Hawaii residents furious after ‘unauthorized’ construction for massive zipline begins through idyllic hiking trail

Residents of Laie on Oahu's northeast shore have accused developer Climb Works of carrying out unauthorised construction work for a controversial zipline attraction, after photographs appeared to show a local hiking trail turned into an access road for construction vehicles. Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting confirmed no building permits had been granted and no site development had been approved, and said it had identified apparent grading and building violations from the images. The row matters because it escalates years of community opposition to a project locals fear will flood their valley with over 1,000 visitors a day, and raises questions about whether developers can proceed with work ahead of formal approval.

The zipline was first proposed in 2020 by Climb Works, which leases 464 acres from Property Reserve, a real estate firm linked to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Opponents include the US Army, which has warned that a zipline tower could interfere with aircraft overhead. Planning officials say a 2020 conditional use permit required at least half the property to be in active agricultural use before further development could proceed, a condition they say has not been met, though Climb Works maintains it is following permit requirements and working cooperatively with authorities. Resident Kamalani Keliikuli said the community had been given no warning before construction began.