Lyon Arboretum

Much of the Arboretum's botanical collection consists of an artificial lowland tropical rainforest with numerous trails and small water features.

The Manoa Arboretum was established in 1918 by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association to demonstrate watershed restoration and test various tree species for reforestation, as well as collect living plants of economic value.

The original director of the arboretum was Dr. Harold L. Lyon, a botanist from Minnesota who was plant pathologist for the HSPA.

Its over 15,000 accessions focus primarily on the monocot families of palms, gingers, heliconias, bromeliads, and aroids.

The seed laboratory is part of the Hawaiian Rare Plant Program (HRPP).