Farm-to-Table Beekeeping Retreat

RETREATS

June 2-7, 2026

A Farm-to-Table Beekeeping Retreat for Those Called to the Hive.

Escape into six unforgettable days of nourishment, nature, and intuitive connection with honeybees

at The Sweet Escape: Farm-to-Table Intuitive Beekeeping Retreat,

held June 2–7, 2026 at the lush Puna Rainforest Retreat in Pahoa, Hawaii.

Immerse yourself in hands-on beekeeping with Jen Rasmussen Lair of Paradise Nectar Apiaries,

explore farm-to-table cooking with seven of the Big Island’s talented chefs,

and unwind in lava-vent–heated hot tubs, a refreshing plunge pool, and miles of rainforest trails. Throughout the week, you’ll experience honey processing, mead crafting, candle and body-care product making, and rejuvenating facials crafted with Waipunalei Ohana Farm botanicals—

all while enjoying vibrant organic cuisine and the golden sweetness of Paradise Nectar honey.

Guests leave with thoughtful gifts including honey, a recipe book, a retreat t-shirt, and handcrafted self-care products, making this retreat a true celebration of nourishment from hive to table.

Puna Rainforest Retreat

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Your Sweet Escape Guide

Meet the beekeeper, organic chef, and facilitator who brings the magic of hive, harvest, and nourishment to life.
Jen Rasmussen Lair is the founder and heart behind Paradise Nectar Apiaries and Island Organic Cuisine. Since 2008 she has tended to honeybees on Hawai‘i Island, evolving her practice into a thriving sanctuary where hive health is maintained with a chemical-free, intuitive, and treatment-free philosophy.

With decades of hands-on experience — from rescuing swarms and relocating hives to overcoming mite, beetle, and pesticide pressures — Jen brings rare resilience, depth, and respect for the bees’ natural rhythms to her teaching.

As a chef, she bridges her love of island-grown produce and her bees’ honey by creating vibrant, 100% organic meals, honey-based sauces, and more — all showcasing the bounty of Hawai‘i’s land and pollinators.

In her workshops and retreats, Jen doesn’t just show you how to keep bees or cook — she guides you toward an integrated lifestyle. Her teaching is grounded not only in practical hive management and culinary skill, but in a philosophy of stewardship, sustainability, and deep connection: bees, food, land, and community.

As your retreat facilitator, Jen offers a rare chance to learn from a woman who lives the values she teaches — nurturing bees, cultivating land, crafting nourishing meals, and sharing the sweetness of life with respect, care, and aloha.

Farm-to-Table

Kitchen Creation Sessions

This truly one-of-a-kind retreat brings together chefs from all over the Big Island, Hawaii.

Each day at The Sweet Escape, Jen Lair leads you through the art of creating fresh, simple, organic meals that fit beautifully into a busy lifestyle. Using vibrant local ingredients and a focus on nourishment, Jen demonstrates how to craft delicious lunches that are both accessible and inspiring.

Mornings begin with a lovingly prepared breakfast by Jen and her dedicated assistants, with an open invitation to jump in, learn, and cook alongside them if you’d like.

As the sun sets, a rotating guest chef guides the group through preparing, cooking, and serving a four-course dinner—an immersive, hands-on culinary journey from the first chop to the final plating.

All ingredients used throughout the retreat are organic, with local sourcing prioritized every step of the way. Guests will leave not only nourished but equipped with a beautifully curated recipe book featuring every dish prepared during the week.

Intuitive Beekeeping

with
Jen Rasmussen Lair

Intuition is that quiet inner knowing—like a soft hum beneath the noise of the world.
In beekeeping, it’s what helps you sense the mood of the hive, catch the meaning in their gentle buzz, and know just when to peek in or let them be.

It’s the art of listening with more than your ears and tending with more than your hands. Intuition turns beekeeping into a dance with your bees—one guided by curiosity, trust, and the natural rhythms all around you.

Beekeeping Wisdom
with Jen Rasmussen Lair

The following videos reveal Jen Lair's beekeeping & teaching style. With a focus on treatment-free hive management and an intuitive connection with honeybees.

The Hive-to-Table Workshops

Step into a world where the gifts of the hive come alive in your hands.

In these creative, hands-on sessions, you’ll learn to make small-batch mead, pour golden beeswax candles, craft natural body care products, and explore the art of harvesting and processing honey.

We’ll also dig into the magic of pollinator gardens,

designing spaces that nourish bees, butterflies, and the land itself.

Each workshop invites you to play, create, and connect more deeply with the wonders our bees so generously provide.