fREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
TUBING
Age
The minimum age requirement for the tubing tour is 5 years of age and 43 inches tall. There is no maximum age limit.
Unaccompanied Minor
Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian that is 18 years and older.
Children over the age of 16 may go tubing without being accompanied by an adult. However, we do require a parent or guardian to check-in at our office with the minor child, sign our waiver, and leave their contact information.
Medical Condition/Physical Limitations
Our tubing tour requires one to be somewhat physically fit. You must be able to stand independently in 3 feet of running water, walk up and down a few steps, and be able to balance in a sitting position in a tube for at least 45 minutes.
Yes, up to 27 weeks with a physical doctors note presented at time of check-in.
Yes, it is recommended that all guests know how to swim. Water levels only range from 2 feet to 3-4 feet deep, but you do need to have the strength to be able to stand up in the flowing water and to right yourself if you tip over in your tube. All children under 9 years of age are required to wear a USCG life vest that we provide.
Weight
The tubing manufacturer’s recommendations and for safety reasons, Kauai Backcountry Adventures requires that participants weigh less than 300 lbs.
Length of Tour, Tube Ride
The tubing tour takes approximately 3 hours from start to finish. From the office, we transport you onto, what we like to call, our 17,000-acre playground. Along the way we stop at a beautiful scenic overlook, where we will share some information with you about some of our beautiful mountain ranges. It will take approximately 45 minutes to arrive to the tubing intake area. Upon arriving at the tubing intake area, you receive a safety briefing and then go tubing. The tubing portion of the tour takes about 45 min. to 1 hour. After the tubing, we spend about 45 minutes at our picnic area. Here, we serve you a picnic style lunch and you can enjoy a swim in a freshwater mountain pool. The last 15 minutes are spent driving you back to the office.
Description of Tunnels
You will go through approximately 5 tunnels and spend about 60% of tubing time in the tunnels, each of which is a unique experience. The highlight of the tubing tours are that the tunnels were hand dug by plantation workers in the 1870’s.
Each tunnel has its own unique design, length, and style.
- Tunnel #1 – ¼ mile Straight shot; smallest tunnel
- Tunnel #2 – ¼ mile Straight shot; bigger in size.
- Tunnel #3 – ¾ mile Longest Tunnel; S turns (About 8-10 minutes to float through).
- Tunnel #4 – ½ mile Right Bend at the end; fastest moving tunnel at about 3-5 MPH.
- Tunnel #5 – ¼ mile Left Bend at the beginning; last tunnel.
You are spending about half of the time going through our tunnels.
The tunnels were all hand dug with sledgehammers, spikes, and picks. Most were dug out of lava rock and existing hill sides. Some tunnels were supported by beams or cement walls, but most are supported with natural elements. Kauai Backcountry Adventures has restored the tunnels for safe recreational use.
Life Vests
Children that are 9 years old and below are required to wear a USCG certified life vest, which we provide at no cost. A child may wear their own life vest as long as it is USCG certified and meets Kauai Backcountry Adventures criteria.
Absolutely. We carry an assortment of sizes of life vests for anyone who would like to use one.
Lunch
Yes. Our tubers enjoy a “build your own” sandwich lunch along with chips and water. Note: Our caterer does not provide for any special dietary restrictions.
Swimming
Yes. After tubing we go to our picnic area which is located next to a mountain stream with a freshwater swimming hole. Guest are invited to take a refreshing dip as the guides are preparing lunch.
Valuables
We recommend that you do not bring valuables on the tour. We encourage you to lock your valuables out of sight, in your car. Our parking lot is private and is generally secure. We do not recommend taking valuables on tour or putting car keys in your pockets. *Items that fall into the water are not recoverable*
Bathrooms
We have bathrooms at our check-in office. We recommend that you use our facilities before heading out on tour. The drive up can be bumpy. We also have portable toilets located at the start of the tubing as well as at our picnic area.
Access
No. We have exclusive access to private lands that are fenced and gated. The public does not have access to these lands. This is what makes our tours unique and special. At no time are guests or residents allowed to tube unattended for obvious safety reasons.
Water Temperature
The water temperature is in the high 60’s during the winter and low 70’s in the summer. We have wetsuit tops available for rent if you feel the water may be too brisk for you.
Wear/ Bring
While tubing, we recommend that you wear your swimsuit/trunks. If you tend to get cold easily, we recommend that you rent a wetsuit top or wear your own rash guard top. We do require that you wear water-friendly shoes that are secure on your feet, won’t fall off, and have a solid sole that protects the bottom of your feet. Slippers or flip flops are NOT allowed. We recommend water socks, water sandals with a strap on the heel, or you can even wear sneakers. We do rent Crocs (size 5-12) for $5 per pair.
We recommend bringing a towel, sunscreen, and bug repellent. You should put your items in a bag of some sort as it will be transported to the exit point and waiting for you as you get out of the water.
Location of Tubing
The tubing takes place on the east side of Kauaʻi, about 10 miles inland on the Hanama’ulu Ditch System of the Old Lihue Sugar Plantation.
Flora/Fauna
Your guides will assist you in identifying plants and trees along the way. Some of the plants you will see on tour are the Uluhe Fern, Guava Tree, and the Ohia Lehua Tree. You will also see the Kukui Nut Tree which is the State tree. Other greenery that you will see along the way are the Hau Bush, Bamboo, African Albesia Tree, Guinea Grass, and Isenberg Bush.
