Movies Filmed in Hawaii: The Ultimate Guide to Film Locations Across the Islands

Movies filmed in Hawaii feature wow-worthy scenery, lush tranquility, and an edge of natural drama. 

It’s no surprise to me that so many famous movies have been filmed in Hawaii. The gorgeous scenery and crystal-clear water can transport you to fictional worlds full of wonder. 

Are you dreaming of a vacation in paradise? Or are you planning one? Either way, transport yourself to Oahu with some of my favorite movies filmed here.

Today, I’m going to tell you about a few of my favorite movies filmed on Oahu. Most of these movies take place in Hawaii, too, though some of them are set in fictional or far-off places. I’ll also tell you exactly where to go to relive some of their most memorable scenes.

6 Fan-Favorite Movies Filmed on Oahu

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

I had never seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall until after I moved to Hawaii. After I spent a weekend at Turtle Bay, I decided to watch it because I had heard that many scenes were filmed right in the hotel. It was so cool to see two places I had already been – Turtle Bay Resort and Laie Point – on screen!

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a fun romantic comedy starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis. Jason Segel, who also wrote the film, plays Peter, a man who is devastated after his girlfriend of five years, Sarah, breaks his heart.

Peter comes to Turtle Bay Resort to get away from his problems and forget Sarah Marshall. As he is checking in, he sees Sarah and her new boyfriend. Hilarity ensues as Peter falls for a woman who works at the hotel but can’t seem to forget Sarah Marshall.

Hopefully, you won’t see your ex in Hawaii, but you will love watching how Hawaii comes alive in this movie. Watch it before you arrive to Turtle Bay!

And make sure to check out Laie Point, too, as it’s home to one of the film’s best scenes. However, in the movie, the characters acted like they were so tired from hiking out to Laie Point. In reality, you can just drive right up to Laie Point. There is a famous moment where they jump off the cliff – which I don’t recommend!

50 First Dates

This film used so many locations throughout Oahu that it’s a must-watch for anyone planning to come here. Honestly, I am usually not one for romantic comedies, but I love this one set in Hawaii and the chemistry between Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

Adam Sandler plays Henry, a veterinarian who works at Sea Life Park on Oahu and loves to spend his time on his boat. Those scenes were filmed in Heeia Kea Harbor in Kaneohe, by the way!

Henry meets Drew Barrymore’s character, Lucy, at a cafe, which you can see on a tour of Kualoa Ranch.

When Lucy doesn’t recognize Henry the next day, he discovers that she has a particular form of amnesia where she relives the same day over and over.

Every morning, Henry comes up with new ways to meet Lucy, hoping that one day she will recognize him. These ingenious methods end up providing some interesting filming locations throughout the island. 

Aside from Kualoa Ranch, it also takes place at Sea Life Park, the pineapple fields of the Dole Food Company, and the Makapu’u Lighthouse.

Jurassic Park

I’m not afraid to admit that I am a huge fan of all of the Jurassic Park films! This movie filmed on Oahu really put Kualoa Ranch on the map.

Jurassic Park is, of course, a popular story about dinosaurs who have returned from extinction through cloning. Although humans try to contain them and put them on display in an amusement park, the dinosaurs escape.

Did you know that Jurassic Park was based on a novel by Michael Crichton?

Of course, many other Jurassic Park films have been shot on Oahu as well, including Jurassic World, which came out in 2015, and its sequels, which came out in 2018 and 2022. 

If you are a fan of the films, you can take a tour of Kualoa Ranch. The ranch offers many different tours, depending on what you want to do and see. The Jurassic Adventures Tour will show you the famous Jurassic Park fallen tree, where you can get out and take a picture, along with many other famous movie sets that have stayed right where they were created. During the Jurassic Valley Zipline Tour, you can zipline through the area where Jurassic Park was filmed!

Blue Crush

Like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and 50 First Dates, Blue Crush is not only filmed in Hawaii, but the plot also takes place here. Unlike those movies, this one gives you a really good insight into the surfing culture in Hawaii. It’s about three friends whose passion is surfing.

Blue Crush stars Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, Sanoe Lake, and Mika Boorem. It is based on a nonfiction article in Outside magazine – “Life’s Swell.”

Since the entire plot of the movie takes place on Oahu, you may recognize the various locations. Many beaches on the north shore and places in Waikiki were used to film. Also, Ko Olina is prominently featured, as three of the characters work at a resort there as maids. The characters also go to Ted’s Bakery, one of the best and most famous bakeries on the island.

