Honolulu - Round Top - Tantalus Circle Drive

The Lyon Arboretum is a 194-acre botanical garden in a rainforest, featuring a collection of over 5,000 tropical plants from Hawaii and Polynesia. It is said to have one of largest collection of palms found in a botanical garden. This facility is also an active research facility, working on preserving the state's tropical forests.

The Arboretum maintains a number of theme gardens that visitors can easily wander through. Among these are a herb and spice garden, bromeliad garden, the Beatrice H. Krauss Hawaiian Ethnobotanical Garden, and many others. The facility is both beautiful and educational.

A path at the entrance to the Lyon Arboretum leads 1.5mi/2.4km to the Manoa Falls where bathing is permitted.

Views here are similar to those from Punchbowl, but the skyline of Honolulu from here includes Punchbowl in the foreground. The views of Waikiki and Diamond Head are slightly closer than those from Punchbowl. While both views are worthwhile, those pressed for time will probably gain more meaning from Punchbowl.

This lush park, situated on a cinder cone, contains picnic shelters and a short walking trail.