Movie And TV Locations In Hawaii

The Short Answer

Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is Hawaii's busiest film tourism destination, offering guided tours of the valleys seen in Jurassic Park, Lost and Kong: Skull Island. Kauai's Na Pali Coast, featured in Raiders of the Lost Ark and South Pacific, is viewed by boat or helicopter. Many Honolulu spots, including Diamond Head and Waikiki, can be visited independently and for free.

Few places turn up on screen as often as Hawaii. Since Elvis Presley filmed Blue Hawaii here in 1961, the islands have doubled as jungles, war zones, tropical resorts and dinosaur parks. Jurassic Park put Kualoa Ranch on the map in 1993, Lost kept crews on Oahu for six seasons, and Hawaii Five-0 ran for a decade using Honolulu as its backdrop.

The result is a screen tourism scene split across two islands. Oahu holds the working studios, the ranch tours and the urban locations, while Kauai supplies the cliffs and waterfalls that opened Raiders of the Lost Ark and closed out South Pacific. Most visitors base themselves in Honolulu or Waikiki and add at least one film tour to a standard beach holiday.

What Was Filmed Here

Hawaii's filming history spans more than six decades, from Blue Hawaii in 1961 to modern blockbusters like Kong: Skull Island. The productions below explain why so many travelers recognize valleys, beaches and bays they have never actually visited. Jurassic Park and its 2015 sequel Jurassic World anchor the list, but television has been just as significant: Lost aired from 2004 to 2010 and Hawaii Five-0 from 2010 to 2020, both shot almost entirely on Oahu. Magnum P.I., rebooted in 2018, continues the tradition with Oahu estates and coastal action.

Title	Year	Type	What was filmed here
Jurassic Park	1993	Film	Helicopter descent into valley, dinosaur stampede scenes at Kualoa Ranch and Na Pali Coast
Lost	2004-2010	TV	Survivors' camp, jungle interiors, golf course at Kualoa Ranch and North Shore beaches
Hawaii Five-0	2010-2020	TV	Headquarters exteriors, action sequences at Diamond Head, Waikiki, Kualoa Ranch
50 First Dates	2004	Film	Romantic scenes, valley drives at Kualoa Ranch
Raiders of the Lost Ark	1981	Film	Opening jungle sequence on Na Pali Coast
South Pacific	1958	Film	Bali Ha'i island views on Na Pali Coast and Hanalei Bay
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides	2011	Film	Mermaid scenes, coastline at Turtle Bay and Na Pali Coast
Kong: Skull Island	2017	Film	Jungle and valley sequences at Kualoa Ranch
Blue Hawaii	1961	Film	Beach and resort scenes at Waikiki and Diamond Head
Pearl Harbor	2001	Film	Military and scenic backdrops at Kualoa Ranch
The Descendants	2011	Film	Remote beach scenes on Kauai
Lilo & Stitch	2002	Film	North Shore beaches and lighthouses on Kauai
Jurassic World	2015	Film	Additional valley and ranch scenes at Kualoa Ranch
Magnum P.I.	2018-present	TV	Oahu estates and coastal action
Forgetting Sarah Marshall	2008	Film	Resort scenes at Turtle Bay
King Kong	1976	Film	Cliff and valley shots on Na Pali Coast
Tora! Tora! Tora!	1970	Film	Military scenes around Diamond Head and Oahu
Honeymoon in Vegas	1992	Film	Various Kauai and Oahu spots including gardens

Filming Locations Map

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Locations You Can Visit

The single most filmed valley in Hawaii. Jurassic Park staged its dinosaur stampede here, Lost built its survivors' jungle and golf course, and Kong: Skull Island, 50 First Dates, Pearl Harbor and Hawaii Five-0 all shot sequences in the same green expanse. Access is ticketed only: the ranch is open daily for guided tours, not self-guided visits, so booking ahead is essential.

