Botanical World Adventures adds waterfall tours in Hakalau

Botanical World Adventures has pushed deeper into waterfall tourism in Hakalau, adding one high-adrenaline rappel and one family-priced walk that could bring more visitor spending to the Hamakua Coast. The new tours, The Rappel and The Dip, extend the attraction’s move beyond ziplining and into direct access to Puuwai o Kamaee Falls and the Hanapueo Stream canyon along Old Mamalahoa Highway.

The Rappel is the more expensive and physically demanding option. Botanical World lists it at $297 for guests age 10 and older, with a “moderate to challenging” difficulty rating and a duration of up to four hours. The guided trip combines hiking with four rappels of increasing difficulty, ending near the falls where participants can swim and relax before heading back. The company says all gear is included, along with complimentary digital photos, and notes that the final two waterfall rappels were completed in April 2026.

The Dip is aimed at a wider slice of the market. Botanical World bills the one-hour experience as a gentler route into the canyon that ends at the base of the upper Hana Pūeo waterfall. The booking page lists adult tickets at $42.75, children ages 6 to 13 at $35.25, and children under 5 at $27.75. The company says it is designed for families, couples and visitors who want a close look at the falls without the intensity of rappelling.

The expansion fits the company’s broader business model. Botanical World says it is about 20 minutes north of Hilo at 31-240 Old Mamalahoa Highway and already offers eight rainforest canopy ziplines and a suspension bridge. It has also leaned on its profile as Hawaii’s Big Island premier adventure destination and on recognition as USA TODAY’s 2025 No. 1 aerial adventure park. In that context, the new waterfall products look less like an add-on than a way to keep visitors on site longer and spread their spending across more activities.

For Hakalau and the East Hawaii tourism economy, that matters. A premium four-hour rappel priced near $300 targets a different customer than a $42.75 family dip, and together they give Botanical World two very different ways to monetize the same landscape. The question is whether that translates into more guide work and more family-friendly visitor dollars on the Hamakua Coast, or simply more pressure on access, parking and the narrow highway corridor leading into the property.

Botanical World says Kamaee Falls opened to the public in late 2009 and is fed by water that percolates through Mauna Kea’s volcanic soils, which helps keep the flow steady even in dry months. As more visitors are invited farther into the canyon, that steady water supply becomes part of the attraction, and part of the responsibility, for managing use around the falls and nearby natural areas.