I was cheered to hear that Lyon Arboretum had reopened for tours. I was married there at Inspiration Point. Carved out of the steep hillsides at the back of verdant Manoa Valley, Lyon is supremely peaceful and a plant lovers paradise. The arboretum had an exceptional collection of Native Hawaiian plants, including rare hibiscus varieties like the one pictured here. Many of the other plant varieties on display, such as the sandalwood trees, were historically significant in Hawaii (Demand for sandalwood resulted in deforestation of huge chunks of Molokai). Alas, Lyon had fallen into disrepair and closed two years ago for renovations. The renovations are done and Lyon is open for business. I highly reccomend the guided tours, not just for learning about Hawaiian plants but also for seeing Hawaii history and culture through the lens of its lovely floral denizens. (Check the What's Blooming Now? link for a listing of plants currently in blossom at Lyon).

Free guided tours: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays to Fridays, limited to 12 per tour. Weekend tours are scheduled to resume in the fall. Call 808-988-0461 to reserve a place and for additional information.

Lyon Aboretum
Flickr Images of Lyon Aboretum
Directions to Lyon Aboretum

—Alex, 08/04/06