There are two parts of the Lyon Arboretum. Going up to the gardens and walking to the Falls. When you come up to the road, you will come to a booth, they are charging seven dollars for parking for going to the Falls. If you want to go to the gardens, tell them that and they will let you through. You drive up the road, maybe a mile or so. Watch out for the chickens! When you get to the end of the road, there is a little gift shop office area. You go in and pay a couple dollars, I can't remember exactly how much it was. And you can walk the gardens. They are worth it! It is gorgeous there. I bought some quality gifts to bring home for friends at this shop. If you live in the area, there are plants that you could buy. Now going to the Falls, you pay your parking fee and park your car. The path leading up to the fall, according to my kids, is a moderate hike. There are spots where there are high steps and rocky terrain. I believe I was the oldest person on the trail. I could see how some people might have issues getting up and down. The views on the trail and of the fall were beautiful. read more

See all

I can't believe that I didn't know about this place! This place is a true gem for nature and plant lovers. The views of manoa valley are gorgeous, the gardens beautiful and the serenity unbeatable. I felt like I had the entire place pretty much to myself, just exploring the various side trails. There is a little waterfall at the end of the main trail as well. This place is hidden at the back of manoa valley just past the manoa falls parking lots. Its manoa so its wet and lush, meaning possibly muddy trails and definitely mosquitos. Wear hiking shoes and insect repellent. Check in/pay at the gift shop after you park and they will issue you a parking permit. They even sell plants and seeds for edible plants that do better in our local climate! What a find!!! read more

See all

This is the most magical place! We've been coming to Lyon for years. It's a seemingly grand jungle of a botanical garden under the ko'olaus complete with its own waterfall. I seem to take a different route every time I come here and therefore see different things. My favorite route includes trees with roots as tall as my thigh. There are tropical flowers throughout the garden. You could easily spend 3-4 hours here or as little as 90 minutes. I suggest as long as you can, but bring water and bug spray. read more

See all

Went to their recent sale... incredible selection of plants! Event was very organized with pre-registration! Can't wait to go to the next one! read more

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to enjoy this garden very much. First, the signs throughout the park were very absent or hard to find. Based on the map, there should be a sign at every crossroad with the number and letter that matches the number and letter on the map, so that you know where you are at any given time. However, we barely found any signs at any of the intersections. So navigating through the park was very confusing. Second there were so many mosquitoes, so I would recommend using bug sprays before you enter. read more

See all

I visited Lyon Arboretum for the first time last week and was overwhelmed with the beauty of the place, how well maintained it was, as well as all the abundance of plants. I've been to several other botanical gardens on Oahu, and this is now my favorite. It's nestled in the back of Manoa Valley and you need to make reservations beforehand on their website. Reservations open upon Friday for the following week and there are 2 time slots, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Just be aware that the park closes at 3 pm. My friend and I went at 1 and we had enough time to stroll around and also visit the small gift shop. My friend was particularly interested in Hawaiian natural medicines, so we spent most of our time in the Beatrice Krauss Ethnobotanical Garden. Not all plants are labeled but many have a name plate. There are also small photo legends on the bottom that note if the plant is used for food, medicine, crafts, etc. What really impressed me was the groundskeeping. Although it is a huge park with many trails, it is well curated, plants have dead foliage removed. We ran into a couple of groundskeepers working and they said there is a staff of 20 that rotate through different areas and there are also student volunteers. I know there is a yearly plant sale so hopefully I can make it to one of them. They also sell a few plants in front of their gift shop.I definitely plan to return again! NOTE: The road into the park passes the parking lot for hikers going to Manoa Falls and there are many hikers oblivious to cars walking along the road, so drive slow. read more

See all

This place is operated by the University of Hawaii and we have wanted to visit for the longest time. Today we were told that normally you would need to make a reservation due to limited parking space. We got in by luck as it was not busy. They do ask for a donation which we gladly have. The scenery, nature, plants were amazing and we walked around and relaxed. read more

