In Vaimoso, Pauli Fetu Leapai tends to her beehives with purpose, not just for the honey, but for the future of her island home.

Pauli is part of Bee Educated, a national initiative led by the Samoa Agricultural Organisation (SAO) and funded by the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme. Since its launch in 2022, the project has trained more than 100 beekeepers and over 2,000 hives across Samoa, spanning the islands of Upolu and Savai'i.

What began as a single workshop through the Samoa Women Growers Association soon became a personal mission for Pauli.

“I fell in love with it,” she said. “I registered and became an active member, rolling out the projects.”

Bees play a vital role in Samoa’s ecosystem, pollinating crops like breadfruit and limes, and boosting flower production. Pauli said the results are visible right in her backyard.

“We had a lime tree that didn’t bear fruit for two years,” she said. “As soon as we had the bees, now we’re enjoying the fruit.”

With demand for local honey soaring, fetching up to 55 tala for a 480-gram jar, Pauli said there’s also a growing concern, fake honey.

“You can tell the difference by putting it in the fridge,” she said. “Real honey doesn’t freeze. It doesn’t change texture or colour. But fake honey freezes and turns oily.”

Beyond the economic threat, Pauli said fake honey lacks nutritional benefits and erodes consumer trust in local producers.

As Samoa works toward greater food security and climate resilience, beekeeping is emerging as a sustainable and versatile solution. In addition to honey, there is rising interest in beeswax products, venom therapy and eco-tourism opportunities.

Pauli is particularly passionate about getting young people involved. At Avele College, where school beekeeping had been dormant for 40 years, she helped relaunch a program with students.

“It’s a great side hustle,” she said. “They can be in school and still make money.”

Now raising bees alongside her son and mother-in-law, Pauli sees the practice as part of a deeper connection with the land.

“Bees, they take care of the land,” she said. “Nature knows how to take care of us. And if you take care of nature, nature will take care of you back.”