Jen Rasmussen Lair

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.