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. Several community organizations use the Arboretum as their base of operations, including Hui Hana, Garden Club of Honolulu, and the Arboretum Association. Through these organizations and others that periodically use the facilities, the University is able to regularly interact with a broad cross-section of the local community.

Visit the Lyon Arboretum website.