​The Hilo Bee project is a public-private partnership developed with the USDA, Project Apis m., Hawaii Island Honey Company, and Arista Bee Research. Combining breeding tools and expertise in a commercial beekeeping operation, these partners have been working to develop a honey bee that is naturally resistant to Varroa mites with traits to be successful in commercial beekeeping.

These are the people who do the beekeeping and technical work to select and propagate Hilo Queens.

Melissa Fontaine

Juliane Steckel

Donald Hernandez