The waterfall the Jurassic Park helicopter descends toward is privately owned land on Kauai. There is no hiking route in; the only access is by helicopter tour, and landing is permitted on a limited schedule. Tours typically pair the falls landing with aerial views of Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast, making it one of the more spectacular film pilgrimages in the islands.

Kauai's sheer coastal cliffs opened Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, doubled as Bali Ha'i in South Pacific, and appeared in Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. There is no road access. Visitors see the coast by boat tour, helicopter, or the Kalalau Trail, which requires a permit for its full length. King Kong filmed cliff shots here in 1976.

The crater silhouette that opens countless Hawaii establishing shots appears in Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Hawaii, and Tora! Tora! Tora! filmed military scenes around it in 1970. Today it is a state monument with a hiking trail to the rim and parking on site. Sunrise views from the top are popular, so early arrival is advised.

Free public access makes Waikiki the easiest film location in Hawaii to visit. Hawaii Five-0 shot beachfront action here, Blue Hawaii filmed resort scenes in 1961, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall used the shoreline for its Hawaii-set sequences. The beach is crowded, but nearby parking garages make a quick visit straightforward for travelers staying anywhere in Honolulu.

This North Shore beach near Haleiwa stood in for the main survivors' camp in Lost. Fans of the series will recognize the stretch of sand and the jungle backing it. It remains a normal public beach, so check surf conditions before visiting, especially in winter when the North Shore swells draw big-wave surfers and close some areas.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides filmed its mermaid kiss scene here, reportedly under the resort's banyan tree, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall shot its resort scenes on the same grounds. The beach itself is public, and parts of the resort grounds are accessible to visitors, making this an easy add-on to a North Shore drive from Honolulu.

Part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai's south shore, Allerton Garden supplied lush estate scenes for Jurassic Park and appeared in Honeymoon in Vegas. Access is ticketed and tours are guided, so book ahead. The garden's manicured lanes and water features give it a distinctly cinematic feel even for visitors with no film knowledge.

The only royal palace in the United States appears in Hawaii Five-0 establishing shots tied to the headquarters vicinity. It functions as a museum with guided tours available, and its downtown Honolulu location places it within walking distance of other city filming spots. Film fans and history buffs can combine both angles in a single visit.

This north Kauai bay provided Bali Ha'i views in South Pacific and beach establishing shots in Lilo & Stitch. It remains one of the most popular beaches on the island, with parking limited in peak season. The surrounding town of Hanalei makes a good base for exploring Kauai's north shore film locations, including nearby coastline used in multiple productions.

The canyon overlooks on Kauai's west side have supplied views for multiple film productions over the decades. The state park charges entry fees for non-residents. The lookouts offer something close to an aerial perspective without a helicopter, and they sit on the road toward the Kalalau Trail trailhead for travelers combining canyon views with a Na Pali hike.

The small cone-shaped island offshore from Kualoa appears in background shots in both Hawaii Five-0 and Lost. It is visible from Kualoa Regional Park, which makes it a convenient photo stop before or after a Kualoa Ranch movie tour. Kayak access is possible for the active, and the views back toward the ranch valleys are excellent.

Studios And Film Tours

Hawaii's production infrastructure is anchored by the Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head, a state-managed facility used for interior shoots on Lost and Hawaii Five-0 and run under the Hawaii Film Office, which has coordinated permits for state lands since 1978. The studio itself is not a public attraction. The practical alternative for visitors is Kualoa Ranch, a private working ranch in Kaneohe that operates ATV, bus and horseback movie site tours and is widely regarded as the most popular film tour in Hawaii. The state film office highlights it as a premier private filming location.

Film And TV Tours Here

Three bookable tours cover the essential film sites. The Kualoa Ranch tours are the core option, with nearly two thousand reviews between the standard movie sites tour and the Jurassic-focused adventure. Travelers who want the Lost angle specifically can choose a Hummer tour from Honolulu that reaches North Shore locations, including areas near the survivors' camp beach. All three run in English.

