The Hawaiian Islands are no stranger to the big and small screen, and have been featured in many movies over the years. Though all islands have been used in feature films, Oahu has been utilized the most, and continues to be a hot spot for both television and movies. You may recall that the island was the prime film location for the hit series LOST, and many of the sites from the show can be found and visited.
As you look around the island, it is easy to see why Hollywood has been so willing to use the beaches, rainforest, and even the local communities in movies. The diverse landscape allows the use of different parts of the island as different locales, and production crews don't have to go very far to find beautiful scenery.
Here are 8 movies and their film locations that you can see while visiting Oahu:
50 First Dates – though this film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Berrymore used a large portion of the island, the primary spots seen throughout the film are Kualoa Ranch and Sea Life Park. Sandler depicted a trainer at the park, and even utilized some of the parks residence in the film.
Godzilla – multiple Godzilla films have used Oahu, most recently the 2014 version that filmed in Waikiki and at Kualoa Ranch. Visiting Kualoa, Godzilla’s footprint is still there, and you can stand in it, just to see how big he really is.
From Here to Eternity – One of the first films to be filmed on the island, From Here to Eternity takes place on Oahu, and follows the story of a soldier who is stationed at Scholfield Barracks. The film’s most famous scene takes place at Halona Cove on the South Shore of the island, and is widely recognized as one of film’s most iconic scenes.
Pearl Harbor – not well received throughout the years, Pearl Harbor opened to much hype when it was released. Filming took place on Ford Island, at Pearl Harbor, and at Kualoa Ranch. Many active duty sailors were used, as well as many island locals.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall – this comedy has developed quite the cult following over the years, and was filmed largely at Turtle Bay on Oahu’s North Shore. Local beaches were used for filming, and the luxury hotel plays a prominent role in the story.
Blue Hawaii – how could we leave Elvis off this list? Elvis loved Hawaii, and Hawaii loves Elvis. Later, The King would film “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and “Paradise, Hawaiian Style” on Oahu, but this remains his most well known movie. Filming took place all over the island, and also filmed quite a bit on Kauai.
Raider of the Lost Ark – while Raiders didn’t film much on Oahu, we’re going to count it, because how could we leave this off the list. You’ll recognize Oahu during the famous tarantula scene, though in the film the setting served as Peru.
Jurassic Park – we’ve saved the biggest of them all for last. The blockbuster used Oahu’s Kualoa Ranch for one of the most famous scenes in movie history. Visit the ranch and see the log that the park visitors hid under while running from a flock of dinosaurs. Kauai was the main film location, but Maui and Oahu were also featured.
Bonus: there is no list of movies filmed on Oahu without including Point Break. Campy enough to be bad, yet so bad it’s good. Rumors of a reboot have been swirling for years, but we’ll take Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah any day.
Oahu’s famous film locations can be seen during your visit, and many of the tours that are available on our website take you to these locations. Kualoa Ranch features tours and activities that include these famous sites, and you can discover your favorites during your trip with Hawaii Discount.
Due to the high volume of visitors traveling to Hawaii year round, our Oahu tours and Oahu activities sell out quickly. In many cases, tours sell out weeks or months in advance, especially our top seller Sea Life Park Luau. To ensure your spots on tour, we recommend reserving your tours today. Call our office or book online to take advantage of our low price guarantee today.
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