See all

Beautiful, underrated place for kama'aina and tourists alike! Their reservation page will lead you to an Eventbrite page where you can choose between two time periods for your visit. I chose the earliest (9am - 11am) slot because I wanted to beat the heat and the crowds. Tickets are free but limited and release every Friday for the following week. I will note that when I checked in, I asked the staff if I need to be out by 11am and they said no, I can stay until closing if I want, so I think the time slots might've been from pandemic times. **You will likely have limited service in the visitor's center area and no service while on the trails so plan accordingly!** WHAT TO BRING/WEAR: - $10 cash per person (recommended donation). I'm not sure if they accept card for donations--I think they accepted cash or card for gift shop purchases though. - Walking shoes at a bare minimum, something you wouldn't mind getting dirty. Hiking shoes would be best. - Slippers/sandals in a plastic bag, especially if you're using a rental car. That way you can change out of your muddy shoes/damp socks and put them in the plastic bag when you return to your car. - Light-colored, loose fitting clothing with cuffs on the ends (recommended for mosquitoes) - Packable hat with a visor if you're like me and wear glasses (to help keep your glasses clear if rains). The following can be purchased at the gift shop if you forget them but also highly recommended to bring: - DEET-free insect spray. I used OFF Clean Feel spray that I picked up from Long's. I'm usually get mosquito bites the worst out of everyone but I didn't get a single bite! - Poncho. It didn't rain during my time there but it's Mānoa Valley so better to be safe than sorry. - Water bottles - Snacks Please do not feed any of the animals in the arboretum (including birds) and do not pick any flowers, plants, or seeds. PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY and pay extra attention once you're no longer on the residential parts of Mānoa Road, as this part of the road starts to get narrower/more winding AND there can be many pedestrians (including keiki and parents carrying babies) walking their way up to/down from Mānoa Falls entrance AND the Mānoa Falls parking lot. You will first go through the Mānoa Falls parking lot. Just tell the guard that you're there for the Lyon Arboretum and plan to have your reservation ticket ready to show if needed. You will not need to pay. You'll drive PAST that parking lot (kinda on the left side), make a right, then drive up a bit more past the Mānoa Falls entrance on your right and staff parking on your left, then go around one final bend until you reach the Lyon Arboretum parking lot. Once you're parked, head to the east of the parking lot to the visitor center to check in. They'll give you a ticket to display on your dashboard. I highly recommend taking the free brochure that has the map on it, as there are many trails (some which aren't clearly marked) and it's easy to get lost. There are two clean, unisex bathrooms around the corner from the visitor's center. The one I went in didn't have a changing table so that's something to keep in mind if you have little ones with you. I highly recommend trying to use the bathroom while you're already in the area/before starting your trek--they're the only ones in the expansive arboretum! My plan was to head straight to the falls and then explore the side trails/other gardens on the way back down. I'm not an experienced hiker and I was by myself so I wanted to dedicate my energy to the uphill trek. I also wanted to beat the heat (again, I arrived early morning) and the groups of tourists that I saw checking in after me. I made a few stops along the way to take photos and drink water but stayed on the main trail up to the falls. It took me 30 minutes to reach the falls. There are a couple of benches to sit along the main trail but the last one is where the telephone pole is. There are varying types of terrain on the main trail as you get deeper into the valley (see photos). It was a drier period when I went so there are just a slight trickle but it was still very peaceful and I'd rather have that than having to deal with the slick mud and increased mosquitoes during the wetter periods. But yeah, don't expect this to be on-par with Mānoa Falls in terms of water flow size/intensity. For this hike, it's more about the journey than the destination (: One thing I would recommend while exploring Lyon Arboretum is to of course, look down/ahead and watch your step but to remember to look around you too! Between the points of interest on the map are lots of interesting plants, like different types of vining and epiphytic plants growing on the trunks of trees and interesting flowers/leaves/seeds. Some of the trees are also soooo tall! This place truly is a gem in urban Honolulu. 10/10-highly recommend! read more

See all

Today is the Lyon Fall Fair. A fundraiser for the organization! Many of us retirees volunteer on Thursday to make Haku Lei usually for May Day, Mother's Day, Graduation, Weddings. Today we are selling dried wreaths, tabletop Christmas trees, bodhi leave bookmarks, cards and gift tags. Staff is not very helpful! For example 2 customers needed help to bring plants to their cars! 5 capable young staff standing around but not willing to help! These customers spent over $200 so I helped them carry it to car so they wouldn't have to make 2 trips! OMG! read more