Of course, the Pipeline steals the show. Although I don’t advise you to go swimming there since it can be dangerous if you are not a professional, it’s worth checking out the beach!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Jennifer Lawrence stars as the fierce heroine Katniss Everdeen in this immensely popular film franchise. Four films make up the entire story, with Catching Fire being the second. It’s also one of my favorite movies filmed on Oahu.

If you’re not a fan of the popular series, here’s a quick recap. Katniss Everdeen lives in a dystopian world in which one member from each district must sacrifice two of its children to the Hunger Games. Each year, these children must battle to the death. Katniss survives the first film, only to return to the Hunger Games the next year.

Because much of the second film takes place in the jungle-like area of the games, many different spots throughout Oahu were used for filming.

This film takes place in a fictional world and not Hawaii. However, much of the filming took place in Oahu’s lush jungles. 

The game begins in the Cornucopia, filmed at Kawela Bay on Oahu, which is located near Turtle Bay Resort. Some of the jungle scenes were shot in Waimea Valley, also on the North Shore. Although the filming locations are off-limits to the public, Waimea Valley is a great place for a family-friendly hike.

Many of the other jungle scenes were filmed in Manoa Valley. You can take the trail in Manoa Valley to the 150-foot Manoa Falls. This gorgeous waterfall is well worth the hike, even if you aren’t a fan of this movie filmed on Oahu.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

I was hanging out at Turtle Bay while this movie was being filmed! Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see any of the stars – Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendric, and Aubrey Plaza. But I did get to watch the crew setting up for a scene.  I thought that was pretty cool!

This movie is based on the viral true story of two brothers who placed ads online for wedding dates. In the film, Zac Efron and Adam Devine play brothers who do the same thing. The women who respond – Anna Kendric and Aubrey Plaza – aren’t exactly the type of women you want to bring to a family wedding. The wedding takes place at Turtle Bay Resort, and they filmed some scenes at Kualoa Ranch.

If you are planning to come to Turtle Bay, you have to watch Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates first!

Other Movies Filmed on Oahu

These are just a few of my favorite movies filmed on Oahu! Have you seen any of them? If you want to dive even deeper into our landscape and scenery, here is a quick list of other movies that feature scenes of Hawaii:

• From Here to Eternity (1953)
• Hawaii (1966)
• The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
• Pearl Harbor (2001)
• The Descendents (2011)
• Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
• Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

Even if some of these movies filmed on Oahu aren’t your typical genre, they’re a great chance to see shots of Hawaii, dream of your vacation here, and maybe discover a new favorite movie!

Movies Filmed on Kauai

Kauai is known for its lush green landscapes and sweeping mountain ranges. This makes it the perfect jungle setting for movies. It’s played the role of all kinds of locales, from the fictional to the far-off to the close-to-home. Read on to learn more!

Jurassic Park (1993) / Jurassic World franchise

It’s a memorable moment for any film fan: the OG Jurassic Park team arriving to the fictional island of Isla Nublar. Where can you see Isla Nublar in person? Kauai is one of the best places to step into the film (without the dinos, thank goodness!). 

Kauai’s Manawaiopuna Falls plays a big role in the original 1993 Jurassic Park, and it’s breathtaking to see in person. The catch? You can only access this waterfall from a helicopter tour. 

If you’re wondering about the best helicopter tours to splurge on during your Hawaii vacation, a trip to Manawaiopuna Falls could top your list. 

If you prefer to stay closer to the ground, you can see other Jurassic sets on Kauai:

• Ho’opi’i Falls Trail – this popular hike is located off Kapahi Road in Kapa’a, Kauai. There are two falls along this path, and the second is where they filmed the scene at the Mano De Dios Amber Mine in Jurassic Park. You likely can’t access that exact falls without trespassing, but the first falls and nearby trails certainly offer a Jurassic Park atmosphere. 
• Allerton Garden – check out one of Kauai’s best botanical gardens, which is home to the Moreton Bay fig trees that appear in Jurassic Park as Dr. Grant and the kids discover dinosaur eggs. 
• The Na Pali Coast – You can see the Na Pali Coast on a helicopter ride or boat tour. It was featured in the 1997 sequel The Lost World.

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Some of us millennials first fell in love with Hawaii because we watched Lilo & Stitch. I remember sitting through it again and again, mesmerized by its beauty. 

