A Few of Our Favorite Movies Filmed in Hawaii

Hawaii. The land of sun, sand, and surf… and some pretty amazing movies! If you’ve ever wanted to see the island state on the big screen (or just wanted to daydream about being there), then check out our list of a few of our favorite movies filmed in Hawaii.

Some Of Our Favorite Hawaii Movies

The Jurassic Park Films

We can’t talk about movies filmed in Hawaii without mentioning the Jurassic Park films! Jurassic Park & Jurassic World were both shot on multiple Hawaiian Islands, and it’s easy to see why director Steven Spielberg chose these filming locations. With its lush vegetation and dramatic cliffs, the island provides the perfect backdrop for a story about prehistoric creatures coming back to life. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing Jeff Goldblum run around, afraid for his life? Some of the opening scenes of the original film were shot here on Maui, including the helicopter landing at Jurassic Park Falls (West Maui Mountains) and the flight toward the island over Keopuka Rock on the North Shore (you can see a different view of it from the Garden of Eden.)

Pirates of the Caribbean

Who could forget about this swashbuckling adventure and major blockbuster hit starring Johnny Depp? Many of the movie’s different scenes were filmed on Kauai and Molokai. Fun fact: Some of the movie’s crew members even made their homes on Kauai. The draw of these islands has brought many actors and filmmakers to work and found them staying (at least part-time as a second residence.)  Come for the work, stay longer for a Kauai luau, then stay for the community and lifestyle.

50 First Dates

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore team up for this heartwarming romantic comedy set in… you guessed it, Hawaii! Oahu’s North Shore was used as a stand-in for the fictional town of Hukilau Bay, where Henry (Sandler) falls in love with Lucy (Barrymore), who suffers from amnesia and forgets him every day. Adam Sandler has become notorious for making film after film in Hawaii. And why wouldn’t you? If you’re gonna make a comedy that could be set anywhere, why not Hawaii?

Whether it’s cracking up at Forgetting Sarah Marshall or Tropic Thunder, searching for mythical beasts in King Kong: Skull Island, or enjoying time-specific feature films like Pearl Harbor or South Pacific, there’s a movie filmed in Hawaii that’s sure to please. So sit back, relax, and escape to paradise… at least for a couple of hours! Visiting Maui? Check out these fun things to do on Haleakala.