The Only Hawaiian Island with Ziplines Over Waterfalls
Every island in Hawaii has ziplines. Only the Big Island has ziplines that fly you directly over active waterfalls — because only the Big Island has the topography to pull it off. The Hamakua Coast and the Kohala Mountains drain so much rainfall off Mauna Kea that the gulches between courses fill with 100-foot cascades year-round. It's the only place in the state where the course itself is the destination.
Four operators run commercial zipline courses on the island, and they're genuinely different from each other. Here's how to pick the right one.
Rental car required
All four zipline courses are on the Hamakua Coast or in Kohala — 30 to 90 minutes from Kailua-Kona, 20 to 45 minutes from Hilo. You need a car. We use Discount Hawaii Car Rental for no-deposit, free-cancellation bookings.
1. Umauma Falls Zipline Experience (9 Lines Over Waterfalls)
The flagship. Umauma is a private botanical garden and working farm on the Hamakua Coast, and their course is the only one in Hawaii that explicitly advertises ziplines over active waterfalls — you will be suspended in the air above a 300-foot drop into Umauma Falls. The course runs nine lines, the longest at about 2,100 feet, and closes with a dual-racing zip so you can go head-to-head with the person next to you.
- Typical price: $210–$250/person for the full 9-line course
- Age/weight: minimum age 4, weight 70–270 lbs
- Duration: ~3 hours
- Best for: Thrill-seekers, photographers (the waterfall shots are unreal), families with older kids
- Book via: compare Umauma zipline tours on Viator »
2. Skyline Eco-Adventures Akaka Falls
Skyline runs a 7-line course near Akaka Falls State Park, just north of Hilo. It's the oldest commercial zipline operation in Hawaii (they pioneered the business here in 2002) and the course is built around the rainforest canopy — you'll fly over gulches, through tree cover, and past smaller waterfalls, though not directly over Akaka Falls itself (it's in the adjacent state park, not on Skyline's land). Good environmental-education component if you're traveling with kids who want to learn about the ecosystem.
- Typical price: $170–$210/person
- Age/weight: minimum age 10, weight 70–260 lbs
- Duration: ~3 hours
- Best for: First-time zipliners, Hilo-based stays, eco-conscious families
3. Kohala Zipline (Mountain Rainforest)
On the north end of the island in Kohala, this course runs 9 lines through the Halawa Valley rainforest on the wetter windward side of the Kohala Mountains. It's the course to pick if you're staying in the Kohala Coast resorts (Mauna Lani, Fairmont Orchid, Mauna Kea Beach) — it's the closest one to you, and the mountain rainforest setting is completely different from the Hamakua waterfall courses. Suspension bridges connect several of the platforms, which adds a non-zip element some people love and some people hate.
- Typical price: $195–$235/person
- Age/weight: minimum age 8, weight 70–270 lbs
- Duration: ~3 hours
- Best for: Kohala Coast resort guests, rainforest lovers
4. Kapohokine Adventures (Combo Tours)
Kapohokine's angle is bundling. Their most popular package combines ziplining with a Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tour — full day, roughly 10 hours, pickup from Hilo or the Kohala resorts. If you want to knock two bucket-list items off on the same day and not worry about driving, this is how you do it. The zipline portion uses a smaller 3-line course, so it's more introductory than Umauma, but the volcano combo is the real reason to book.
- Typical price: $295–$395/person for zipline + volcano combo
- Best for: Tight itineraries, no-car travelers, Volcanoes day-trippers from Kohala
- Book via: Big Island combo tours on Viator »
Which One Should You Book?
→ Umauma Falls. Nothing else in Hawaii comes close.
→ Kohala Zipline. Closest to the resorts, 9 lines through rainforest.
→ Skyline Akaka. Best for kids 10+ and beginner zippers.
→ Kapohokine. Stacks two bucket-list items on one day with pickup.
What to Know Before You Go
- Weight limits are strict. Every operator weighs you at check-in. If you're close to the ceiling, call ahead and ask before booking — they do not refund if you're turned away at the scale.
- Closed-toe shoes required. Sneakers or trail runners. Flip-flops, sandals, and Crocs will get you turned away. Any basic trail runner works.
- Pack light, dress for wet. The Hamakua side rains roughly 200 days a year. A packable rain shell and quick-dry clothing is the move.
- GoPros allowed on most courses with a secure mount. Chest harness is better than head mount — ziplines are rough on a forehead strap.
- Don't book same-day. Umauma and Kohala routinely sell out 3–5 days in advance. Book before you land.
Related reading: Umauma Falls guide · Akaka Falls State Park · Big Island waterfall adventures · Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tours
