Kohala Canopy Zipline Adventure
Get a Big Island canopy experience like no other. Perched amongst the trees of Halawa Gulch, Kohala Zipline’s Kohala Canopy Adventure features elevated suspension bridges, soaring tree platforms, and thrilling ziplines. From the moment you enter the aerial trekking course, you’ll be enthralled by the magic of Kohala.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. The Hawai’i Vacation Guide has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Hawai’i Vacation Guide and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Read about our affiliate policies here.
Activity Overview
Kohala Canopy Adventure Highlights
- Duration: 2-hours of zipping and plan to be on the tour for 3-hours
- Zip, trek, and rappel through a sustainably built aerial trekking course.
- Experience the thrill of flying from tree to tree and reaching speeds up to 45 MPH while taking in the beauty of the forest canopy
- Tree to tree zipping means no walking up and down stairs in between every zip
- Enjoy majestic views of the Kohala Coast, Maui, and ancient Hawaiian agriculture systems
- They are located in historic North Kohala, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes north of Kailua Kona, and 40 minutes north of the South Kohala resorts.
- Capture the fun with a GoPro camera rental or have your guide take photos for you with their photosystem designed specifically for ziplines.
Kohala Canopy Adventure Tour
I’m not going to lie to you, this zipline tour is expensive. But, here is the but, Kohala Zipline provides the best zipline experience while being a close drive from Kailua-Kona and the Kohala resorts. Make a day of it as you can visit Pololu Valley, check out the town of Hawi, and have an amazing day exploring the canopy above Halawa Gulch.
Experience the only full canopy tour on the island, featuring 8 lines, 6 sky bridges, and a rappel, during the Kohala Canopy Adventure tour. Designed and built within a towering forest on a private nature reserve, this elevated adventure is perfect for all – whether you’re a beginner or seasoned expert. Kohala Zipline’s certified zipline guides promise both safety and comfort while sharing their knowledge of the area’s natural and cultural history.
The tour starts at their store in Hawi at 55-515 Hawi Road, Hawi, HI 96719. Kohala Zipline will take you on a 20-minute trek that passes through Kapaau, a small plantation town and home to the statue of King Kamehameha, then climbs off-road through macadamia nut orchards with flocks of wild turkeys and open ranching lands with sweeping ocean views.
If this tour doesn’t sound like your thing, check out these other Kohala Zipline company tours:
Zipline Tour Facts
- 8-Line Zipline Canopy Tour.
- 2 certified canopy guides on every tour.
- Rated Easy to Moderate.
- Approx. 2.5 – 3 hours, start to finish.
- Rainwear, water, all safety gear included.
Zipline Tour Requirements
- Participants must be at least 8 years old.
- Weigh between 70 and 270 lbs. Participants will be weighed at check-in.
- Must be able to walk over uneven terrain and handle one short walk up about 25 stairs. This tour is not suitable for pregnant persons.
- Guests must wear closed-toe walking shoes and pants, capris, or knee-length shorts. No tank tops, Short-shorts, or any clothing that may allow direct skin contact with the harness.
FAQs: Kohala Canopy Adventure Zipline
What happens if I decide I don’t want to zip anymore? How do I get down?
Zipline tours are adventures, by definition unusual, exciting, and somewhat daring. Kohala Zipline on the Big Island of Hawaii accommodates participants who want to try a canopy tour only to find out that it’s not for them. You’ll have a chance to explore your comfort zone during your first two tree-based zips, after which you have an option to exit the course at Platform Three. While it is technically possible to exit at any time during the Kohala Canopy Tour, doing so may delay fellow participants in your and even in subsequent groups. Keep in mind, your safety and comfort are top priorities for our guides. Certified to the rigorous standards of the Association for Challenge Course Technologies (ACCT), they understand fear, and they will stand by you all the way as you jump and soar to your final triumphant rappel.
What if I have never zipped before?
This tour on the Big Island of Hawaii appeals to experienced zip-line followers and first-time explorers alike. If you are new to ziplines, please know that your safety and comfort always come first and that they have one of the best guide to guest ratios in Hawaii (1 guide for every 4 guests). Your first zip at the beginning of the tour is a short practice run. Their guides provide detailed, hands-on instructions and teach you how to adjust your speed and orientation. As you glide from tree to tree during the course itself, guides are available to help you at each platform, a strategy that’s part of their safety systems. There is time on the platforms for the guides to answer all your questions, from basic know-how to place-based inquiry and technical intricacy.
Can I watch my family or partner if I don’t zip?
Right now, they don’t have an observer option available but hope to have that available soon.
Will there be other outdoor activities besides ziplining?
You’ll be in the trees most of the time, and zipping from platform to platform is at the heart of Kohala Canopy Tour. The zip line tour also features other activities that are integral to your experience. Within the zip line course, you’ll cross several sky bridges arching high above a gulch, and you’ll hike one short slope to a resting spot. Finally, you’ll get to test your skills at rappelling as well, but rest assured that guides will assist you at all times.
About Kohala Zipline Team
Kohala Zipline was founded in 2011 by Rob and Cindy Pacheco, owners and operators of Hawaii Forest & Trail. With more than 20 years of experience in the tour industry, Rob and Cindy set out to build a canopy tour that would provide a completely unique experience from other ziplines in Hawaii. To design and construct the course they hired Bonsai Designs, one of the largest and most experienced zipline and canopy tour builders in the nation. No expense was spared, from top-of-the-line safety systems to design elements that maximize the guest experience. From these beginnings, their goal has always remained the same: to operate a world-class canopy tour for Hawaii Island, and they are proud to say that they do.
We are affiliate partners with Kohala Zipline which means we receive a small commission for each completed booking made through this site. This is done without any additional cost to you. You can read more about our affiliate policies here. Know that we only recommend tour operators that we know and trust. Your positive experience and your trust in us mean more than any affiliate commission. By booking tours through our website you help us to provide free information and videos to help you and other readers plan their perfect Hawaii vacation. Thank you so much for your support — you are amazing!