Christine Hitt
On a recent visit to Lanai, I stopped by the Lanai Adventure Park, curious about what it has to offer and was surprised to see all the activities that are there.
The adventure tower is a huge, two-story aerial course with bridges, puzzles and obstacles. It was built for adults, but kids can do it too. There are different tracks, so visitors can choose the level of difficulty as they go.
"It's awesome. There are 72 different elements. It's the only one built over water," said Kacy Lorber, logistics and operations manager at Lanai Adventure Park. "You're obviously harnessed in, and you work yourself through the elements. You're clipped in the top cable, and you can't really fall. The most you can fall is just kind of sitting in your harness."
The adventure tower provides a challenge for adults and kids alike. Photo Credit: Lanai Adventure Park
A smaller kids' adventure course sits nearby that is very cute and only about 6 inches above the ground. A guardian is required to accompany the child.
"The little kids go into a tiny, little harness and a tiny little helmet," Lorber said. "We take as young as like 1.5 to 2 years old. Two is still pretty young. It depends on their development and mobility, but 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds crush it."
It's a great spot to host kids' birthday parties. Or if the family wants to try both courses, they can split up and do both at the same time.
The property's zipline is 1,200 feet long and takes guests soaring over Kaiholena valley. Four courses run side by side, so guests can launch at the same time if they want. It offers a seated and prone position, which Lorber calls the "Superman-style." She said this kind of harness is rare.
"They're harnessed up in this big burrito harness, and they literally are harnessed in on the belly and they come on down," Lorber said. "It's about a 35-second experience. It's great for beginners, great for people who are nervous, elderly, young."
Aside from challenge courses, the other thing that Lanai Adventure Park offers is e-bikes, in addition to regular bicycles, for rent. They also do guided e-bike tours of the island that can include a visit to Keahiakawelo (also called "Garden of the Gods").
"There's a battery on it and you turn it on, and as you're pedaling, every half-pedal you take, it helps propel you forward," Lorber said.
We wrapped up at the gift shop after my tour, and I'm anxious to return to try more of what the park has to offer.