Two Facets of Preservation

Continuing down the road, you will pass a number of cottages and greenhouses that are home to researchers and native plant species alike. Included in these is a tissue culture and seed bank. Dedicated to the study of longevity of native Hawaiian species, this bank is home to over 4.5 million seeds. Akin to Noah’s Ark, seed banks serve the purpose of preserving plant species that are at high risk of extinction in the wild. Should a plant be at great danger of being wiped out, seeds can be withdrawn and planted in hopes of restoring the species. With industrial developments such as hotels, power plants and the ever-increasing number of cars on the island, many species are at risk of this very danger. Founded in 1992, the bank was founded as a restoration ecology program and has since been funded by the Secretariat for Conservation Biology as well as the US Army Natural Resources Program and is now an integral part of the arboretum as well as Hawaiian conservation efforts.

Also included in these buildings is a Micropropagation Lab. The Arboretum describes the lab as, “an indispensible tool in plant recovery work.” The lab specializes in immature seeds of both rare species and unhealthy plants. The facility stores plants in vitro, or medium term storage, that comes at the cost of high maintenance. The environment is disease-free and environmentally controlled and allows for a high number of species in a small space as well as a rapid increase in the numbers of plants. In short, this lab fosters hard-to-grow plants and readies them for greenhouse or wild life. Seeing as pollution and land development are the greatest causes of endangerment of Hawaiian plant species, having a clean and safe environment for fragile species is a key priority at the Arboretum.

Also nearby is the Marilyn Gross Children’s Learning Center. Educating the youth is a priority at the Lyon Arboretum and classes are offered for all age groups. An immersive experience, the Arboretum provides the ideal location for Hawaii’s children to learn about native plant species and why their preservation is important. Onsite greenhouses and the numerous walkways provide a hands-on educational experience like no other. Ranging from preschool to university-level education, all ages are accounted for at the Arboretum. Preschoolers can learn about different leaf shapes and seeds while experiencing the fragrances and beauty of an on-site herb and spice garden. Kindergarteners can learn about the utility of plants and how many of the products and medications they use have root in local flora. As ages go up, so does the level of education, ranging from the biology of plants and how they sustain life, to environmental problems like pollution and how we can take action against them. All age groups can tour the grounds and experience a rainforest setting by hiking through the arboretum and seeing a myriad of plant species not found anywhere else. This unique aspect of educating the youth aids in future efforts to further balance our industry with the environment. Like the seed bank, educating Hawaii’s youth is something of an insurance policy to ensure that future generations share our concern for the fragile ecosystems of Hawaii.