See all

Located in Manoa Valley. This place is amazing!! Lots of greenery and animals. We visited this place for my daughter's field trip so we had a tour guide. He taught the children and parents about the native plants and species that are found at the Arboretum. We weren't able to walk the whole place, but i would love to come back and walk around again. It was so peaceful there. read more

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Haven't been to Lyon Arboretum probably since I was a kid, but went here today. Parking was a little difficult since you have to drive past Manoa Falls parking and up a narrow road and some of the spaces were taken up by construction. We waited for about 5 minutes for a space to open then headed to the visitor center to check in. The volunteer was very kind and helpful and gave us a map. We checked out Inspiration Point and walked around the Great Lawn and spice garden. Lots of things to see and it was a cute little hike for my toddler. We will be back! read more

Arrived at Lyon Arboretum at around 10am on a Thursday morning. Sadly, the small parking lot was completely full, not a single parking slot available. While the parking lot is small, eight of the parking slots are reserved for the contractors involved in the on-going construction. It was a mess. There was also an old broken down Moped taking up one of the few spots. One option is to park in the pay lot down the hill reserved for Mānoa Falls trail. No thanks... it's a long, uphill walk from the Manoa Falls lot to Lyon Arboretum, especially for us old Kupuna. So, we're gonna defer our visit until all the construction is done and the contractors move out. But, even then there's no guarantee you'll still be able to find parking. read more

What was supposed to be nice event experience to purchase plants was kind of a headache. The trek up to the arboretum is not accessible for differently abled bodies and that 100% should be noted or advertised beforehand for first time visitors. It's an inclined walk from the main road (which needs better maintenance) onto a series of rocky and uneven stairs. Although there is a paved road leading to the backside of a parking lot closer to the arboretum there are signs for no pedestrian walkthroughs creating more barriers for people who physically need the stability it could offer. There were enjoyable conversations with different event staff that were very knowledgeable and helpful , and a good mix of plant types but you can clearly see the dichotomy of staff helping with the event and other staff just hanging out with friends with zero situational awareness for customers (generally the younger student crowd). The check out line also contained its fair share of confusion and frustrating interactions. And alas leaving the event. Once you leave the Manoa Falls/ Arboretum parking lot-- good luck trying to get out of the one lane traffic which the event organizers left up to the general public on how to navigate, leading up to a seriously backed up conga line of incoming and outgoing traffic. Needless to say event days at the arboretum needs a bit of work. Event staff would benefit from having some awareness in navigating crowds, and not socializing with friends to the point where the attendees are being neglected or would have to interrupt personal conversations to ask staff to move over or make space so attendees can browse the items. The event staff at the checkout line as fully public facing positions can benefit from just being nicer and realizing that the checkout system is confusing and requires maybe answering the same question and patience. I didn't need to feel like an idiot or a burden walking away. There should also be better design for peak traffic flow times. read more

Lyon Arboretum is owned by the University of Hawaii and extremely well maintained. There are many paths, roads, and trails into the rainforest that will introduce you to tons of plant life. The deepest area has a waterfall which staff tells you takes around 45 minutes to reach by walking because it's al uphill. Budget more time for exploring along the way. The parking is free as long as you say your visiting the Arboretum and not doing the Manoa Falls hike. Staff at the Arboretum will validate your parking on arrival in the visitors center which also has a small gift shop and free restroom. Bring an umbrella or rain jacket as it sprinkles daily. Also bring pants and bug spray unless you want to be a mosquito buffet. Trails here can get dirty after heavier rain. Try to arrive early in the morning. It's a 15 minus walk from the visitors center to the nearest bus stop if you don't plan to drive in. The website claims you need a reservation to enter but I saw multiple people enter without one as staff just added them to the register on arrival. read more

