Everything Guests Want to Know
At Botanical World Adventures, our Rappel starts in and through the rainforest canopy. Glide down to the Hanapueo Stream with its small waterfall, beautiful pools, and flowering trees below. As you walk to and between rappels, you can view exotic plants in our gardens and listen to botanical talks by our guides. At the end of your tour, you can visit all the areas in Botanical World Gardens – the Arboretum, the Maze, the Rainbow Walk, the Rainforest Trail, and beautiful Upper Kamae’e Falls. But the true excitement for those wanting a bucket list adventure is the two rappels that take you down the face of the 300′ waterfall Pu’uwai o Kamae’e!
Our Rappel is perfect for guests young (10 years up) and old alike, limited only by weight. For people who have never rappeled before, it is the safest possible rappel tour to start. We also appeal to experienced rappellers who want beautiful tropical scenery on their tour.
The When & Where
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Our Rappel Tour is part of Botanical World Adventures in Hakalau at the 16 mile marker on Highway 19 going from Hilo toward Waimea and Kona.
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Take Highway 19 toward Waimea and Kona. You will see a pedestrian overpass at the 15 mile marker, then along bridge over a gulch a short time later. At the top of the hill, just past the 16 mile marker, turn left at the paved Leopolino Road. Look for our signs on the left and the King Kamehameha sign on the right side of Highway 19 at the turn. In one block, turn right at the next paved road (Old Mamalahoa Highway) to reach Botanical World, which is just one block farther.
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Take 19 (or 190) to Waimea and go toward Hilo on Highway 19. We are about 10 minutes beyond the Laupahoehoe Train Museum at mile marker 25. You will come to a bridge over the Umauma Gulch after the 17 mile marker. Look for our sign that will be on the hillside on the right side of the road just past the bridge. Slow down as you go up hill past the bridge as the right turn is partly hidden and easy to miss. Turn right at Leopolino Road, the first paved road past the bridge. In one block, turn right at the next paved road (Old Mamalahoa Highway) to reach Botanical World, which is just one block farther.
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Take Highway 11 into Hilo. In Hilo the highway will become Highway 19. Take Highway 19 toward Waimea and Kona. You will see a pedestrian overpass at the 15 mile marker, then a long bridge over a gulch a short time later. At the top of the hill, just past the 16 mile marker, turn left at the paved Leopolino Road. Look for our signs on the left and the King Kamehameha sign on the right side of Highway 19 at the turn. In one block, turn right at the next paved road (Old Mamalahoa Highway) to reach Zip Isle, which is just one block farther.
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Follow Highway 11 toward South Point and Volcano. Continue on Highway 11 into Hilo. In Hilo the highway will become Highway 19. Take Highway 19 toward Waimea and Kona. You will see a pedestrian overpass at the 15 mile marker, then a long bridge over a gulch a short time later. At the top of the hill, just past the 16 mile marker, turn left at the paved Leopolino Road. Look for our signs on the left and the King Kamehameha sign on the right side of Highway 19 at the turn. In one block, turn right at the next paved road (Old Mamalahoa Highway) to reach Botanical World, which is just one block farther.
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From Hilo, it usually takes less than half an hour unless there is heavy traffic. From Kona, using Highway 19 through Waimea, it takes 90 minutes to two hours.
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We are open every day of the year from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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Times are on our schedule here where you can book your tour or check with guest services at 808-731-1160.
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Rappel tours run in light rains. If there are heavy rains, lightning, or strong winds, we may have to cancel a tour for safety. We will try to reschedule your tour at the earliest possible time.
What to Bring & Wear
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You are encouraged to wear comfortable or athletic clothing. Traveling with extra clothes and towels is what many locals do to be prepared for all types of activities.
If you have a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, it helps ward off any bug bites. We provide ponchos for wet weather and fanny packs/bum bags to carry small items.
Please remove any dangling jewelry, tie back long hair so the helmet will fit properly, and secure eyeglasses and sunglasses with a retainer if you have one. If you have protruding body piercings that might get caught on a harness, please remove or tape them over.
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Yes, if it will fit securely under your helmet. We are not able to accommodate wide-brim hats, ball caps work best.
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We suggest wearing bug spray if you do not have long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Please keep in mind that bug spray and suntan lotion must be applied at least 30 minutes before you zip to avoid soiling the equipment.
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You must wear one of our helmets, which are adjustable to all head sizes, and an adjustable harness buckled around each leg, your waist, and over the shoulders.
An additional 7 lbs of rappel hardware will be attached to the gear before you head to the course.
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It is best to leave valuables in our secured area before you leave as things can fall from your pockets and cannot be recovered from the rainforest.
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We provide FREE photos with every tour! You will have a link to the photos at the start of the tour and can download them at any time. You cannot bring your camera as lost items may be impossible to recover.
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Weather can be unpredictable in Hawaii. Umbrellas and rain gear are available in our guest services center. Please review up-to-date weather conditions to plan your trip.
