Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii
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Who thought that such a small group of remote islands could make such a big global impact? Wherever you are in the world, the name ‘Hawaii’ is likely to conjure images of an exotic paradise with miles of pristine beaches and precipitous mountains covered in wild, dense rainforest. The movers and shakers of Hollywood, like the rest of us, have always been entranced by its beauty, and have chosen this tropical US state as the filming location for some of the biggest movies of all time. Join us for an exciting tour of the major films that have captured Hawaii’s natural majesty – including many landmarks you can visit first-hand!

By Victoria Luxford

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Na Pali Coast/Manawaiopuna Falls, Kauai (Jurassic Park, 1993) – If one place in the world could claim to be the “real Jurassic Park”, it’s Kauai. The smallest of the four major islands, Kauai provided a great deal of the daytime shots for this ‘90s hit, with Na Pali Coast setting the scene for the unforgettable moment when John Hammond (Sir Richard Attenborough) and his guests first lay eyes on the fictional Isla Nublar as they approach by helicopter; the chopper then lands at nearby Manawaiopuna Falls. Although neither location is accessible by foot, many tour companies offer the chance to recreate at least some of the sequence by booking helicopter tours of locations used in the film. In many ways, it’s fortunate that the movie was shot there at all, given Hurricane Iniki initially destroyed many of the sets at the time!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 2008) – If you’re looking to stay on the literal set of a film, you could book a room at the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore. It’s where Jason Segel’s recently dumped character books a stay in the hit comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and where he happens to run into the woman who just broke his heart – alongside her new love. As the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and home to the capital, Honolulu, Oahu abounds with tourist developments and points of interest. We just hope that your visit will be under happier circumstances!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Pearl Harbour, Oahu (Pearl Harbour, 2001) – One of the more solemn trips to make, whether you’re a movie fan or a history buff, the Pearl Harbour complex on Oahu has an undeniable place in history: the US Naval Base Pearl Harbour, just west of Honolulu, was attacked in 1941, plunging America into World War II. The attack was dramatised in Michael Bay’s eponymous epic drama starring Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale. Although much of the film was shot in Los Angeles, parts of the actual Pearl Harbour base were used for exterior shots. So, whether you want to see some reel locations or real historical landmarks, this tour is worth taking.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Kipu Ranch, Kauai (Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981) – Another sequence that will be familiar to most movie fans is from the first Indiana Jones movie, where Harrison Ford’s intrepid explorer narrowly avoids a giant boulder while escaping from an ancient temple with an artefact in hand. This and other scenes were filmed at Kipu Ranch on the island of Kauai. While the ranch isn’t open to passers-by (it’s a working farm!), they do offer guided tours that will delight fans of Indy and other Steven Spielberg films, given the director so loved shooting his blockbusters on the islands.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu (Blue Hawaii, 1961) – This campy ‘60s classic cemented a lifelong association between the city of Honolulu and the King of Rock & Roll. Elvis Presley stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel while filming one of his most famous pictures, with the building’s exterior used for shots in the movie. Those looking to literally walk in the footsteps of a legend will be delighted to know that the hotel can provide that experience: between 1957 and 1974, Elvis stayed in the 232sqm King Suite in the hotel’s Ali’i Tower overlooking Waikiki Beach. Presley would film and perform in the area many times in his life (there’s even a plaque commemorating his association with the place), and lovers of all things rock ‘n’ roll will delight in recognising the spots where he stood.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Hālona Blowhole, Oahu (From Here to Eternity, 1953) – This captivating marine geyser is impressive enough on its own, but the area surrounding it has made an indelible mark on movie history. Younger pop culture fans may remember it from scenes in Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom, 50 First Dates or the music video for Nicki Minaj’s song “Starships”. However, the small beach within the site, Hālona Cove, is the setting of an iconic moment from Hollywood history: it’s where Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster filmed their romantic scene for war drama From Here to Eternity. If you can access it, you will be standing in a golden moment in Hollywood history (just don’t get too carried away!).

