Climb Works Zipline, Keana Farms, Oahu, Hawaii
Climb Works at Keana Farms is located on the north shore of O’ahu, Hawaii. It is a working farm that you can tour from above as you travel more than 10,000 feet of ziplines from the mountaintop to the farm’s main entrance. Over the 2.5-hour tour, you’ll traverse 8 world-class dual lines, 2 rappels, 3 sky bridges, a floating staircase, several informational signs along the way, and a few fun surprises. Each group has four guides that ensure your safety and provide great info about the farm and the region's history. This trip was a blast.
Important Information
Requirements, what to bring, and FAQ.
Equipment
Dress appropriately for the weather.
Comfortable clothes are recommended. Rain in Hawaii can come and go very quickly so we recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting a little wet.
You are responsible for cameras, GoPros, and phones. We highly recommend having straps or secure pockets. If you’d rather leave them behind and not have the hassle, we take photos along the way of every tour, which are available for purchase after your tour.
Glasses and sunglasses can be worn. If you plan on taking them off, we recommend having a strap.
Bring something to pull back long hair.
Bring any necessary medication—inhalers, nitroglycerine pills, or epi-pens.
DO NOT BRING
Do not wear dangling jewelry, including long necklaces and hoop earrings.
Please leave valuable items at home. A small, complimentary locker is provided to hold your phone and car keys. Otherwise, you must leave everything else in the car. Items like phones, keys, water bottles, etc. can fall out while ziplining.
Approach
Whichever way gets you there fastest, based on your starting location, may vary since it is practically on the opposite side of the island as Honolulu. You can jump on the H1 from Honolulu and head towards Highway 83. From there, take Highway 86 to the North Shore. The turnoff to Climb Works is right off Highway 86. If you reach Downtown Kahuku, you’ve gone too far.
Preparing to Zipline
You check in either at the main office or around the corner of the building. Here, you can get water, a treat, or some merch. This is also where you will find lockers to put your essentials like keys and phone if you don’t want to worry about losing them or are unable to secure them in a pocket that zips or Velcros closed. You might have to wait while the team figures out the necessary harnesses and equipment, but it is all necessary for your safety. You will be introduced to your guides. For our group, we had four guides. They ensured our harnesses and helmets fit properly and covered some safety guidelines for our ziplining adventure. Then, we were off to the first platform.
The First Run
The first run on this ziplining adventure is a basic 500-foot run right next to the main building. You walk to it in your gear. You climb about 30 feet of stairs to the platform, and your guides give you an overview of the process you will follow for the remainder of the tour. Stretching out before you are two parallel ziplines about 10 feet apart. Two guides will connect to the lines and demonstrate how to ride the zipline to the other side. This will be the case on each trip so that someone on the other end will grab you when you reach the other side. Now it is your turn. The remaining two guides will help get a person connected to each line. They will wait for confirmation from the other side, give you a few final pointers, disconnect you from the tether, and count you down to takeoff.
Traveling 500 feet at this particular angle takes around 10 seconds. The trip is fast enough for the first run to get you excited for everything to come, knowing that this was just a trial run. When you reach the other side, the two guides will catch you and help you get onto the platform. Now, you can watch the rest of your group glide over to your position.
UTV Ride to the Top
After the first run, you head to some UTVs to ride to the top of the mountain. During your ride to the top, the guides will share some information about the farm and the surrounding area's history. The UTV ride is loud and a little bumpy, so you might think about earplugs if you are sensitive to sound and keep one hand on something stable during your ride.
The Real Adventure Begins
At the top of the mountain, the real adventure begins. I don’t want to spoil it with a bunch of exposition on everything, but I will share a general overview of the experience. From the top of the mountain to the farms, you will travel on two miles of zipline, the longest of which is almost half a mile long. Some lines will be fast, and others will be fast, just not as fast. You will cross three sky bridges that have some amazing views. There are two rappels, where you will harness onto a vertical line and then jump off the platform while you glide to the ground. It can be a little unnerving the first time, but the second time is the wilder ride. Along the way, you will see signposts with information on the history of the area, animals and plants, and some terminology. Your guides will also offer some additional information during your tour. At one point, you can crack open and enjoy some macadamia nuts using rocks. Their shells are pretty hard, and opening one without smashing it is challenging. Closer to the end, your guides will let you sample some cherry tomatoes from the farm. These are the same cherry tomatoes the farm sells to local stores in the area, and they are delicious. Your guides will gradually introduce you to more fun ways to ride the lines and methods to speed up or slow down during your ride. By the end, you’ll hang upside down with arms and legs flung out to the sides, screaming with delight.
Back at the Bottom
Back at the bottom, you will ride the second rappel down to the ground. This one is a little faster than the first and makes for a fantastic final ride. You walk 50 yards back to the deck, where you can remove your equipment and visit the merch store for any drinks, treats, or merchandise you might want. The sorbet in the coconut husk is a great treat if you want something cool and refreshing. The guides will have taken pictures along the way that you can purchase, and if you enjoyed your guides, you can tip them. Collect the items you left behind, and you can head out for your next adventure.
Food and Stuff
If you want the best Garlic Shrimp on the island, skip Giovanni’s and drive north to Romy’s Kahuku Prawns and Shrimp Hut. If you are looking more for a treat than a meal or dessert afterward, I’d recommend Rainbow House Shave Ice.
Additional Options in the Area
Climb Works Packages
You could sign up for either of the packages with your ziplining tour. Packages include tickets to the Polynesian Cultural Center or horseback riding at Gunstock Ranch.
North
To the North, you can visit Turtle Beach or Kawela Bay Beach Park, where you can swim and snorkel while looking for dolphins and sea turtles. You can also hike to the Turtle Bay Pillbox.
South
To the South, you can visit the Polynesian Cultural Center, including the Laie Hawaii Temple (easily a most-of-the-day activity).
Summary
This trip was a blast. While kayaking with sea turtles was my favorite activity, this was my favorite adventure. The views and guides were incredible, and the ziplining was an absolute blast. If I could narrow down our trip to only two things, it would have been kayaking with sea turtles and this ziplining adventure. Doing these two things alone, I could have gone home completely content. I recommend this wholeheartedly to anyone visiting O’ahu. I cannot imagine being disappointed in this adventure. I hope you get a chance to experience it for yourself.
