White soundstage buildings behind palm trees with Diamond Head crater in distance

Where Was Hawaii Five-0 Filmed?

The 2010 series shot almost entirely on Oahu, turning Honolulu landmarks into Five-0 territory for ten seasons.

Check availabilitySee every location

The Short Answer

Hawaii Five-0, which ran from 2010 to 2020, was filmed almost entirely on Oahu, Hawaii. Exteriors used real locations across Honolulu and the island, while interiors and built sets were shot at the state-owned Hawaii Film Studio at the foot of Diamond Head. Key sites include Aliʻiōlani Hale as Five-0 headquarters, Kualoa Ranch for jungle scenes, and Punchbowl for funeral sequences.

Hawaii Five-0 ran for ten seasons between 2010 and 2020, and unlike many shows that fake their settings, it shot where the story happens. Oahu served as both the setting and the production base, so viewers see genuine Honolulu streets, beaches, and mountains week after week.

That authenticity pays off for travelers. Most of the locations are places the public can already visit, several for free, and a guided filming locations tour ties the biggest sites together in a single day.

Every Location At A Glance

LocationWhereWhat was filmedAccess
Hawaii Film StudioHonoluluInteriors, soundstages, sets for multiple seasonsTicketed
Aliʻiōlani HaleHonoluluFive-0 headquarters exterior, including King Kamehameha statueFree to see
Kualoa RanchKaneoheJungle, mountain, valley scenes across many episodesTicketed
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl)HonoluluFuneral scenes, Steve McGarrett's father's graveFree to see
Hilton Hawaiian VillageHonoluluBeach and restaurant scenes, Kamekona's shrimp truck location nearbyFree to see
Diamond Head CraterHonoluluCrater scenes, lookout views in multiple episodesTicketed
USS Missouri MemorialHonoluluHostage and action scenes aboard the battleship (e.g., season 1)Ticketed
Koko Head Stairs (Koko Crater Trail)HonoluluTraining location for actor Alex O'LoughlinFree to see

Filming Locations Map

8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Hawaii Film Studio, Honolulu
Location 01

Hawaii Film Studio

Oahu, Honolulu Ticketed

Filmed here: Interiors, soundstages, sets for multiple seasons

This state-owned studio at the foot of Diamond Head in Honolulu served as the primary production base for all 10 seasons. Interiors, soundstages, and constructed sets were built and shot here, including recreations of spaces whose exteriors were filmed elsewhere, such as parts of Steve McGarrett's house. Access is ticketed and generally comes as part of guided Hawaii Five-0 filming locations tours rather than independent visits.

Aliʻiōlani Hale, Honolulu
Location 02

Aliʻiōlani Hale

Oahu, Honolulu Free to see

Filmed here: Five-0 headquarters exterior, including King Kamehameha statue

The historic courthouse in downtown Honolulu, home of the Hawaii Supreme Court, appeared as the Five-0 headquarters exterior in nearly every episode, with the famous King Kamehameha statue standing out front. It is one of the easiest sites to visit: the exterior and grounds are public and free to explore, and the downtown location makes it a natural stop on any walk through Honolulu.

Kualoa Ranch, Kaneohe
Location 03

Kualoa Ranch

Oahu, Kaneohe Ticketed

Filmed here: Jungle, mountain, valley scenes across many episodes

This working ranch in Kaneohe provided jungle, mountain, and valley backdrops for dozens of episodes, and it has long been one of Hawaii's busiest filming locations for many other productions too. Today the ranch runs its own ticketed movie site tours that take visitors into the valleys seen on screen. It sits on Oahu's windward side and pairs well with a full day exploring that coast.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), Honolulu
Location 04

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl)

Oahu, Honolulu Free to see

Filmed here: Funeral scenes, Steve McGarrett's father's grave

Set inside an extinct volcanic crater in Honolulu, Punchbowl was used for recurring funeral and grave scenes, including those for Steve McGarrett's father. Entry is free and the grounds are open to the public, though it remains an active military cemetery, so quiet and respectful visits are expected. The memorial's hillside setting also gives sweeping views over Honolulu and the coastline.

Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu
Location 05

Hilton Hawaiian Village

Oahu, Honolulu Free to see

Filmed here: Beach and restaurant scenes, Kamekona's shrimp truck location nearby

This large Waikiki resort appeared in beach and restaurant scenes, and the area nearby served as a location for Kamekona's shrimp truck. The beach itself has public access, so anyone can walk the stretch of sand shown on screen without paying resort rates. Its location at the west end of Waikiki makes it an easy add-on to a beach day or a stroll along the shoreline.

