If you find yourself taking a stroll during your Hawaiian vacation and stumble across something that looks strikingly familiar, chances are that you have indeed seen it before. It’s no secret that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, which in turn makes it an alluring location for studios to shoot movies on any of the breathtaking islands. Movie buffs who are planning a trip to stay at a Hawaii vacation rental soon should be aware of all the famous spots on each of the islands where some of the most iconic scenes in cinema were filmed at. Here’s a list of the exact locations where memorable movies were shot at on Oahu, Maui and Kauai:
Oahu
Even if you’ve never visited the gorgeous island of Oahu, odds are you’ve certainly seen the precious scenery before in one of your favorite films. With its incredible beaches and tropical topography, Oahu has been the home for dozens of movie shoots dating all the way back to the early 1950s. “From Here to Eternity” contains one of the most romantic and recognized scenes in cinematic history, and perhaps what makes the clip truly sizzle is the dazzling Oahu beach setting. The scene in question features legendary actors Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr sharing a long and passionate kiss, while the waves of the ocean crash on shore and the water rushes past their bodies. The kiss was shot on the shores of Halona Cove, located on the southeastern corner of Oahu and is always open to potentially recreate your own iconic smooch scene, if the mood happens to strike!
Recreate your own iconic kiss scene where they shot “From Here to Eternity.”Of course, there plenty of other famous movies that have used the wondrous backdrops of Oahu to shoot in. Those staying at an Oahu beach rental can go visit Hanauma Bay Beach Park, where you can do your best Elvis impression while admiring the shores where they shot the singer’s 1961 comedy “Blue Hawaii.” Action buffs will get a kick out of traveling over to Waimea Bay, the site where many surfing scenes from the 1991 movie “Point Break” were filmed. Or, you can keep things romantic by exploring the several Oahu locations where the 2003 Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore romantic comedy “50 First Dates” was shot, such as Waimanalo Beach, Ka’a’awa Valley and Waikane Pier.
Maui
Maui remains a popular choice for filming primarily due to all the popular attractions within the metropolitan areas that are surrounded by some of the most breathtaking natural settings in the world. If there are any Bond fans in your travel group, you might want to consider taking them over to Peahi Beach along the North Shore of the island. While Peahi Beach, known to the locals simply as Jaws, is home to what many consider to be some of the biggest waves in the world, it’s also the spot where the opening scene of 2002’s “Die Another Day” was shot. The scene in question involves an intricate surfing fight scene with Bond and some villains, and while you probably won’t be able to see anything remotely close to that take place, you’re practically guaranteed to see some talented surfers riding the giant waves in the distance.
Visitors to Maui who love the classic movies of back in the day should know that the island has been the setting for many movies featuring some of the most respected names in all of cinema. Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy shot the famous 1961 disaster film “The Devil at 4 O’Clock” all around the town of Lahaina, which was also where Rock Hudson filmed another disaster classic in 1958 called “Twilight for the Gods.”
“Many refer to Manawaiopuna Falls as simply ‘Jurassic Falls.'”
Kauai
The island of Kauai has just about every type of natural setting you could possibly need for a film, whether it’s a picture perfect sunset on the beach or a misty mountain fog amidst deep rainforest-like terrain. This is why it’s been chosen for a number of big blockbusters whenever there’s a need for awe-inspiring nature. Arguably the most famous of all the scenes shot on any Hawaiian island is from the 1993 action classic “Jurassic Park.” While the movie was filmed in multiple countries around the world, one of its most recognized scenes was shot at Manawaiopuna Falls, just south of the central region of the island of Kauai. Anyone who has seen “Jurassic Park” will immediately be able to remember the descending helicopter scenes near the beginning of the movie upon gazing at the majestic Manawaiopuna Falls. In fact, many of the locals simply refer to the cascade as Jurassic Falls now, due to the immense popularity.
Of course, “Jurassic Park” isn’t the only Steven Spielberg blockbuster to be shot on location at Kauai. Any Indiana Jones fans might be able to recognize a few scenes from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” by spending a day exploring the scenery of Kipu Ranch or the Anahola Mountains, where a few chase sequences were filmed. Any admirers of the action-comedy spectacular “Tropic Thunder” will be pleased to know that the film was exclusively shot on Kauai, primarily around Wailua Falls and Kauai Sands Beach. In fact, the movie was the largest production in the island’s history, and reports estimate that “Tropic Thunder” earned the local economy more than $60 million.