See all

The Lyon Arboretum is located in beautiful, green, and lush Manoa. They share a parking lot with Paradise Park and Manoa Valley Falls. I was advised multiple times to bring a raincoat and wear insect repellant. I hesitated on bringing a raincoat; I like to pack light and a little water never hurt anyone. Thank God I did. The Lyon Arboretum is practically a rainforest. When we got there, there was a light drizzle. About halfway into our hike, it poured. It wasn't bad though, the rain was on and off. What was neat was that there are kids raincoats available to borrow in case the little ones didn't come prepared. Not all botanical gardens are created equally. I've been to many botanical gardens but Lyon Arboretum has so many plants and trees I'd never seen before. There are endless photo ops. They also have an education room where they do learning activities for groups. Their restrooms are clean and well-maintained. There are also outside sinks available since visitors have a good chance of getting muddy. The hiking path was easy enough and on some parts, the paths are lined with rocks and some steep and slippery parts have stairs available. Many parts of the trail were slippery since it was raining. My favorite part of the arboretum was the huge tree that you can walk through. This is somewhere I can definitely see myself visiting over and over again. read more

See all

Enjoyed walking through the Lyon Arboretum. Make reservations first on Eventbrite then check in at the visitors center. Parking is free if u are just going to the Arboretum. The parking attendant will charge hikers going to Manoa Falls $7 for tourists, $4 for Hawaii residents. Park at the last parking lot by the visitor center. There is a store within the visitor center to buy cold water bottles for $1 and cute t-shirts. The map will show u the layout of the Arboretum. There are benches along the trail. Well manicured and pretty for bird watching and appreciating nature. Exotic plants are plentiful. Only place at see a yellow ginger plant that I have in my photo gallery below. It was windy on the day I was there to keep mosquitoes away. Bring repellent anyway because there are alot of mosquitoes here normally. The bathrooms are behind the visitor center. Enjoy Naure!!!! read more

See all

Mahalo Nellie and the Lyon Ohana for supporting the Celebration of Life, honoring Greg Koob. We sincerely appreciate your kindness in allowing family and friends to gather at Lyons. Thank you for offering the lab tour and telling us about Greg's dedication to protecting native Hawaiian plants. Extremely fascinated to hear how Greg developed the tissue culture lab, saving countless native plant species from extinction! Thank you again, we shall return to watch his special tree continue to flourish. read more

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum - Tree planting in loving memory of Greg Koob - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

5 stars for the overall experience but personally it was an activity not for me. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy it but it was a little too out of my comfort zone at this time; glad to challenge myself otherwise! First of all this is free and donations encouraged, which is def a plus if you're looking for something budget friendly. You have RSVP on their website first for one of the two time frames then check in at the visitors' center the day of. There are a lot of paths and nicely designed areas to walk through but note that most of it will definitely feel like you are walking through an actual jungle. From what I understood, they connect to the path for Manoa Falls. Even with a map though, I still got a bit lost as the place is huge. You NEED to wear appropriate outerwear. Sneakers or hiking shoes are must since some paths are rocky and muddy. I strongly recommend clothes that cover everything because there are A LOT of bugs. You can buy a bug repellent inside their visitors center for $10 if you forgot to bring some- just be sure to shake and rub it on as it is not a spray. I thought it worked fairly well considering how many bugs there were and me wearing a tank top (still got 4 bites). The weather varies as well. It was clear at times, then windy and raining. If you plan to drive, there is a parking lot available. You can go by bus too but it is a bit of a journey (Google Maps works well). The bus will stop in a neighborhood and then you need to walk up towards the Manoa Falls trail where you will then follow signs for the visitor's center. This is definitely a great experience if it fits your level of exploration and hiking. read more

See all

Cyndy's Bottom Line: A beautiful and lush arboretum. *Open Monday-Friday 9am - 3pm. *Closed on weekends and holidays. *Reservations required *Free admission, donations are welcomed *Limited parking available free of charge *Check in at the visitors center and receive a parking ticket to display on your dashboard. *Bring a raincoat/jacket *Wear appropriate shoes with traction *Use bug repellent just in case The Harold L. Lyon Arboretum is a beautiful 200-acre arboretum and botanical garden managed by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa located at the upper end of the lush Mānoa Valley on Oahu. Lyon Arboretum is also a research unit of the University of Hawaii. Providing public programs and hiking trails. As a botanical garden, you will see an abundance of pretty tropical and subtropical plants. There is a native Hawaiian plant garden, and a Hawaiian Ethnobotanical garden which highlights the plants traditionally used in the Hawaiian culture. The Royal Palms area has one of the largest palm collections in the world. There is a gift shop to purchase potted plants, souvenirs, t-shirts, books, Hawaiian koa bowls, stationary cards, pictures and refreshments too. read more

