In this exhibit, we will present information about the site as well as a brief insight into the pilot visit to the Lyon Arboretum. This site is located in the back of the beautiful valley of Mānoa.
The Lyon Arboretum and Botanical Garden is the only University botanical garden located in a tropical rainforest in the United States. It is also the only easily accessible tropical rainforest on the island of O‘ahu. It currently consists of almost 200 acres at the top of the Manoa watershed with a set of small cottages and greenhouses used for research and community education about plants and the natural environments of Hawai‘i. As a branch of the University of Hawai‘i, it serves as a center for educational activities on plants, arts, culture, geography, and a range of other sciences.
Currently, scholars from Anthropology, Biology, Botany, Culinary Arts, Engineering, Geography, Hawaiian Studies, Horticulture, and Zoology use the Arboretum in parts of their research or teaching. Approximately 34,000 visitors each year participate in classes, research projects, other community activities, or simply wandered the grounds enjoying the beautiful plant displays.
The Harold L. Lyon Arboretum coordinates, facilitates, and executes research, instruction, and service activities that utilize its collections and resources. Its major emphases are tropical plants, native Hawaiian plants, conservation biology, and Hawaiian ethnobotany.