The state Friday approved Waikiki’s first zip line — above the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village — but just for a six-month trial.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources voted to move ahead with the plan.
Ed Underwood, administrator for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, recommended approval of the permit, which gives Waikiki Beach Activities Ltd. permission to begin the six-month pilot operation.
Even so, it took some effort on the part of Underwood and Bob Hampton, owner of Waikiki Beach Activities, to convince the board to support the motion.
After much debate, BLNR board member Stanley Roehrig voted against awarding the permit.
"This isn’t Coney Island, and we don’t want it to be Coney Island," Roehrig said. "In addition to taking care of tourists, you have to take care of locals. I have strong reservations about zip lines all over Waikiki. If someone gets hurt, a deep pocket may be the hotel, but the deeper pocket is the state."
However, other board members joined Hilton Hawaiian Village in supporting the 1,000-foot zip line, which will run from the top of the hotel’s six-story parking garage over the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon and end in a public parking lot.
While the gear is the same as most other zip lines operating in Hawaii, Hampton said the angle makes it more of a glide than a thrill ride.
"A zip line travels at about 30 mph," Hampton said. "This one is going to go about 10 mph."
Waikiki Beach Activities, which is the exclusive pool and beach service provider for Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, said it expects the zip line to become operational this summer.
"A June 1 opening is our goal," Hampton said. "We’re very excited to be able to introduce this aerial tour. The unsurpassed views are just incredible. And, when a visitor takes those photos home with Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach in the background, they’ll share those positive impressions with at least 50 people."
The company, which successfully completed its first test ride Dec. 13 using a dummy, said early results were promising.
"We surveyed 180 people, and they were basically supportive to the extent that they would like to do it themselves," Hampton said.
The concept, which already has cost funders more than $500,000 on planning and startup equipment, could eventually attract 250,000 riders a year.
"We’ve got a lot at risk, but we think it will be well worth it," said Hampton, who is partnering with Flyin Hawaiian Zipline of Adventure Maui.