See all

Beautiful lush rain forest area close to Town (Honolulu). Need to make reservations and pay a 5.00 donation fee to visit. The road passes the area to to Moana Falls Trailhead. You check in at the little gift shop and the trail starts right next to it. There are short network of trails through the grounds. And what beautiful grounds they are with numerous flowering plants mixed in with the forest. Most of the trail is very easy, with short offshoot being slightly muddier when it rains. This trail would be a good to do with the separate hike to Moana Falls the same day. read more

See all

Wow! This is definitely a destination and not a stop on the way to somewhere else. A great respite if you've had too much beach sun. The trek to the trickling waterfall is difficult at is it steep and slippery. My advice: Give plenty of time to explore - at least three hours to walk the many trails. Wear comfirtabke cool clothes and good hiking or walking shoes. It's very humid and wet - a tropical environment. See inspiration point. Add this to your Oahu things-to-do list. Highly recommend as it's gorgeous!! We did not have reservations, but it looks like you should make them. read more

See all

Beautiful gem not far from downtown Honolulu/Waikiki. We immediately felt like we were in a tropical paradise. The staff and volunteers were very helpful. Trail map left a little to be desired and we went in circles a bit, but at least they were scenic circles. read more

This is a great place to walk and see amazing nature. There are great views, vistas, and small nooks to admire. Almost everywhere you look is a picture postcard view. Parking can be limited, so arrive early. read more

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Lyon Arboretum is EXTREMELY underrated - it's really a hidden gem. I've been both pre- and post-COVID, and all experiences have been great. For now, you can make a reservation online. It's free, but there is a suggested donation, just like there is normally. You can give them this with your reservation paper when you check in. You choose a 2-hour time slot, after which you must clear the grounds - so be mindful of how far you go and budget enough time to get back to your vehicle. Two hours was enough time for me and my 6yo to make it all the way back to the waterfall, exploring a couple side trails on the way there and back, as well as stopping to take photos and play a little pretend. On our last visit (7/30/2020), we encountered maybe five other groups? Very easy for social distancing and getting some fresh air out in nature. It is just past the parking for Manoa Falls, which is always crazy busy (when it's not closed for trail maintenance), but Lyon is never packed. For pandemic reservations, you line up at the gate, and someone will come check you in. Park your car in the lot farther up the road, and the arboretum is yours to explore for the next two hours. The view of Manoa Valley from Inspiration Point is lovely, and there are loads of photo opportunities if you like to take pictures. There is also a lot to learn, and most of the smaller trails (not all!) are well sign-posted for reference on the map. The ethnobotanical garden and the main path has some informational signs to read. It's jungly, so mosquito repellent spray is an absolute must. An umbrella isn't a terrible idea if you're following the main path - the smaller trails are mostly under dense canopy, but the main trail has some clear spots for you to get rained on. And you should always plan for rain here. The waterfall is small and intermittent - you'll only see it if it's been raining upslope. Even so, it's a pretty walk and easily done by most. I bring visitors here because it's off the tourist track, I don't worry that my car will be broken into, and a visit supports a lot of research efforts here. read more