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Waimea Bay, Oahu (Point Break, 1991) – Hawaii is of course synonymous with surfing, and on the big screen there’s no greater love letter to catching some waves than this action movie from the early ‘90s. Waimea Bay is a legendary surf spot in real life, too, and it’s even namechecked in the movie by stars Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. Most of the surfing in the film is done here, including the climactic sequence. It’s great to observe, but you may not want to try it yourself unless you’re an experienced surfer!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Sea Life Park Hawaii, Oahu (50 First Dates, 2004) – Based in Waimānalo on the island of Oahu, Sea Life Park Hawaii boasts a number of marine attractions and has been in business since 1964. However, rom-com fans may recognise it as Adam Sandler’s place of work in the 2004 hit 50 First Dates, with scenes including a rather graphic prank involving a walrus. Away from the pratfalls, however, the beautiful backdrops make this trip to the park a great idea for a date between film lovers – whether it’s the first or the 50th.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Kauai (Hook, 1991) – While the island was explored in greater detail in his Jurassic Park, our third and final Steven Spielberg film used an aerial shot of Kauai to represent Neverland – the home to which Peter Pan (Robin Williams) returns having, gasp, grown up. While Kauai has a population of just over 73,000, every resident can boast that they live in the “real” Neverland and Jurassic Park!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Kahana Bay Beach, Oahu (Ant-Man and the Wasp, 2018) – Very few places on earth haven’t been visited by the Marvel Universe in some respect, and Hawaii is no different. Kahana Bay Beach, a beautiful part of the island of Oahu, is where Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) walk together after being miraculously reunited. Given that the whole world was available to the multi-million-dollar production, it speaks to the extraordinary beauty of the location that was ultimately selected!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Peahi Beach, Maui (Die Another Day, 2002) – Another franchise with a crowded passport and at least one stamp from Hawaii is James Bond, and one of 007’s trips took him to Peahi beach for the opening shots of the 20^th Bond movie, Die Another Day. It sees Bond and his fellow agents surf into “North Korea”, however neither the ocean nor the surfer are who they seem. Champion wave rider Laird Hamilton stood in for Pierce Brosnan on the surfboard, while the waves in question can be found at Peahi Beach on the north coast of Maui.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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Old Sugar Mill, Kauai (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, 2019) – When Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) rounds up his family to face off against villains in this Fast & Furious spin-off, it makes sense that Hawaii would stand in for the island of Samoa given Johnson’s ancestry, as his mother Ata was born in Hawaii. The Old Sugar Mill, open to visitors, was used for filming the 2019 hit, but has centuries of history as part of the islands’ former sugar industry. Today, fans of history and movies can visit what remains, as the site is part of the National Parks network.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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He’eia Kea Boat Dock, Oahu (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, 2011) – How do you capture the majesty and adventure of the high seas? By bringing Hollywood to Hawaii! Despite the title, there’s not much of the actual Caribbean in this soft reboot of the Jack Sparrow-led franchise. However, visitors to He’eia Kea Boat Dock on Oahu can see where many of the ship scenes were filmed, most significantly those of Blackbeard’s ship Queen Anne’s Revenge. Many other islands have been used throughout the series, making Hawaii the home of yet another beloved movie franchise!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii.
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The Royal Hawaiian Hotel (Punch-Drunk Love, 2002) – We end, rather romantically, on a kiss. Paul Thomas Anderson’s wonderful rom-com Punch-Drunk Love stood out for many reasons, but one of them is Hawaii… and one particular building. Adam Sandler’s character, Barry, and the love of his life, Lena (Emily Watson), stay at the striking Royal Hawaiian Hotel, a vision in pink with unique design and architecture. It is, of course, open for you to stay there, so why not bring someone you love to recreate this touching, if awkward, kiss in the hotel’s entrance?

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Hawaii

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