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Zip a dee doo dah!

The day-long Garden Isle
tour offers exhilarating
activities and beauty

Kayaking, hiking, ziplining, sightseeing via covered wagon and double-hulled canoe -- Outfitters Kauai's Kipu Falls Zipline Safari packs five exhilarating activities into one fun-filled day.

"A few years ago, I came up with an idea for a tour that would go from one activity to another all day long in spectacular places," says Rick Haviland, president of Outfitters Kauai. "The Kipu Falls Zipline Safari is the result of that. It's a really great option for people like me who can't sit still."

The seven-hour family adventure begins with a 2-mile kayak trip along the Huleia River, whose banks are festooned with greenery, including kukui (candlenut, Hawaii's state tree), noni (Indian mulberry), awapuhi (wild ginger) ti, mountain apple, banana and coffee. With the 2,000-foot Haupu Mountain Range as a backdrop, Huleia has provided a magnificent setting for many Hollywood blockbusters, including "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Jurassic Park."

Seated in two-person kayaks that are stable, comfortable and easy to maneuver, you'll paddle through the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for native waterbirds such as the alae ula (Hawaiian mud hen), koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck), alae keokeo (Hawaiian coot) and the endangered nene (Hawaiian goose), Hawaii's state bird.

Another highlight is the Alekoko (Menehune) Fishpond, which legend says was built in one night about 1,000 years ago by hundreds of Menehune, a race of "little people," paid for their work in shrimp.

The pond's stone wall measures 900 feet long and 5 feet high. The Menehune supposedly were able to accomplish this amazing feat in such a short time by lining up in a double row that extended 25 miles west to the village of Makaweli and passing stones hand to hand. They worked so hard, blood ran from cuts on their hands when the job was finished.

"They washed their hands in the fishpond, turning its color red, hence the name alekoko, which means 'blood-red waters,'" says Haviland. "Here's another interesting tidbit: Some scholars say the word 'Menehune' may have been derived from the Tahitian 'manahune,' meaning commoner. Menehune were supposedly 'small,' but this may have referred to their minor social standing, not their actual physical size."

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COURTESY OF OUTFITTERS KAUAI No dinosaurs are on this Kauai tram ride, although "Jurassic Park" was filmed on the island.

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FROM THE KAYAKS, you'll hop into a custom-built covered farm wagon pulled by a four-wheel-drive John Deere tractor. This segment of the tour ventures across Kipu Ranch, a 4,000-acre working ranch that's home to paniolo (cowboys) who are descendants of William Hyde Rice (the first Protestant missionary on Kauai) and 2,000 head of cattle. Be on the lookout for wild boar, peacocks and pheasants.

The wagon takes you to the head of a trail that leads to 120-foot Kamapuaa Falls and a Swiss Family Robinson-style treehouse built around a mammoth banyan. After a delicious deli lunch, most people are ready to go "zipping."

A quarter-mile trail goes through thick foliage to a steep valley at the confluence of two streams. On one side a 150-foot waterfall tumbles over fern-covered basalt boulders. The launching platform for the 275-foot zipline wraps around a banyan with a 30-foot girth.

"It's a spectacular spot!" Haviland says. "Our guides will outfit you in a helmet and mountain-climbing harness, and you'll walk through the banyan's labyrinth of roots to the gated takeoff area. There, the guides will attach the tether on your harness to a two-wheeled trolley that rides on the cable."

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COURTESY OF OUTFITTERS KAUAI Outfitters Kauai's Kipu Falls Zipline Safari begins with a 2-mile kayak trip down Huleia River.

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After completing strict safety procedures, they'll open the gate. Take a big step over the platform and you're off -- flying 35 miles per hour, 50 feet over rivers, waterfalls and trees! The adrenaline-pumping ride takes just 30 seconds.

From the zipline you'll continue on to Kipu Falls where kids, and kids at heart, can swing on ropes tied to tree branches and drop into waterfall-fed pools, hooting and hollering all the way. Others will prefer to quietly enjoy the beauty of nature. In between, hikes on four different forest trails provide close-up views of dozens of plant, bird and aquatic species, both native and introduced. Even if you're not in peak physical condition, there's no need for concern; these are easy, informative walks totaling about two miles.

"We want to not only show guests some fascinating plants and creatures, but to educate them about Kauai's unique ecosystem," says Haviland. "We also point out that the hikes cross private land that's not otherwise open to the public, so they're seeing places that people normally don't get to see."

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COURTESY OF OUTFITTERS KAUAI Get a lot of rest the day before the seven-hour family adventure.

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A 30-MINUTE cruise back up the Huleia River in a powered double-hulled canoe wraps up a day of nonstop fun.

According to Haviland, the Kipu Falls Zipline Safari's variety of activities, scenic sights and flexibility make it a popular choice. "Adults, children, singles, couples, families, grandparents, athletes, couch potatoes -- this is a tour that you can do your way," he says. "Teens might be spinning like tops as they jump off the rope swings into the natural swimming pools, while Grandma and Grandpa might be happy just kicking back and watching the show."

Haviland also notes that the tour often encourages guests to shed their inhibitions and break through personal barriers. "Being out in nature, away from everyday routines and stresses, they'll do things they never thought they could do," he says. "It could be riding the zipline or steering a kayak or even sampling something they've never eaten before, like a guava they've picked from a tree along a trail.

"It's really gratifying when guests tell us, 'Thank you! We had such a wonderful time! This tour helped me get to know Kauai -- and myself -- a whole lot better!'"

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COURTESY OF OUTFITTERS KAUAI A zipline will send you soaring over trees and waterfalls.

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If you go ...

What: Kipu Falls Zipline Safari

Meeting place: Poipu area or west-side resort guests can check in at Outfitters Kauai's headquarters in Poipu, 2827-A Poipu Road. Check-in for the first departure is at 7:30 a.m. (4 p.m. return). Check-in for the second departure is at 8:45 a.m. (5:15 p.m. return). East- or north-side guests check in at the Kayak Shack at Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor outside of Lihue. Check-in for the first departure is at 8:15 a.m. (3:30 p.m. return). Check-in for the second trip is 9:30 a.m. (4:45 p.m. return).

When: Mondays to Saturdays

Cost: $145 per person for adults, $105 for ages 3 through 14. Price includes snacks and a lunch of make-your-own turkey or roasted red pepper sub sandwiches with all the trimmings (Swiss cheese, lettuce, sprouts, olives, red onions, green peppers, tomatoes and jalapeņos); pasta salad with vegetables; double chocolate brownies; bottled water and soft drinks. Kamaaina receive a 10 percent discount.

Call: 742-9667 on Kauai or toll-free 888-742-9887 from the other islands

E-mail: info@outfitterskauai.com

Web site: www.outfitterskauai.com

Notes: Participants must be able to walk two miles and kayak 60 to 90 minutes. For the zipline portion of the tour, they must weigh between 80 and 275 pounds. (Those who weigh more or less will not fit in the harness). Wear a swimsuit, shorts, T-shirt and sturdy footwear with the proper soles for muddy conditions. Bring a windbreaker or light raincoat, sunscreen, hat, insect repellent and a waterproof camera.

There's more: Outfitters Kauai offers six other adventures: Wailua River Kayak Tour, Hidden Valley Falls Kayak Adventure, Waimea Canyon Bicycle Downhill Tour, Kipu Falls Zipline Trek, South Shore Sea Kayak Tour (from mid-September through mid-May) and Na Pali Coast Kayak Tour (from mid-May through mid-September). Call or check out the Web site for details.

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