The weather for Hakalau usually shows up raining. Even when weather forecasts say there may be a high percentage chance of rain, the rains fall at night 70% of the time. Although the weather widget puts our location in the Pacific Ocean, we are actually on the coast!
The Big Island climate is interesting. We have almost every climate zone that exists on earth here on the Big Island. There is a better chance of seeing a rainbow in Hakalau, because we get pineapple sprinkles on occasion. Seeing rainbows in Hawaii is a special experience; seeing them for the first time at Botanical World Adventures is magical.
Reservations & Refunds
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We recommend that you make reservations through our website, or by calling (808) 731-1160. If you have not made reservations and we have room on a zipline tour, we will be happy to take you zipping.
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Prices are available on our schedule here or check with guest services at 808-731-1160.
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Customers will receive a full refund with at least 48 hours notice of cancellation before the start time of your tour.
If trip protection is purchased, customers will receive a full refund minus the cost of trip protection and fees with at least 12 hours of notice before the start time of your tour.
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Yes! We commonly offer discounts for active military personnel, kamaʻāina, travel agents, and concierge staff. If you don’t see these discounts online when booking, call our Customer Service (808) 731-1160 or email us at [email protected].
Who Can Zip?
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No, anyone who feels fit enough can do it. We have had guests with one arm, one leg, no arms, and severe muscular dystrophy. Since our guides do most of the work of hooking you up and stopping you at the other end, you can just sit back in your harness and look at the scenery as you ride if you want. Or you can twirl around or try to go as fast as you can. Hanging upside down is prohibited.
If you are pregnant or have back injuries or another medical condition, we suggest that you ask your doctor’s opinion before scheduling a zipline tour.
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We have had riders as young as 3 and as old as 90. For children under 70 lbs, a supervisor’s approval is required and the child must fit in the harness. Participants under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to accompany the minor and sign their waiver form.
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You must weigh between 35 and 275 pounds. If you are close to those limits, you may be able to ride with a supervisor’s permission. Guests weighing under 70 pounds will be required to ride tandem and will only ride with supervisor approval.
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You cannot zipline if you are pregnant. Individuals who appear to be impaired due to use of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to participate and will forfeit their payment.
What's Included
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You ride a minimum of eight ziplines, including our two dual racing ziplines near the end of the tour, and walk across one suspension bridge.
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The ziplines vary in length from 200 feet to almost a half-mile long, with shorter lines at the beginning to get you acclimated to the experience.
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You go 12-16 miles an hour on the first zip line, faster on the later zip lines. You can make yourself go faster by curling up in a ball or putting your legs out straight parallel to the ground if you want. Some zippers have managed to go 40 miles per hour on the dual racing zip.
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The suspension bridge is 150 feet long.
Zipline Safety
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We follow the inspection, operation and training standards as defined by the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). Our course is inspected annually by independent, 3rdparty inspectors to ensure we continue to meet those standards. Our Zip Line guides are certified by Synergo, an accredited Professional Vendor Member (PVM) of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), which meets the training standards for zipline and canopy tour operation. Our staff perform daily and periodic inspections on our gear and the course to ensure everything is working appropriately. Our trained guides manage the process of getting guests on and off of the zip lines as well as stopping guests when they reach the end of each line.
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At least two guides go with each group. Additional guides help at the bottom of the last dual racing zip so you can race side by side.
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Our normal tour is 12 people. We can accommodate a maximum of 24 guests, but additional guides are added for groups of 16 or more. If only one guest comes, we still do the tour. We have a ratio of at least one guide for every eight people.
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All our zip lines use gravity braking, so you don’t have to do anything. Our guides will slow you down or stop you as needed. You can slow yourself down by extending one arm and your legs to the sides.
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The cables have a strength of 26,000 pounds braking strength and are the same as the ones used to stop jet planes on aircraft carriers. The harness has a strength of 7,000 pounds, and the lanyards will take 5,000 pounds.
Additional Information
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Our bus takes you to the top of the hill where the zip lines start. There is a total of about a quarter of a mile of walking, mostly along our rainforest trail, in short stretches between the ziplines. Our bus brings you back from the last zipline.
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Only one of the ziplines require a climb up stairs to a tower. A few have a small platform with 1-3 wide levels to help you begin. All ziplines start on the ground at the edges of the ravine through which flows the Hanapueo Stream.
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Most participants are surprised with the level of safety and comfort experienced during the ride after their first zip. Our entire zipline system is engineered for safety and employs a passive gravity braking system, which allows you an added level of assurance.
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Our bus driver will take you back to the entrance. So far, no one has quit.
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One of our guides will zip out and pull you in, but it happens rarely.
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Our Visitor Center has snacks, ice cream, and beverages available for you to purchase.
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Yes. We have T-shirts and hats in a variety of sizes and colors and other merchandise. Plus, enjoy FREE photos from your tour sent to your email address.
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If you like the zip, feel free to tip! Tipping is encouraged and welcomed.
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Access to the pool beneath Kamaeʻe Falls is closed. The beauty of Kamaeʻe Falls is best admired from the top of the gulch at the viewing platform.