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Zip Isle Defined

The History of Zip Isle in Hakalau, HI


Zip line tours, also known as canopy tours, have increased dramatically in popularity in recent years due to the thrill of the ride and the increasing range of skill levels that can be accommodated. Zip Isle Zip Line Adventures provides ground-to-ground landing and gravity braking to allow you the best experience for the broadest range of riders.

Zip lines became popular in Costa Rica during the mid to late 1990’s. They were based on ropes challenge courses in the United States which have existed since the mid 1960’s. After the popular movie Medicine Man starring Sean Connery hit movie theaters in 1992, the concept of exploring the canopy of the tree tops utilizing climbing ropes, harnesses, and pulleys sparked the interest of adventure travelers around the world.

Zip lines have been operating in the United States since 1999 and have been featured as challenges on several reality television shows over the past few years.

Zip Isle has partnered with experienced certified partners to create a safe and secure course. Zip Isle’s course was engineered by a Hawaii licensed and certified Professional Engineer and Structural Engineer to provide for maximum excitement and safety.

At Zip Isle, you are led through the course by trained, certified and informed local guides. The guides have fun and interesting musings about the rainforest which surrounds you as you zip. Your tour through and under the canopy of the rainforest trees is accomplished without harming the beauty of the natural environment or building tall, unsightly towers. Trees near the zip line have been pruned of dead limbs and are in better care now than before the tour was installed.

Zip Isle is designed for passive gravity braking for safety. We also have guide for backup block braking to assure our guests are safe at landing. Our course doesn’t use hand braking that can cause injury. Hand braking has caused injuries so we have intentionally designed the course to exclude this method of braking.

Zip Isle’s goal is for all of our guests, regardless of their previous experience, to enjoy zipping through the rainforest without worrying about their safety. All guests are taught steering so they may can control their direction and prevent spinning, but our guides will slow your descent and stop you at the end of each zip as you land back on the ground. This allows all guests to interact more with the environment and other guests.

Zip Isle Zipline Adventures, one of the many attractions at Botanical World Adventures, was opened to the public on November 24, 2009, with a grand opening ceremony on January 12, 2010.

Planning began to add a zipline attraction in March of 2008, starting with a global search for a partner experienced in zipline construction and operation. The project was approved in April 2008, and by September 2008, we started engineering and final designs.

Construction commenced in October 2009, with six ziplines completed and opened for visitors in November.

Construction commenced in October 2009, with six ziplines completed and opened for visitors in November. Zipline #7, which includes dual racing lines was completed in December 2009.

The incredible zipline #8 was added in October 2017, with the Grand Reveal taking place two months later in December. This zipline is nearly half of a mile long and is the greatest addition to date. It features dual racing lines that allow you and your family to glide over a 300ft waterfall, resulting in magnificent views and the experience of a lifetime! Take in gorgeous views of the gulch below and ocean views stretching out as far as the eye can see.