In the film, the town of Kokaua is a fictionalized version of real-life Hanapepe in Kauai. You can visit to walk through a Hawaii small town, see the famous Hawaiian swinging bridge, and enjoy the local businesses in the area. 

Fun times? Absolutely! Alien encounters? Probably not. 

Now, if you want to walk through the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, you’ll need to visit Oahu, where scenes were shot at Kualoa Ranch and Kahala Hotel & Resort. Kind of a bummer since Kokaua was so closely created in the image of Kauai’s Hanapepe town. 

We old-school Lilo & Stitch fans will get the most thrill out of visiting the real-life town that inspired the animated original. 

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Over a decade before Jurassic Park was filmed, Stephen Spielberg featured Kauai in an even more iconic scene. You know the beginning of Indiana Jones when our hero steals the idol and flees through a series of booby traps? And you remember the boulder rolling toward Indiana as he narrowly evades death? That scene was filmed here in Kauai. 

You can see this Raiders of the Lost Ark filming location in person by taking an ATV tour of Kipu Ranch in Lihue. 

South Pacific

Here’s the musical that helped put Hawaii on the Hollywood map. Mount Makana on Kauai played the role of “Bali Haʻi” in the 1958 movie South Pacific. And it’s become one of the most enduring movies filmed in Hawaii.

The best place to see Bali Hai from South Pacific is to head over to Tunnels Beach on Kauai, where the large mountain looms over the shoreline. You can’t hike on Mount Makana, but we prefer seeing it from below anyway. It’s one of our favorite places to use as a photo backdrop on Kauai. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

The fourth installment of Pirates of the Caribbean showcased a variety of scenery from all over the world. That means you don’t have to go to the Caribbean to see filming locations from the films. Kauai’s lush tropical scenery set the stage for the entire film. 

Ready to see it for yourself? Take in the same exact views from Allerton Garden and Kipu Ranch. Star Johnny Depp also filmed scenes at Honopu Beach, but it’s inaccessible by land or boat. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was also filmed on Oahu, at spots like Turtle Bay Resort, Halona Cove, and Barbers Point. 

The Descendants

There are lots of movies where Hawaii plays the part of another locale (just like in Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean). The 2011 film The Descendants is different. Hawaii gets to shine in its full glory during this George Clooney pic. And it got the accolades it deserved!

The Descendants won the Golden Globe for best drama film, and George Clooney took home the best actor prize. It was also nominated for 5 Academy Awards. Want to step inside an award-winning film? You can see filming locations throughout Kauai and Oahu!

It’s easy to walk in George Clooney’s footsteps, as scenes from The Descendants were filmed at the Lihue Airport and throughout the town of Hanalei. Other spots aren’t accessible, like the Kipu Kai area that is depicted as George Clooney’s land in the film. 

And here’s a fun way to see a Hawaii filming location: go eat and drink at Tahiti Nui in Hanalei! It made a big appearance in George Clooney’s The Descendants!

Movies Filmed on Maui

Maui’s diverse terrain has been used for everything from romance to action. It’s always fun to spot familiar Maui scenery in my favorite films!

Jurassic Park

We talked earlier about the many Jurassic Park scenes filmed on Kauai, but there’s one iconic part of the movie you can see on Maui. At the beginning of the film, a helicopter arrives in a tropical dreamscape, and if you watch closely, you can see Keopuka Rock looming off the coast of Maui. 

Keopuka Rock is viewable along the Road to Hana. Stop by The Garden of Eden for the ultimate view of this Jurassic Park scene. It’s great sightseeing and a chance to see where movies were filmed in Hawaii.

Just Go With It

Adam Sandler is a repeat star in Hawaii films. In 2011, the comedian starred alongside Jennifer Aniston in the film Just Go With It. The sweet romcom was shot at the Grand Wailea Resort. 

They also captured shots at nearby Maluaka Beach, along with a waterfall scene at Kilauea Falls in Kauai. 

Die Another Day

Want to see a real filming location for a James Bond movie? The opening scene for Die Another Day depicts Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan) surfing a tsunami wave. This exciting action sequence was filmed at Peahi on Maui’s North Shore. 

Here, massive waves reach unbelievable heights, a place so treacherous that it’s been nicknamed Jaws. And it’s a real place where movies were filmed in Hawaii. I don’t usually trek out to Jaws, but I love visiting nearby Hookipa Beach Park, which also showcases big waves… and often has lots of sea turtles resting on shore!

