Kolekole Waterfall Zipline: Seven Lines over a 250-foot Falls

The last of the seven lines at Kolekole Falls is half a mile long. You cross it above a 450-foot ravine with the 250-foot waterfall directly below your feet. The crossing takes over a minute. That line is why people book this tour.

The last line reaches 1/2 mile in length, and soars high above and over the private 250ft Kolekole waterfall. Image: Hawaii Zipline Tours

Seven Lines to the Falls

The tour departs from a property in Honomu, about 15 minutes north of Hilo on the old Māmalahoa Highway. Van transport from check-in to the zipline course is included. The first few lines are short and close to the ground, which is intentional: the course is designed so that first-timers get comfortable in the harness and develop their brake technique before the height and distance increase. By the third and fourth lines you are moving through a working fruit farm, with apple banana, ginger, pineapple, and sugarcane visible on the slope below. The guides explain what you are passing over; several have deep knowledge of the agricultural history of the Hāmākua Coast.

You will see Apple Banana fields, Hawaiian Ginger, Pineapples and Sugarcane. You might even be able to sample some of these fruits! Image: Hawaii Zipline Tours

Lines five and six build in length and height. Then the final line. From the launch platform you can see the falls, the ravine, and on clear days a sweep of the coastline. Reviewers consistently mention being surprised by how exposed the final crossing feels, even after six preparatory lines. The run takes longer than you expect, which most people report as a feature, not a flaw.

Before You Book

The weight restriction is 40 to 260 pounds, enforced with a weigh-in at check-in. Guests in the 40 to 69 pound range participate tandem with a certified guide on the final three lines, at no additional charge. Participants need to be able to hike half a mile over uneven terrain; the access trail is not paved. The operator advises against booking if you have chronic heart conditions, are pregnant, or have had recent surgery on your ankles, knees, or back. The tour runs rain or shine. A rain jacket is provided if the weather calls for it, and the gear holds up fine in wet conditions.

The check-in point in Honomu is within a five-minute drive of ʻAkaka Falls State Park, which makes a natural addition to the day. The park loop takes about 30 minutes to walk; the falls are 442 feet and visible from a paved path with no permits required. Most guests who combine both activities do the zipline first, when energy is higher, and the falls afterward.

Hawaii Zipline Tours has held a 4.9 rating across more than 1,500 verified reviews. The consistency of that rating over time is the more meaningful signal: it reflects a course design that builds predictably, guides who know the terrain, and a final line that consistently delivers what the booking page describes.

Hawaii Zipline Tours has operated this course in Honomu for 17 years and has logged more than 3 million zipline crossings at this site. Guides complete 80 hours of pre-tour training, double the ACCT industry standard, and all equipment is inspected daily plus reviewed annually by a third-party ACCT inspector. We list this operator for its safety record, its longevity on this specific terrain, and its consistent 4.9-star rating across over a thousand reviews.

Booking through this page costs you nothing extra and is made directly with Zipline Tours Hawaii. We earn a commission from the operator, not from you, and it is what pays for the research that keeps lovebigisland.com free and free of paid placement. We only list operators we would send a friend to. Details on our affiliate links are here.