Lyon Arboretum in need of much help

By Naleo Ko and Elizabeth Galang

This holiday season visitors will not be able to purchase the traditional herbal wreaths at the Lyon Arboretum, but they can come help remove invasive plants while workers focus on refurbishing the visitor center.

Scottish-born Christopher Dunn has a hefty to-do list since moving to Hawaii and starting as director in May.  Dunn said confidently that visitors do not seem to mind the construction.  “It doesn’t seem to make any difference to visitors.  They’re still coming up.”

However, tourists say that the florescent orange tape marking construction areas detracts from the beauty of the arboretum.  Texas resident Hardy North said, “You can see already this is a beautiful area, and it is starting to get neglected.” 

One visitor jokes that he would willingly volunteer in exchange for housing.  “I can understand that work has to be done on a site,” says Tennessee resident David North.  “But, I would think, as a visitor, it’s something you would want to take care of and spend money on.”  Of course that is easy to say when there is money to spend. 

Dunn explained that the arboretum has received $3 million to get the project going, but $3 million to $4 million is still needed.

For five months the gift shop and main office have been closed for renovations, said Dunn.  The Lyon Arboretum is open to the public only on the weekdays.  “It really needs to be open more because there is so much to do and see here.” Dunn said of the gift shop.  “And we are just limiting our possibilities by staying closed on weekends.”

Dried wreaths hang in the gift shop.  And empty shelves remind visitors that the building is under construction.  Toki Murakami, who works in the gift shop, offers visitors “Off!” bug spray to thwart mosquito bites.  “You want to go out and spray?” she asked in a warm and grandmotherly tone.  Murakami explained that volunteers have not made herbal wreaths in awhile.  Pointing to the dried wreaths with marked price tags of $25 Murakami said of visitors, “They’d much rather have the fresh ones.” 

The historical visitor center at the Lyon Arboretum was initially built during the sugar plantation era about 100 years ago.  Now, because of safety renovations profitable adult craft classes and events have been suspended.  Resident manager and UH English alumni Ken Seamon says, “I think there are a lot of changes coming in the next few years, but it’s going to be slow.”

Across the surrounding garden draped with vibrant reds, purples and yellows, a cobble stoned pathway leads to an area where invasive vines are strangling plants.  Visitors may not notice that a vine with delicate purple flowers is actually suffocating other plants.  Although the staff acknowledges the potential threat, the invasive vine is a small problem when one considers the vast area of the arboretum as a whole.

“Of the [invasive] plants that are really an issue, they probably represent a fairly small percentage.” Dunn said, “Still the impact of those is enormous.” 

Lyon Arboretum director, Robert Dunn

A bigger problem taking its toll is the heavy workload that burdens each employee.  For about 193.5 acres of land there are only a handful of full-time gardeners.  The bottom line is there are not enough workers and volunteers to keep the arboretum in visitor-friendly condition.  “We don’t have enough gardeners.  We are way behind in our gardening,” says Seamon.

Dunn agrees saying, “Typically you have one gardener or horticulturist for every five acres.”  Dunn goes on, “We should have at least 30 by that measure.  But Dunn said the arboretum has only four full-time gardeners.

Although adult classes have been temporarily cancelled, children’s educational classes continue.  The kids do not seem to mind the construction barriers or invasive vines. 

As children dart around the arboretum excitedly participating in a plant scavenger hunt, UH graduate student Richard Sears says, “It’s just a beautiful place to be.”

“We’re a part of the university and it’s kind of a hidden treasure,” said Sears an education specialist at the arboretum who works with elementary school students.  With an instilled early appreciation for botany, the future of the arboretum may one day depend on the youth.  And Dunn recognizes the importance of cultivating a relationship with them. 

“We are trying to keep together as many of the ones [educational classes] for kids and school kids in particular.”  Dunn continues, “If we lose those connections, even if it’s temporary, sometimes it can be hard to get those back.”

Despite the orange tape, the Lyon arboretum is undeniably beautiful.  The Vriesea imperialis, the Clerodendron nutans and the Naupaka kuahiwi are frightening to pronounce, but they are sparkling jewels to behold.  But, to protect these gems for future generations, more funds and workers are needed.