For Movie Buffs, These 5 Spots on Kauaʻi Will Look Familiar
The Garden Isle has been the backdrop for numerous blockbuster films over the years.
If you’ve ever visited Kauaʻi and thought, this view looks like it was plucked straight from the big screen, it probably was. The epic Nāpali Coast dramatically cuts into the Pacific, offering up a quintessential picture of paradise. With sea-sprayed limestone cliffs, water-streaked emerald mountains, rich volcanic red dirt and a tropical jungle setting that seems otherworldly—it’s no wonder the Garden Island has been featured in so many films.
Here are 5 spots for movie buffs to check out while visiting Kauaʻi.
1. Movie: “Jurassic Park”
Allerton Garden has the famous Moreton Bay fig tree featured in “Jurassic Park.”
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Ben Ono
Scene: In the famous 1993 movie, paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant and the grandchildren of the park’s creator discover dinosaur eggs at the base of an enormous tree.
Location: Allerton Garden, Poʻipū
How to see it: Allerton Garden has both guided and self-tours, but to see the famous Moreton Bay fig tree, you must book a guided tour. Its deep buttress roots can dwarf a 6-foot-tall person.
2. Movie: “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”
Honopū is only accessible by boat.
Photo: Getty Images/ Michael Dauchot
Scene: In his quest to find the fountain of youth, Jack Sparrow lands on a deserted beach that features a natural arch.
Location: Honopū Beach, Nāpali Coast
How to see it: Honopū is only accessible by boat (or helicopter in Johnny Depp’s case). The easiest way to check it out is on a boat tour of the Nāpali Coast. For the more seasoned paddlers, kayaking is an option if the conditions are right. Some trails in Kōkeʻe State Park offer views of Honopū from the mauka side, and helicopter tours give the full aerial view.
3. Movie: “The Descendants”
“The Descendants” features a scene with George Clooney at Tahiti Nui in Hanalei, Kauaʻi.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Scene: Set and filmed in Hanalei, “The Descendants” features a scene with George Clooney at a local watering hole.
Location: Tahiti Nui
How to see it: Yes, the Tiki bar featured in the movie is an actual place, not just a set. Stop by for a mai tai or a family meal for the full tropical vacation vibe. Bonus: Cruise Hanalei Bay, the beach where the family was filmed at sunset and where George Clooney famously popped out from behind a hedge.
4. Movie: “Blue Hawaiʻi”
ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls on Kauaʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/ Edmund Lowe Photography
Scene: There are plenty of locations on Kauaʻi where Elvis serenaded the world in “Blue Hawaiʻi,” most notably the Coco Palms Resort. Although Coco Palms was never rebuilt after Hurricane Iniki in 1992, Elvis fans will recognize a waterfall from the film, just around the corner.
Location: ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls
How to see it: Along the Wailua River (also featured in the film) is the Wailua Heritage Trail to ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls. The place has ample parking and it’s just a quick walk to the falls, making this an easy scenic pit stop.
5. Movie: “South Pacific”
View of Makana Mountain on Kauaʻi.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson
Scene: Made world-famous by the song “Bali Hai,” Makana Mountain makes for a magnificent backdrop, both in the movie and in real life.
Location: Makana Mountain
How to see it: Being transported to Bali Hai is as easy as a day at the beach—with a little planning. Visitors must make reservations to visit the north shore’s Kēʻē Beach, where the Nāpali Coast’s 17-mile stretch begins.
Allison Frascatore is a contributor to HAWAIʻI Magazine.
