Ziplining and zipline tours

Ziplining is a very family friendly outdoor activity that allows you to take a ride through the lush rain forest canopy of the Big Island. The lines are built high above scenic areas and geological features such as ravines, jungles, meadows, and forests.  A zipline tour lets you explore these surroundings as you soar through them at a height between ~30 and 200 ft above ground.

At the moment 3 out of 5 local zipline tours are still closed, but we expect at least some of them to open soon. The companies currently operating are Kohala Zipline and the Umauma eXperience. You can read more about all tours below.

What happens during a zipline tour?

Most ziplining tours are part of a multiple-hour “adventure”.  Ziplines connect several scenic points including lush rainforest and one or more waterfalls. The number of lines differs for each tour operator with an average of ~ 8 ziplines per tour.

The height of the rides varies between 30 and 200 ft above ground. The speeds you can reach while soaring down depend on a lot of variables (including your weight) but speeds up to 35 mph are reachable.

Zipline tours on the Big Island

There are more and more companies offering zipline tours on the Big Island and some shopping around can get you a good deal. The biggest difference between the different tour operators is the location of the zipline tours and thus their accessibility and ‘scenic value’.

Depending on your location (Waimea/Kohala or Hilo) you have the following options to find a zipline tour:

Zipline tours near Kona (Kohala):

The zipline adventures on the north side of the Big Island are organized by Kohala Zipline, a sister company of Hawaii Forest & Trail.

Kohala Zipline canopy tours

Kohala Zipline offers zipline and canopy tours on the most northern tip of the Big Island close to Waimea. Their tours include 9 lines, 5 sky bridges, and a rappel, all located on private property. For an added fee the ziplining can be expanded with a hike to several on-property waterfalls and a dip in one of them. Transportation to and from most resorts in Kona and Waikoloa can be arranged.

See the following video for a preview of what the canopy ziplines are like:

The two most popular tours organized by Kohala ziplines are the 3 hour Kohala Canopy Adventure and the full day “Zip and Dip”, which includes the Kohala Canopy Adventure, lunch, a short hike, and a swim under a private waterfall. You can read more about each tour on our website:

Zipline tours in Hilo:

If you are based in Hilo you have the choice between 4 zipline operators at the Hamakua coast:

KapohoKine “Zipline through paradise” (currently closed)

This is an 8-line zip tour that covers almost 2 miles of tropical river gorges and crosses multiple waterfalls. The longest line is over 2.400 feet long, and the tour lasts 3.5 to 4 hours. An optional upgrade including lunch and a hike and swim to/in some of their on-property waterfalls is also available.

Read more about the zipline through paradise tour on our website.

Umauma falls & zipline experience

Located 16 miles north of Hilo on the lush and tropical Hamakua coast, the highlight of this zipling tour is a pass by the the very scenic triple-tiered Umauma falls, which makes it to #4 on our list of favorite Big Island waterfalls.

The tour includes a complementary visit to their gardens and consists of 9 lines (4 of which are dual lines) covering over 2 miles of zipping as well as a walk over a suspension bridge. You will also get to see 14(!) waterfalls including private views of the Umauma falls.

Good to know: The tour above is also available in combination with a waterfall swim.

Dual line ziplines like this one let you soar over waterfalls and through the rainforest.

Skyline eco adventures (currently closed)

Skyline eco adventures¹ are located 1 mile south of the ‘Akaka Falls State Park on the Honomu Coast. Their tour includes in total 7 ziplines and a 1/2 mile hike over uneven terrain. Highlights are [1] a zipline that lets you soar over the 250 ft KoleKole waterfall and [2] a zipline over a 450-foot ravine.

Zipping past the KoleKole waterfall is one of the highlights of the tour. Credit: Skyline Eco Adventures

Note that despite what the name of their tour suggests, you won’t be able to see the ‘Akaka falls from the skyline eco adventure ziplines (nor from any other zipline).

Zipisle (at Botanical World, currently closed)

Zipisle is located at Botanical World (botanical gardens with an on-property maze and waterfalls) on the Hamakua Coast, just a few minutes from Hilo. Their tour includes 8 ziplines *and* a suspension bridge.

Zipline tours in South Kona:

Fly Hi Ziplines closed in 2016, and we are not aware of any current zipline tours in the south Kona district.

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