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Want to embrace your inner aloha before your trip to Hawaii? The beautiful Hawaiian islands have been featured in a long list of TV shows and movies for many years. Hawaii provides a lot of incentives to keep the film industry coming back, including well-established production infrastructure.
But the main draw is really Hawaii’s natural and dramatic scenery. With volcanoes, beaches, rainforests, and ranch lands all in close proximity, one island can easily stand in for many different parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and Central America, while inspiring just as many fictional places.
If you’re hoping for a sneak peak of your next great vacation in Hawaii, look no further than this list of famous Hawaiian places from both big and small screens.
Maui had a recent prime-time moment as the filming location for Season 1 of “The White Lotus.” The show that had everyone talking used the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea as its dramatic backdrop. You can visit the lobby lounge for signature drinks and snacks or take a walk along nearby Wailea Beach – both featured prominently in the show.
A short stroll along a pleasant, beachfront walking path brings you to another famous film location: the Grand Wailea Maui. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston filmed large parts of their 2011 romantic comedy “Just Go with It” here, as well as at the nearby Wailea Golf Club and Tennis Club in the same resort area. While there, enjoy the resort's dining, spa, shopping, and public beach access, or just wander through the lobby and gardens to view the extensive, high-end art collection.
And what was first the setting of a best-selling book later became the location for several scenes of the movie adaptation. Hawaii by James Michener was published in 1959, the year that Hawaii became the 50th US state. The movie adaptation and its sequel “The Hawaiians” with Charlton Heston soon followed. Several famous scenes in the sequel were filmed on Maui, including in and around Maalaea Harbor and Lahaina.
Polo Beach 108. Escape to paradise at this ground-floor condo at the exclusive Polo Beach Club. Enjoy stunning ocean views, lush gardens and direct access to Wailea’s premier swimming beach. The “endless lanai” allows you to step straight onto the pool, beach or scenic oceanfront walkway.
Luxuriously furnished with a fully stocked kitchen and resort-style amenities like a shared pool and jacuzzi, this condo offers tranquility and convenience just steps from the Fairmont Kea Lani and top Maui attractions.
Some of the most well-known movies to be filmed on the Hawaiian Islands are “Jurassic Park” and its sequels. Much of the raw and prehistoric-looking scenery of the fictional Isla Nublar was actually filmed on Kauai, including the dramatic Na Pali Coast.
Manawaiopuna Falls, a 400-foot waterfall located in the Hanapepe Valley, is now unofficially known as "Jurassic Falls," and can be included on some private helicopter tours of the island.
Families nostalgic for early 2000s Disney movies will appreciate that the Garden Island inspired the animated film Lilo & Stitch. The cartoon’s fictional setting of Kokaua Town was based on the real towns of Hanapepe and Hanalei. Disney artists researched the island before drawing scenes featuring the Na Pali Coast and Kilauea Lighthouse.
Opaekaa Falls can also be spotted in quite a few Hollywood blockbusters. This 151-foot waterfall has been featured in everything from “Blue Hawaii” with Elvis in 1961 to “Jungle Cruise” with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in 2021. You can see it in real life from the designated lookout point just off Kuamoo Road (Highway 580) in Wailua.
And if you’re searching for a little more of an adventure, visit Kipu Ranch. Located just outside of Lihue, these green mountains, volcanic landscapes, and lush oceanfront views are the real-life settings from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and The Descendants. Even better, you can book an eco-tour by ATV of this historic working ranch for an unforgettable Kauai experience of your own.
Lanikai Hale. Discover Lanikai Hale, a luxurious, family-friendly retreat on the south short of Kauai. This peaceful villa includes access to a detached ohana (guest house) and comfortably accommodates up to 10 guests.
Enjoy a private pool, hot tub, fire pit, outdoor kitchen and ocean views. Indoors, find a chef-ready kitchen, airy living spaces, and spa-like bathrooms. Close to pristine beaches, hiking, and dining, this home offers a perfect blend of comfort, elegance, and island adventure for your family.
The Big Island of Hawaii has an incredible diversity of dramatic landscapes that make for otherworldly movie settings. Many classic sci-fi and adventure films feature the volcanic formations and lush jungles of the island – including “Planet of the Apes” and “Predator”.
Places like Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where the past and current activity of Kīlauea volcano is always on display, is one such film location you won’t want to miss. Rumour also has it that James Cameron’s “Avatar” was inspired by famous views on the Big Island, such as towering Mauna Kea and the beautiful stretches of the Kona coastline.
On the Hilo side, a century-old plantation manager’s residence in Keaau known as Banyan House was a frequent setting for TV shows, commercials and movies – including “The Hawaiians” and “Hawaii 5-0” in the 1970s. Not far away is famous Banyan Drive, a scenic road lined by the towering giant trees. The banyans were planted by celebrities and politicians starting in 1933 (including Amelia Earhart and Babe Ruth) and you can also visit the peaceful Japanese-style Liliuokalani Gardens while there.
Luxus Big Island Properties. The Luxus Collection on the Big Island now offers two exceptional retreats. In Waikoloa Village, Kolea 9H is a refined two-bedroom escape with upscale finishes, spacious indoor-outdoor living, and easy access to beaches, pools, and resort amenities. In Mauna Lani, Hale Nanea pairs contemporary island design with a private lanai and access to pristine shoreline, trails, and boutique dining.
Each one of our luxury accommodations in Hawaii offer a range of indoor and outdoor spaces that give every member of your group the space to unplug and reconnect. Well-situated for both privacy and easy access to amenities, you’ll have everything you need to enjoy the natural beauty Hawaii is famous for.
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