Ranch Movie Sites Bus Tour

Oahu Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites and Ranch Tour

The standard Kualoa Ranch experience, covering the Jurassic Park, Lost, Kong: Skull Island and Hawaii Five-0 sites in Ka'a'awa Valley. Rated 4.6 across 1,846 reviews, it is the most-reviewed film tour on the island.

4.6 out of 5 · 1,846 reviewsOahu

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Jurassic Adventure By Vehicle

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic Adventure Tour

For visitors who want the dinosaur legacy front and center, this tour focuses on Jurassic Park and Jurassic World locations within the ranch. It holds a 4.6 rating from 626 reviews and pairs well with the general movie sites tour.

4.6 out of 5 · 626 reviewsOahu

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Hummer Tour From Honolulu

Oahu: 'Lost' and Movie Sites Hummer Tour

A Lost-first itinerary: this Hummer tour from Honolulu targets the North Shore beaches where the survivors' camp scenes were shot, plus other Oahu movie sites, with a 4.6 rating from 105 reviews.

4.6 out of 5 · 105 reviewsHonolulu

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit Kualoa Ranch without a tour?

No. The ranch is open daily for guided tours only and does not permit self-guided access to the filming valleys. Visitors choose among bus, ATV and horseback tour options, and advance booking is recommended because it is the most popular film tour in Hawaii.

Where was Jurassic Park filmed in Hawaii?

Kualoa Ranch on Oahu hosted the dinosaur stampede scenes and valley shots, while Kauai supplied the Na Pali Coast helicopter imagery and Manawaiopuna Falls, the waterfall the helicopter descends toward. Jurassic World returned to Kualoa Ranch in 2015 for additional valley and ranch scenes.

Can you see where Lost was filmed?

Yes. The survivors' beach camp was Papailoa Beach on Oahu's North Shore, which is public, while jungle interiors and the golf course were shot at Kualoa Ranch. Interior scenes were filmed at the state-run Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head, which is not open to the public.

How do you see the Na Pali Coast filming locations?

There is no road access. Options are boat tours, helicopter flights, or hiking the Kalalau Trail, which requires a permit for the full route. The coast appeared in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, South Pacific, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and King Kong in 1976.

Which Hawaii film locations are free to visit?

Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head (state monument with parking), Papailoa Beach, Hanalei Bay, the Turtle Bay beach, Waimea Canyon lookouts (state park entry fees apply for non-residents) and Mokoli'i Island viewpoints are all publicly accessible. Kualoa Ranch, Allerton Garden, Iolani Palace and Manawaiopuna Falls require tickets or a helicopter tour.

Which island is best for a movie locations trip?

Oahu has the deepest production history and the only dedicated movie tours, centered on Kualoa Ranch and Honolulu locations from Hawaii Five-0, Magnum P.I. and Lost. Kauai is the choice for dramatic scenery tied to Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark and South Pacific. Travelers with time often split a trip between the two.

Hawaii rewards both casual viewers and devoted fans. A single day at Kualoa Ranch covers more recognizable terrain than most film destinations anywhere, and the free public beaches and lookouts around Honolulu and Kauai cost nothing beyond parking and permits. Book the ranch early, pick a clear day for any Na Pali Coast boat or helicopter trip, and the islands' screen history takes care of itself.

Sources

Movie And TV Locations In Hawaii

The Short Answer

What Was Filmed Here

Filming Locations Map

Locations You Can Visit

Kualoa Ranch Ka'a'awa Valley

Manawaiopuna Falls (Jurassic Falls)

Na Pali Coast

Diamond Head

Waikiki Beach

Papailoa Beach (Lost Survivors Camp)

Turtle Bay Resort area

Allerton Garden (National Tropical Botanical Garden)

Iolani Palace

Hanalei Bay

Waimea Canyon Lookouts

Mokoli'i Island (Chinaman's Hat)

Studios And Film Tours