50 minutes from Ko Olina Beach Villas, Lyon Arboretum is part of the University of Hawaiʻi and considered Oahu’s best public botanical garden. It has walking trails, native plants, tropical trees, a waterfall, and a walking Buddha statue (symbolizing inner peace and grace).
It is nestled in the back of Mānoa Valley, just five miles from the bustle of Waikiki. Lyon Arboretum has over seven miles of hiking trails and is home to more than 6,000 groups of tropical and sub-tropical plants on nearly 200 acres.
The university-affiliated arboretum seeks to increase knowledge and awareness of tropical plant species, preserve endangered specimens, and bring to the public new, ornamental plants it cultivates. Established paths through the grounds allow visitors to wander among the plantings and appreciate the birds that make their home there.
Lyon Arboretum is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM. It is closed on weekends and state & federal holidays. Reservations are required and visits must be limited to two hours.
For more information and to book your reservation, visit https://manoa.hawaii.edu/lyon/.
