bees consisting principally of workers, but having, when perfect, one queen and at times drones, brood, combs, and honey. “Disease” means any condition adversely affecting bees or their brood, which may become epidemic, including without limitation, bacteria, viruses or invertebrate pests. “Flyover barrier” means a solid wall, fence, or dense vegetation, or combination thereof, that encourages honeybees to fly over rather than through the barrier. “Hive” means a container or receptacle housing a bee colony and includes moveable frame structures to facilitate the colony’s development. (2024, ord 24-65, sec 3.)4-5-3 SUPP. 17 (1-2025) 4-16 ANIMALS § 4-5-4
Published by the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the County Clerk.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.