Mahuka

Walibi Rhône-Alpes's Exotic Island area had its roots in a gradual reworking of the park's themes in 2014, laying a foundation for what could eventually be developed.^[2] Sister park Walibi Belgium concurrently began implementing their new Polynesian-themed Exotic World area with the opening Tiki Waka in 2018 and Kondaa in 2020.^[3] Splitting the two-phase precinct into lighter and more sombre themes, a similar model was pursued for Walibi Rhône-Alpes.^[2] Officials initially considered instead revamping the existing Aqualibi waterpark into a standalone year-round destination; it however remained closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic before management instead decided to remove it in favor of a dry park expansion.^[4][5] The attraction was first proposed by Compagnie des Alpes creative Julien Simon – given that Intamin was already a familiar collaborator of the chain – and developed over the course of four years.^[6]

The park first announced Exotic Island in May 2021, which would see three new rides spread out between 2022 and 2025 at a total investment of €15 million.^[7] Compagnie des Alpes and Intamin later publicly signed a contract on November 17, 2021 at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida, agreeing to produce a new coaster for Walibi Rhône-Alpes' 45th anniversary in 2024.^[8] The first phase of Exotic Island would open on June 25, 2022 with Tiki Academy, a spinning water ride from Zamperla.^[9]

Demolition of the former Aqualibi waterpark began during the summer of 2021 and continued into the winter, allowing for the first portions of the new area to be built.^[10][11] Foundations and rebar for the coaster itself didn't begin going into the ground until March 2023.^[12] Intamin coaster parts began arriving and were first installed in June.^[13] Assembly moved quickly throughout the summer, with the highest piece of track installed on the top hat on July 25, 2023.^[14] The final few rails were installed in October, with building construction and thematic work taking place over the following months.^[15] The coaster began commissioning with test laps in April 2024.^[16]

Mahuka was officially announced as the name of the coaster on September 7, 2023.^[17] An animated onride point-of-view video was released by the park in January 2024, and a showreel of the train in the station was posted in April.^[18][19] A six-part miniseries was released through YouTube during the spring documenting Mahuka's development and construction. Following a soft-opening the weekend prior, Mahuka officially opened to the public on June 15, 2024.^[1]

Exiting the station, riders turn to the left into the first of two launches, immediately being propelled into an inverted top hat. Riders quickly traverse a small speed hill, twisted airtime hill, and triple-down element before barreling through a corkscrew over the queue and station. This leads into the second launch, accelerating the train to its top speed of 41.6 mph (66.9 km/h) and re-entering the top hat, this time using a track section above the first element. The train traverses two airtime hills – a camelback and off-axis twist – before navigating a couple of low-to-the-ground twists and a wave turn to the right. A final heartline roll takes place over a pond before the train hits the brake run. Mahuka's entire duration lasts less than a minute.^[1][18]