See all

It's show time! Live, in living color, a stage show produced by Mother Nature herself. This is no 8K 48bit color depth with its wimpy 281 trillion colors artificial creation. "To infinity and beyond!" (get it?). It is just infinite! But first a few messages from the sponsor (as of 01 July 2020): -- Open to the public by reservation only (maximum 30 guest per time slot) made on their website. -- Two, two hour time slots per day; 09:00 - 11:00 and 13:00 - 15:00. -- Arrive at the parking lot gate 15 minutes ahead and up to 15 minutes after your reserved time. -- Bring a hard copy of your entry ticket (it will be collected). -- MASKS REQUIRED at ALL times. This is NOT a park rather a research facility run by the University of Hawaii. The "exercise exception" does NOT apply. * No restrooms. * No picnicking. * Parking lot gates will be closed and locked other than the 30 minute block around your reservation. You cannot leave so plan accordingly. And now, get ready to be amazed by the colorful, unusual, the never seen before.... Hype aside, the arboretum is impressive. Three distinct areas include: plantings studied for agricultural significance and landscaping, non native species integrated into the Hawaiian rainforest and the pristine native rainforest. Miles of trails, natural waterfalls. A full ecosystem all created for research and study. Tips: -- Wear hiking shoes. Many paths are unimproved, slippery and muddy. -- Bring mosquito repellent. A FREE visual spectacle and a welcome break from hours of Amazon Prime Video, Disney +, Netflix, CBS All Access, Peacock, Hulu, Sling, Philo... Get your tickets today! read more

See all

Great place to go. Wear comfortable shoes. Lots of walking and bring lots of mosquitoes spray. Bring water or drinks too.

The Lyon Arboretum is a local gem and a place that I'll continue to bring my visiting friends and family. It's truly a garden oasis next to the Manoa falls hike. The pictures on Yelp speak for themselves! I love that the experience is both beautiful and educational. If you enjoy learning, peruse pamphlets and chat with the desk attendant to learn more about the grounds. Please consider dropping in and donating what you can to fund maintenance of the grounds and research. read more

See all

The Lyon Arboretum located at 3860 Manoa Road, Honolulu 96822 is a great place to visit. Visited there last week to partake in the exquisite scenery and foilage. Crossed paths with Cecilia a wonderful and dear family friend from Sterling VA, finishing up on her final year at UH as a tropical agriculturist. In the short time that we were there. Cecilia directed us to the highlights of the Lyon Arboretum. She also pointed out a tree by the visitors center and the gift shop. All of the workers there had at one time the opportunity to splice/graft the tree. She mentioned that she had to be harnessed up the tree to complete the splice/graft process. I thought that was very impressive to share. Awarding the Lyon Arboretum "5" stars due to the bubbling energy and infectious enthusiasm of our brief interaction with Cecilia, a mainland transplant from the East Coast and a new kama'aina resident to our lovely island home. read more

The entrance to the arboretum is right next to the entrance to the Manoa Falls Trail. You might as well do both activities the same morning. Try to start as early as possible to avoid crowds and the hot heat! If not already obvious from the pictures on Yelp, Harold L. Lyon Arboretum houses many many beautiful plants! Get your cameras ready for all the pretty flowers and colors. There doesn't seem to be a lot of shade to be mindful of those harmful UVB rays. People often don't appreciate plants or find arboretums that sexy, but I'd say it's worth a trip especially if you're already in the area for Manoa Falls. read more

See all

Great place to take the family and explore the lush green botanical gardens. Trails are fairly easy with so many species of plants. You will enjoy the sounds of nature. Experience the true nature of Mānoa Valley. I suggest making reservations online to reserve a time spot. Doing so, you can drive up to the visitor center where you check in and get a parking pass. Be advise to drive with caution as there are other visitors walking to and from the area. read more

See all

We've been here several times and it's always really peaceful and beautiful. We enjoy photographing the unique flowers and it's also a great spot to do plein air painting. You have to make a reservation and you can only go on weekdays. Otherwise, it's pretty straight forward. Parking is easy, bathrooms on site, and when you check in at the visitor center they are friendly and have maps of the various trails. You might want to bring bug repellent or long sleeves/pants because the mosquitos are often out and about! Some highlights are the cockatoos that eat from the fruit trees, mountain apple tree fruits and the stunning blue fruit of the Rudruksha trees. read more

Very nice place to check out. I would go again and or take friends. Easy walking trails. read more

