Abercrombie Proclaims ‘Hawaii Pollinator Week’

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today is scheduled to sign a proclamation declaring June 18-24 as “Hawaii Pollinator Week.”

The event is aimed at raising awareness about declining bee populations. Scientists say the loss of such a primary pollinator poses a significant threat to agricultural economies across the state.

The threats include the small hive beetle and varroa mite.

Recent scientific research indicates thaf the varroa mite can assist in the spread of another bee disease, deformed wing virus. The combination of the two has been linked to colony collapse disorder, which has decimated bee colonies in many parts of the world.

The ceremony scheduled for 4 p.m. at the State Capitol in Honolulu will include the governor’s signing into law of House Bill 2100.

The bill approved during the past legislative session appropriates $30,000 for hive research to be divided between the state’s counties and the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.