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Zip Line Experience on the Big Island and a new name Buttercup

I wonder what I looked like as I zipped across the tops of Pololu Valley rain forest at 30 miles per hour with my helmet named “Buttercup”? I have always wanted to do a zip line since a friend told me about his experience in Mexico. He made it sound like an excellent adventure and mentioned that he thought it was reasonably safe. I thought, I want REALLY safe, so when they started a zip line experience on the Big Island of Hawaii only 30 minutes from my Fairway Villa at Waikoloa Beach Resort, I hoped here would be my chance to experience it in the good old USA who would have some regulations regarding safety. I was impressed with Big Island Eco Adventure attention to safety. They have helmets, top of the line harnesses, and the staff and guides are continually stressing safety throughout the entire experience.

I reserved a spot by calling the number 808-889-5111, they try and fill each van with a minimum of 8 people. Sounds crowded, but not really, they are very large vans. The experience starts in Hawi at the Zip Line Hotel. I signed in received a safety orientation, then the guides helped each one of us into our harnesses and helmets, by the way you need closed toed shoes. I forgot mine, but they had some used shoes from the guides they let me use, they also have nice hiking shoes for sale if you want to buy them ($130). The van took us up the mountain through macadamia nut and guava groves crossing absolutely beautiful views overlooking the canyons and blue ocean below.

There are eight zip lines anywhere from 600 to 1600 ft in length. Each one has unique topography and views of the mountain and forest canopy. Not only did I experience the zip line, but also a suspension bridge that crosses over a deep canyon. The guides added to the fun by making it sound like the suspension bridge was the only way to cross the canyon, but I found a trail you could just walk around. The guide then told me if we didn’t have the bridge you would have to hike one and half miles up to the end of the gorge. I called him on it and said that I could see the trail from here. He laughed and said I wasn’t supposed to see that.

The guides not only made the adventure fun, but they were very careful with people that were scared of heights. It was fun to see these people who were once timid in the beginning, shouting and acting like a bird while they flew along by the end. We cracked and ate macadamia nuts and guava fruit throughout the experience that we would just pick from the many groves of trees.

The Big Island Eco Adventures have built nice landing and take-off platforms for each zip line and two guides are with you at all times, helping you on and off the line. You basically zip line down the mountain over two or three canyons back and forth. Refreshments are served at this tree house like platform over looking a majestic canyon. You then zip line off this tree house platform making you feel like a kid again.

The experience ends after 3 hours of fun back at the Zip Line Hotel.