Purpose and Mission of Honey Challenge

• Help our Island of Kaua’i beekeepers in producing a quality product and a consistent pleasing presentation of it. 

• 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. 

• Offer beekeepers a platform for recognition of their work. 

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Who can enter ?

• All beekeepers on the island of Kaua’i, regardless of size of operation, who follow the rules of this contest. 

 

Honey Samples Rules

• Honey samples must be harvested within the past 12 months and bottled by the contestant from their own apiary located on the island of Kaua’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). 

• Honey should not be processed in any way such as “creaming," “spinning," “churning," “blending” or other manipulations.

• Limit of one entry per honey category listed below, with a maximum of three entries total:

Liquid Honey: Light, Medium, Dark * to 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 Bee Club at Club’s discretion. 

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How should I submit my honey samples ? 

• 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.

• All liquid honey samples must fill the jar to within ½ inch of the jar lid. 

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What should I include when submitting my entry ? ​

• Print out entry form here

• Entry fees are $15 per entry. Pay fees by writing a check to Rice Street Business Association with a note: Honey Challenge or online here

• If you're dropping off your entries at Hā Coffee Lihue drop off location, submit your jars along with a completed entry form. September 21st- Oct 10th. Monday- Saturday 8-12. 4286 Rice St.

• All entries must be submitted with entry form and payment (either check or online)

• All entries must be received no later than Saturday, October 10, 2026 3pm

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How will my honey samples be judged ? 

• 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

• 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 prior to Saturday, October 24th, 2026.

• 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 2026 People’s Choice. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be receiving a certificate. People’s Choice taste testing will be conducted on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, at Hale Lihue Parking lot during the Rice Street Block Party between 2pm and 4pm.