Zip Isle Zipline FAQ

Zip Isle is part of Botanical World Gardens and Waterfalls in Hakalau at the 16 mile marker on Highway 19 going from Hilo toward Waimea and Kona.

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 Zip Isle, which is just one block farther.

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 Zip Isle, which is just one block farther.

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.

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 Zip Isle, which is just one block farther.

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.

We are open every day of the year from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Due to COVID-19 we have a limited schedule that we are expanding as circumstance allows. Please call for more details.

We normally have tours scheduled for 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., but sometimes run more often. Schedule is limited due to COVID-19 but we are adding more regularly. Times are subject to change. Check with our reservations agents at 808-963-5427 on the Big Island or 888-Zip-Isle (947-4753) toll free for times.

Zipline 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.

We require you to wear a shirt, pants or shorts, and closed-toe shoes. If you want to zip in a skirt, we may allow it, but please remember that there are people, including children, walking in the gardens below you on some of the zips. If you have a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, it helps ward off any bug bites. Bring a jacket if you think you might get cold and rain gear in wet weather.

Please remove any dangling jewelry that could get caught in the equipment, 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.

Yes, if it will fit securely under your helmet.

We have shoes to rent and T-shirts and socks for sale. You’re on your own for pants though!

Definitely wear bug spray if you do not have long pants and a long sleeve shirt. We do have packets of bug spray for sale. Bug spray and suntan lotion must be applied at least 30 minutes before you zip to avoid soiling the equipment.

You must wear one of our helmets, which are adjustable to all head sizes, and an adjustable harness buckled around each leg and your waist.

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. We do supply fanny packs at no additional charge if you want to zip up your valuables and carry them with you. No survey devices are allowed.

We invite you to bring your camera or video recorder, but be sure to secure them to your wrist. Our guides will help you pose if requested. Disposable cameras are available for purchase at our Visitor Center. We often have our photographer on your tour, so ask your guides about photos available for purchase at the visitor center.

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 is magical.

We recommend that you make reservations through our website, or by calling 808-963-5427 on the Big Island or 888-Zip-Isle (947-4753) toll free from anywhere in the United States. If you have not made reservations and we have room on a zipline tour, we will be happy to take you zipping.

The basic rate to ride seven zip lines including our dual racing zip lines and walk across our suspension bridge is $177.00 USD.

You can cancel your reservation for one to four persons at least 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Groups of five or more require 48-hour advance notice for cancellation.

Yes! We commonly offer discounts for our garden members, active military personnel, kama’aina, travel agents, and concierge staff. For these discounts, call our Customer Service (888-947-4753) or email us at [email protected].

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. But you cannot hang upside down!

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.

To date, we have had riders as young as 3 and as old as 90. For children under 10, a supervisor’s approval is required and the child must fit in the harness. Weight limits also apply. Participants under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to accompany the minor and sign their waiver form.

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.

Individuals who appear to be impaired due to use of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to participate and will forfeit their payment.

You ride a minimum of seven zip lines, including our dual racing zip line at the finish, and walk across one suspension bridge. If the tours are going fast and there are a limited number of guests, the guides may allow you to repeat a few of the zip lines. This is not guaranteed.

Yes, we have a night zipline tour. This is very fun on a full moon. The tour will start at sunset, so check with our reservation agents if you are interested.

The ziplines vary in length from 200 feet to 1100 feet, with shorter lines at the beginning to get you acclimated to the experience.

Zip 1: 300 feet
Zip 2: 250 feet
Zip 3: 250 feet
Zip 4: 200 feet
Zip 5: 300 feet
Zip 6: 450 feet
Zip 7: 1100 feet, dual racing lines

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.

The suspension bridge is 150 feet long.

Ask at the visitor center when checking in about the one-week offer that may be available.

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, 3^rdparty 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.

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.

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 during the day and one for every six at night.

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, but you must always hold the lanyard with one hand.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our bus driver will take you back to the entrance. So far, no one has quit.

One of our guides will zip out and pull you in, but it happens rarely.

We are still preparing the garden trail to reopen. The trail has trees that have fallen during the past year and we are still short gardening staff.

We continue to reopen areas of the gardens with priority currently only on the zipline due to the need for safety and security of our guests. Currently the desire of some guests to walk along with family and friends on the tour cannot be accommodated. We encourage you to join the tour!

Our Visitor Center has snacks, sandwiches, and beverages available for you to purchase.

Yes. We have our special Zip Isle Survivor T-shirts in a variety of sizes and colors. And photographs of your zip can be purchased in our Visitor Center.

If you like the zip, feel free to tip!