Inside the ‘world first’ water elevator and what it looks like

A water elevator is a world apart from the tedium of most lifts as it floats passengers to the top of a huge water park. 

The ‘world first’ feature at Hawaii’s Grand Wailea Resort was originally built to help the attraction owner’s physically disabled son to get back to the top of the flumes.  

To hop on, holidaymakers already in the water open up a submarine-like door which leads into a partially submerged cave resembling the bottom of a large well.  

Water then gradually fills up the chamber as a round seating platform rises to the top of the park under the watchful eye of an operator.

After the passengers have ascended, the water is sent cascading over a rock feature in order to lower the platform back down. 

A pump room provides the mechanical muscle for the slides at the beachside resort in Maui, the second-largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. One operation of the water elevator alone is said to require 16,000 gallons of water. 

Dad and son Dan and Lincoln Markham from the ‘What’s Inside’ YouTube channel are among park guests who have checked out the feature as they took a lift up and were granted a peek behind the scenes.  

The view from the top of the elevator looks out over the 40-acre resort’s canyon activity area, which includes seven waterslides, waterfalls, caves, white water rapids, a whirlpool, an adults-only pool, a ‘baby beach’ and a sauna.

The elevator is a ‘world first’ situated in a ‘uniquely special place’, according to the Grand Wailea.  

Theme parks are never short of unique selling points to try and entice holidaymakers. 

Last month, Metro told how Minecraft-maker Mojang has struck a deal with Merlin Entertainments to open two attractions between 2026 and 2027.  

They will include ‘first-of-its-kind’ concepts for accommodation, shops, restaurants and a ride themed around the cult sandbox video game.  

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