Today, Pierce Brosnan still has strong ties to Hawaii. He lives on Kauai near Hanalei Bay. 

Movies Filmed on the Big Island

The Big Island (aka Hawaii Island) doesn’t see as many movie sets as the other Hawaiian islands, but it’s still got some famous names in its history (and maybe its future!). 

Waterworld

Are you old enough to remember the lore and infamy of Waterworld? This 1995 Kevin Costner flick was once the most expensive movie ever made… and it ended up being a bona fide flop. 

Today, Waterworld endures partly because of that infamy, and it endures because of the epic scenery surrounding the action and drama. 

Waterworld was largely filmed on the Big Island of Hawaii, with the massive Atoll anchored off of Kawaihae Harbor for most of its production. 

You can visit Kawaihae Harbor during your Kona vacation, and you can check out an overlook of Waipio Valley, where the final dryland scenes of Waterworld were shot. 

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Planet of the Apes showcases a different reality, a world similar yet so different from our own. And the Big Island was the perfect place to capture backdrops and scenery for the 2011 remake. 

Spots within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park were used for scenes and visuals in the film. 

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

This 2017 action/comedy film was largely filmed on Oahu (at spots like Kualoa Ranch), but one memorable scene from this movie was filmed on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

Remember when the characters take a massive plunge into a waterfall? That was filmed at The Falls at Kawainui, which is in Pepeekeo, Hawaii. The entire area is a fantastic small-town stop along the Hamakua Heritage Corridor Drive.

Here’s where you can book your own Big Island Waterfall Adventure!

TV Shows Filmed in Hawaii

You’ve enjoyed some of the most famous movie scenes shot in Hawaii, but what about your favorite shows? Check out some fun small-screen spots below. 

Hawaii Five-0

It’s the ultimate Hawaii-set show. During its ten-year run, it created buzz both among locals and visitors as it highlighted spots throughout Hawaii. You can read our full guide to Hawaii Five-0 filming locations here.

Lost 

ABC’s massive hit Lost was filmed largely on Oahu. Mokuleia Beach served as the crash site for Flight 815, and Waimea Valley served as the jungle setting within the show. 

The show ran from 2004 to 2010, but it is constantly reaching new audiences who flock to Hawaii to see its real-life filming locations. 

Magnum, P.I.

Both the original Magnum PI and its 2018 reboot are set and filmed in Hawaii! Kualoa Regional Park boasts some of the backdrops featured in the reboot, so come spend some time at the beach and feel like you’re in an action-packed TV show. 

Take a road trip along Oahu’s H-3 freeway to drive along the same route Magnum often sped through in episodes (you don’t need a Ferrari to feel adventurous on this road!). 

One of my favorite episodes from the original show’s run is “The Arrow That Is Not Aimed,” which was filmed at The Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohoe. 

Other filming spots for both versions of the show include Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, and Makapuu Lighthouse. 

White Lotus Season 1

Have you watched The White Lotus? Season 1 was a huge hit, and it was filmed here in Hawaii. The show drove a huge interest in Hawaii tourism, thanks to the scenes highlighting Maui from both land and sea. 

But what hotel is featured in Season 1 of The White Lotus? The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea was where this interesting cast of characters crossed paths on a… memorable… vacation. 

I watched Season 1 and was excited to spot all the places in Maui I was so familiar with. And while the opening arrival scene was supposed to show a secluded entrance to the resort, it was actually filmed over 30 minutes away in Olowalu! You’ll also see the Kahului airport during the first episode. 

Visit Hawaii Filming Locations

Hawaii doesn’t have the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but we say it’s even better: beautiful oceans, clear skies, and that unique aloha spirit. And that’s part of why it feels so special to see it highlighted on the big and small screen. 

Are you ready to see these spots for yourself? Here are the easiest ways to see where real movies were filmed in Hawaii:

• Kualoa Ranch is often called Hawaii’s backlot. This sprawling property offers a range of activities, including a movie sites tour. 
• Na Palia Adventure tours allow you to see uninhabited parts of Kauai, much like what’s featured in films like Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Take a road trip! A self-guided location driving tour will get you to many popular film sites. Areas like Manoa Valley on Oahu or Hanapepe town in Kauai are free to visit. 

Want to build a Hawaii vacation around your favorite movie locations? Our local team knows every filming spot across the island and can help get you there. Start your free Hawaii trip plan here.