Measure would tighten zip line inspections

Hawaii’s tourism industry could be changed by a proposal discussed Tuesday to require stricter inspections of zip lines, which allow riders suspended from a cable to glide above forest canopies.

The bill was prompted by an accident last fall that caused a worker riding the zip line to fall 200 feet to his death and critically injured another when a cable snapped.

Three Senate committees deferred decision-making until Tuesday. Two House committees deferred on Tuesday decision-making on a similar version of the bill.

The measure would require the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to conduct $100 inspections.

But many in the industry question whether the proposal goes far enough.

"A fee of $100 is incredibly unrealistic at the majority of courses and may set a bad precedent," said Jeff Baldwin, operator of Piiholo Zipline.

Baldwin, who is in favor of the measure, said inspections generally cost $5,000 and take several days.

The Labor Department opposed the measure, suggesting an audit might be more appropriate.

Director Dwight Takamine raised concerns about not having experts who can conduct the inspections. He also said the department doesn’t have the funding to travel to remote neighbor island areas where most zip line tours are located.

Toni Marie Davis, executive director of Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaii, testified in support of the legislation, even as she told lawmakers that zip line deaths are rare.