Diamond Head Crater, Honolulu
Location 06

Diamond Head Crater

Oahu, Honolulu Ticketed

Filmed here: Crater scenes, lookout views in multiple episodes

The famous crater appeared in crater scenes and lookout views across multiple episodes, and its slopes essentially neighbor the Hawaii Film Studio where the show was based. Today it is a state monument with an entry fee and a hiking trail to the summit, one of Oahu's most popular walks. The payoff at the top is the same panorama the cameras captured repeatedly during the series.

USS Missouri Memorial, Honolulu
Location 07

USS Missouri Memorial

Oahu, Honolulu Ticketed

Filmed here: Hostage and action scenes aboard the battleship (e.g., season 1)

The battleship at Pearl Harbor hosted hostage and action sequences, including a notable season 1 episode. Visits are ticketed, and the memorial offers tours of the ship as part of the wider Pearl Harbor experience. Because it sits alongside other historic sites, it works well folded into a broader day at Pearl Harbor rather than as a standalone filming location trip.

Koko Head Stairs (Koko Crater Trail), Honolulu
Location 08

Koko Head Stairs (Koko Crater Trail)

Oahu, Honolulu Free to see

Filmed here: Training location for actor Alex O'Loughlin

This steep staircase trail on Honolulu's east side was a personal training ground for Alex O'Loughlin, the actor who played Steve McGarrett, rather than an on-screen location. It is public and free, but the climb is strenuous, climbing old railway ties up the crater's flank, and it draws a fitness-minded crowd. The summit views over the coast are the reward.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

Here the distinction barely matters: the show is set in Hawaii, primarily Oahu, and it was filmed primarily on Oahu too, with studio work at the Hawaii Film Studio. Only occasional scenes strayed to other locations, which is rare for a network series. Viewers were seeing the real island nearly every week.

The Studio Side

The Hawaii Film Studio in Honolulu served as the primary production base for all 10 seasons of the 2010 series. The state-owned facility sits at the foot of Diamond Head and handled the interiors, soundstages, and built sets. It is visitable, typically as a stop included in guided Hawaii Five-0 filming locations tours, since general public access is limited.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Most of the filming sites are simple to reach independently, but the studio is the exception, and a guided tour connects the scattered locations efficiently.

Guided Filming Locations Tour, Oahu

Oahu: Hawaii Five-0 Filming Locations Guided Tour

This guided tour covers Hawaii Five-0 filming sites across Oahu and includes access to the Hawaii Film Studio, the one significant location that is hard to arrange on your own. At $139 per person it holds a 4.4 rating from 25 reviews.

4.4 out of 5 · 25 reviews

From$139Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Hawaii Five-0 actually filmed in Hawaii?

Yes. The 2010 series was filmed almost entirely on Oahu, using real island locations for exteriors and the Hawaii Film Studio at Diamond Head for interiors and sets across all 10 seasons.

Can you visit the Hawaii Five-0 headquarters building?

Yes. Aliʻiōlani Hale in downtown Honolulu stood in for Five-0 headquarters, including the King Kamehameha statue out front. The building houses the Hawaii Supreme Court, and the exterior and grounds are free and open to the public.

Which Hawaii Five-0 locations are free to visit?

Aliʻiōlani Hale, Punchbowl Cemetery, the Hilton Hawaiian Village beach area, and the Koko Head Stairs trail are all public and free. Diamond Head Crater, Kualoa Ranch, and the USS Missouri Memorial charge entry or tour fees.

Can you tour the Hawaii Film Studio?

The studio is generally seen as part of a guided Hawaii Five-0 filming locations tour rather than through independent visits, since general public access is limited.

Where was Steve McGarrett's house filmed?

Exterior shots of McGarrett's home used the Bayer Estate in Aina Haina, while interiors were often recreated on sets at the Hawaii Film Studio.

Is Kualoa Ranch worth visiting for Hawaii Five-0 fans?

Yes. The ranch supplied jungle, mountain, and valley scenery for dozens of episodes and runs its own ticketed movie site tours. It has also appeared in many other productions, so the tour covers more than one show.

Oahu makes this an easy pilgrimage. The headquarters building, the Punchbowl crater cemetery, and the Diamond Head trail are all public and inexpensive, while a guided tour adds the studio and pulls the wider map of sites into one day. Fans of the show can cover most of it in two or three days without leaving the island.

Keep Exploring

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