ZIPLINE
Ziplining
Ziplining is an exhilarating adventure that consists of being transferred from one place to another (usually between trees or telephone poles) via a cable and a pulley system. You will be suited up in a harness that is connected via a lanyard to the cable. Then, zip away! Fly like a bird and zip across the cables!
Age
You must be 12 years old or older to participate in the zipline adventure.
Weight
The weight range for the zipline is between 100-250 lbs. We practice strict adherence to the weight limit for obvious safety reasons. We apologize if we cannot accommodate everyone, but safety is first and foremost!
Unaccompanied Minor
In order to zipline without a parent or legal guardian present, a child must be 16 years or older. A parent or legal guardian is required to come to the office with the minor to sign the waiver and to talk with the zip guides and the minor.
We also ask that the parent or guardian leave a contact number in case we need to contact him or her while on tour.
Medical Condition/Physical Limitations
Zipline participants do not have to be “super athletes,” but should be in good physical condition. Participants should have good knees, hips, and backs (no recent back, hip, or knee surgery), no serious medical conditions, and no pregnancies (this is in place due to the placement of the harness). Physical requirements of the tour include hiking, climbing up an 8 rung ladder, landing on hard ground, and zipping high above the ground.
Location of Backcountry Zipline Adventure
The course is located on the east side of Kauaʻi about 10 miles inland on the old Lihue Sugar Plantation.
Length of Tour and Time Spent Zipping
The tour runs 3 hours long. The actual zip time on the course is approximately 1 ½ hours.
Number of Lines
Kauai Backcountry Adventures has a total of 7 different lines that traverse a mountainside down into a valley. Your final landing is next to a beautiful stream called Wai’ahi, where you will enjoy a swim and a picnic lunch.
Height/Length of the Lines
The shortest line is 450 feet in length. The longest line is 950 feet in length. The highest point of your tour will be about 250 feet above the ground.
Strength of the Lines
The harness and tethers can hold up to 6,000 pounds while the carabineers can hold up to 5,000 pounds. The pulley that sends you across the line can hold over 12,000 pounds and the cable can hold 26,000 lbs. Despite the obvious strength of the equipment, each zipline is calculated and an appropriate “weight load” is determined. The weight limit is based on the weight load for each line.
Ziplining Together
No. For safety reasons, each guest must complete their zip before the next person starts.
Shoe Requirements
We recommend wearing a hiking boot or a sneaker. Any shoe with a hard toe and sole will do. Slippers, flip flops, sandals, and water socks are NOT acceptable.
Access
No. We have exclusive access to private lands that are fenced and gated. The public does not have access to these lands. This is what makes our tours unique and special. At no time are guests or residents allowed to zip unattended for obvious safety reasons.
Zipline Construction
After surveying the entire 17,000 acres of Plantation lands to which we have exclusive access, we found the most challenging location with steep hillsides, and a breathtaking backdrop, Mt. Wai’ale’ale. We then hired leading zipline consultants and flew their crew over from the mainland to work with us. We mapped out the zipline course and then began the arduous installation process.
Most of the holes for the zipline poles were dug by hand. Therefore, we had to hike in, carrying the tools necessary to create the holes. The zipline poles were brought in from the mainland and many of them were installed using helicopters. After properly placing the zipline poles, the helicopter helped to stretch the ½ inch thick airplane grade steel cables across each zipline. Then, our zipline consultant crew anchored the zip poles and stretched the lines to the perfect angle, testing weights and speeds. After the lines were up and few a practice runs performed, our maintenance crew constructed decks and platforms for take offs and landings.
Kauai Backcountry Adventure’s zip lines are made of Galvanized Aircraft Cable (GAC). The zipline has a diameter of half an inch.
Zipline Maintenance
The zipline course is inspected daily, monthly, and yearly by our trained maintenance staff and guides. In compliance with The Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), an annual course inspection by a qualified professional is performed.
Lunch
Yes. Our zippers enjoy a “build your own” sandwich along with chips and a cold beverage. Note: Our caterer does not provide for any special dietary restrictions.
GENERAL FAQ
Location of Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures Office
Our office is located in the town of Hanama’ulu about 1 mile north of Lihue. We are on Highway 56, on the “mauka” or inland side of the road. Look for our large yellow warehouse building with signs indicating “Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures”. We are directly across the street from a Shell Gas Station and a 7-11.
Check-In Time
Tour check-in time is required one half hour before your tour departs. This allows time for you to prepare yourself, use the bathroom, lock valuables up and have a relaxed check in process. For example, if your tour is at 1:00pm, you will need to arrive at our offices in Hanama’ulu no later than 12:30pm.
In order to start the tour on time, and to check-in all guests in a relaxed manner, we ask your cooperation in arriving ½ hour in advance of your tour. Our tours leave promptly at the scheduled tour time.
If you are running late, please call our office and we will help you determine the best course of action.
Weather
Because we are a tropical island, we frequently are blessed with tropical rain showers. The rain showers are usually short lived and blow away. Therefore, our tours do go out rain or shine. In case of extreme weather, we do cancel our tours. You will be notified and efforts to reschedule you will be made.