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum - View point - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Nature lovers, this is a must see. No matter if you are local or a visitor of our island, this has to be one of the best examples of nature at it's best in Hawaii. The Harold L. Lyon Arboretum is about 200 acres of arboretum and botanical gardens managed by the University of Hawaii at Manoa located at the upper end of Manoa Valley in Hawaii. Much of the Arboretum's botanical splendors consists of an artificial lowland tropical rainforest with numerous trails and small water features. Some years back, a bird show park closed and some of their tropical birds like cockatoos, macaws and other parrots either escaped or were let loose, adding an addition exoticness to the landscape. Lots of trails with different exotic plants to keep you intrigued. Be sure to apply bug spray as it can be a mosquito haven. Also, expect rain as it is a very wet area. Best to plan on getting muddy, so appropriate attire is best. read more

See all

YES! I loved being able to walk around and look at beautiful trees and plants and have their names on a plaque right there. A fun one was the Coco tree! You are not allowed to pick anything so please don't do that but you can walk pretty much anywhere. Be careful! Lots of overgrown path areas and your time is limited to allow more people to visit and socially distance. I did get some chigger bites because I definitely explored a bit. Scratchy buggers!! I can't wait to go back with my kids! read more

See all

Lyon Arboretum is the best place to go to feel one with nature. They have a ton of plants from all different areas of the world. The Education department at Lyon Arboretum is wonderful. I had a special reservation to take some of my media students around to gather some information about forests. They were very accommodating and our guide really was very informative. They were great because I told them about their project and they wanted to know right away how they could tailor their tour so that the students could learn more. The students got to see many of the things that they were studying for their project. Even though some of the items weren't available there, they still talked a lot about it. It was nice to get the history of Lyon Arboretum and how it all started. It's nice to see that it has come a long way. I'm so thankful to Lyon Arboretum for helping my students with their project. It's really a beautiful place to visit. And I heard there's a beautiful waterfall there. Much less crowded than going to the neighboring Manoa Falls. So if you haven't checked Lyon Arboretum out, don't delay, go check it out! read more

Beautiful view and HUGE botanical garden with not too much mosquitos. If u want to get to the waterfall at the end fastest, stay on the botanical garden route. There are signs that states Hike Trail which we took, but there were parts of the trail that disappeared and so you'd have to guess where to go. The map provided is super hard to follow for the hike trail. We literally got lost in the forrest for an hour and I was kinda scared for my family. We fortunately led ourselves kinda back onto the main botanical route, but it required us to walk through a bunch of knee high plants lol. We was about to just go home, but since we saw that we were kinda close, we decided to stay in route and get to the waterfall. I would recommended staying on the safe trail. This place is at the very top passed the Manoa Falls entrance and has a really small parking lot. They ask for $5 donation as an entry fee. U are required to sign in when u arrive probably because u might get lost like us lol. Happy trails read more

See all

Perfect for a nature walk with the family. Many different types of trees with names. It's almost always raining, though, and plenty of mosquitoes, so plan accordingly. You can sign up to volunteer as individuals or groups. They have weekly volunteer work hours on Saturday. read more

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum - Blue marble tree - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Great short hike/walk around the park looking at various plants and species indigenous to Hawaii. The path was very well maintained and the staff are very friendly. We took the route to the end of the path and saw a waterfall. The waterfall was quite smaller than the Manoa falls. All in all, the hike was pretty easy and it's great for your kids. I'd definitely recommend this hike to everyone. Make sure you bring water! read more

See all

I'm a late bloomer to hiking and only recently discovered the arboretum. I absolutely love it. It's great for novice hikers and plant enthusiasts. I try to visit at least once a month. Because it's by reservation, there is not a crowd of people. The map is a little confusing but I finally made my way to the waterfall. Worth it! read more

Magical, sacred & multicolored paradise at the end of a long, winding road. Admission is by donation (reco: $5-10 each). Green parrots and cockatoos, mongooses (geese?) and red capped birds -- and thousands of majestic tree species straight outta the movie Avatar await you. Hike for hours or bring a blanket and book and rest in an open field near the parking lot. :) Whenever I visit my childhood home here, I always visit Lyons Arboretum. It's at the top of the list for me. Tip -- a thin raincoat is good for mists, but the tree cover and shade are so much in parts that it was more fun to duck under them and be a fellow forest creature waiting out the rain. Also if you hear a primordial screeching like a pterodactyl, it's probably a giant white cockatoo!! :D A good omen. read more