Times: University-level groups typically stay on Arboretum grounds for between 1-3 hours, depending on activities planned by the instructor.

The Arboretum is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Groups may arrive no earlier than 9:00 am and must vacate by closing time (3:00 pm).

Dates: The Arboretum is closed on Sundays and for state and federal holidays. We are currently closed to the public on Saturdays.

If your group requires special accommodations regarding date and time, arrangements must be made at least one month in advance. Email us at LyonEdu@hawaii.edu to discuss your group’s special accommodation needs.

Classes from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and all UH-system schools (Kapiolani, Windward, Leeward, UHH, etc):

Fees will be waived for UH Faculty, Staff, and Registered UH students visiting the Arboretum for UH courses.

UH-system groups visiting the Arboretum for purposes not related to UH courses may be assessed a fee, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

University of Hawaiʻi Outreach College groups:

Standard fees apply for non-UH participants. See below for standard fees. Fees are waived for UH staff and faculty, and may be waived for registered UH students.*

(*”Registered UH students” must be registered students receiving credit through a course offered in the UH system.)

For all other colleges and universities (Standard fees):

Guided tours are $10/person. Self-guided tours are $7/person.

Typically, most university-level class field trips are self-guided in nature, led by the course instructor.

Lyon staff are limited in their time and resources; however, on occasion, a staff member may be available to assist the class depending on the request.

Guided tours: When you request a guided tour, please plan to arrive at the Arboretum at the agreed-upon time. A class that plans to meet at 1 pm on campus before coming to the Arboretum should not request a 1 pm tour. Instead, such a group should request a tour at 1:30 pm or later (to allow for travel time). Punctuality is especially important for guided tours, which require Lyon Arboretum’s small staff to set aside time to host visiting groups. Egregious or chronic tardiness may affect future visit requests.

Self-Guided Field Trip Cancellation:

Field trips that are guided by the professor can be canceled at any time without a fee.

Lyon Staff-Led Field Trip Cancellation:

Field trips that have been booked which involve the participation/guidance of a Lyon Staff member may be canceled by a school without charge up to two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled field trip date. If a field trip is canceled with less than two weeks’ notice, a cancellation fee of 20% of the estimated field trip cost will be automatically invoiced to the organizer/school.

In the event that Lyon has to cancel a school’s field trip (due to extreme weather or other reason), there will be no charge to the school.

By small bus or large passenger van: Small school buses and large passenger vans can usually make it up our road. We generally have special instructions on where to park for these vehicles. Lyon Arboretum staff will offer more guidance on where these vehicles should park during the field trip planning process.

By personal vehicle/multiple cars (parking): Because of the size of our parking lot, we limit the number of vehicles per group that can park in our lot. This is dependent on the size of the group and other operations at the Arboretum that day (including groups and events organized through our other departments.) We strongly recommend carpooling whenever possible. Groups that have extra vehicles will have to make additional parking plans. They can park at Paradise Park for a fee, or they can park in the neighborhood and walk up to meet the group. Please do not plan to park in Lyon’s lot without coordinating with us first.

Failure to accurately communicate transportation and parking needs or failure to abide by agreed-upon arrangements for parking (e.g., bringing more than the approved number of cars) may affect future visit requests. 

Safety is our number one priority during our field trips. Due to Lyon Arboretum’s lush natural setting and the physically active nature of our field trip activities, all groups must understand and comply with the following precautions and policies:

Lyon Arboretum is situated in the very back of Mānoa Valley, in a tropical rainforest ecosystem. Weather is unpredictable and conditions fluctuate between hot and sunny, cool and overcast, and light or heavy rain. Trails can be potentially muddy and slippery, and mosquitoes can be a nuisance. Field trips at Lyon Arboretum are typically conducted in rain or shine, and instructors must be prepared to adjust activities on the spot due to sudden changes in weather.

In the event of extreme rain, high winds, or other dangerous weather conditions, field trips will be canceled for safety reasons by Education Staff no later than 7:30am the morning of the excursion. If we cancel your school’s field trip we will try our best to reschedule your group, depending on the availability of open dates. There is no charge to you if your field trip is canceled due to extreme weather. Occasionally weather becomes extreme as groups are in transit to or already at the Arboretum. In that case, instructors must be prepared to adjust activities as best as possible to ensure everyone’s safety.

All attending instructors and students must be prepared for the active and outdoor nature of field trip activities at Lyon Arboretum*. Participants must be able to stand and walk around for the duration of the visit, as well as navigate uphill/downhill slopes and uneven or unstable terrain. Participants may be subject to mud, heavy rain, sun, wind, and mosquitoes and must dress appropriately to ensure their safety and comfort.

*Please notify Lyon Education Staff well in advance of your school’s field trip date if there are any concerns regarding accessibility or requests for special accommodations.