12 Places You Recognize From Hawaii That Showed Up In Famous Movies

The Hawaiian Islands are a popular location for the production of many Hollywood movies — and who could blame them? With the vast Pacific Ocean and several towering, verdant mountain ranges as a backdrop (not to mention secret beaches and lush, tropical surroundings) Hawaii is the perfect location to film tropical scenes of any sort. From prehistoric classics and action films to romantic comedies, these famous filming locations in Hawaii show up in all sorts of movies.

1. On the north shore of Kauai, Hanalei Bay has appeared in South Pacific, The Descendents, and Lilo & Stitch.

2. Oahu’s Turtle Bay Resort has been the location for various film and television shoots, the most famous of which is Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

3. Waimea Canyon, also known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” can be seen in Donovan’s Reef, Honeymoon in Vegas, and Lilo & Stitch.

4. A scene from the 2002 film The Day After Tomorrow was filmed at the summit of Mauna Kea.

5. Kauai’s fabled Na Pali coast can be seen in Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and Six Days Seven Nights.

6. The small island of Molokai is where a large portion of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End was filmed.

7. Manawaiopuna Falls was made famous after its appearance in Jurassic Park.

8. Kualoa Ranch has played host to a variety of film productions, including 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park, Soul Surfer, Along Came Polly, The Hunger Games, Godzilla, and George of the Jungle, as well as several television shows.

9. Kauai’s Ke’e Beach appeared in Lord of the Flies, The Thorn Birds, and Throw Mama From The Train.

10. You can see Oahu’s famous Hanauma Bay in Elvis’ 1961 film, Blue Hawaii.

11. Though accessible via air tour or kayak only, the Huleia River was made famous in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

12. Pearl Harbor was used as a filming location for two popular military movies: Pearl Harbor, and Battleship.

What is your favorite movie that was filmed in Hawaii? What other famous filming locations in Hawaii have you recognized while enjoying a movie night? If you named the Jurassic Park franchise as your favorite, you'll want to check out these 13 spots in Hawaii that will make you swear you're in Jurassic World - because they were filming locations!