Touring Movie Locations on Kauai

Kauai is a popular set location for movie producers. The island’s unique scenery and laid bad personality allow for easy and impressive filming. Many popular movies have been partially or completely filmed on Kauai including the recently released The Descendents starring George Clooney which is getting excellent reviews.

While visiting Kauai you may be interested in visiting or recognizing movie set locations. Below is a list of set locations that are easy to visit.

Coco Palms Hotel

To once famous Coco Palms hotel was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Today it’s possible to visit the hotel’s remains with a guided tour. Several movies were filmed here in the 50′s and 60′s including Pagan Love Song, Bird of Paradise, Beachhead, Miss Sadie Thompson, Jungle Heat, Vodoo Island, Donovan’s Reef, and Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii.

Hanalei

Hanalei Bay and Hanalei town have been featured in several movies. The Descendents includes scenes filmed at Hanalei Bay and at Tahiti Nui bar and restaurant. The most famous movie filmed at Hanalei Bay was South Pacific starring Mitzy Gaynor. This is also the movie that popularized Lumahai beach.

The 1983 Vietnam War movie Uncommon Valor starring Gene Hackman had many fighting scenes filmed in the fields around Hanalei town.

Ke’e Beach

Lord of the Flies, Throw Mama from the Train and The Thorn Birds all include scenes filmed at beautiful Ke’e beach which is at the start of the Napali Coast.

Napali Coast

The remoteness of the Napali Coast with its deep valley’s and secluded beaches make for amazing movie scenes. If you take a boat tour along the coast you’ll recognize some locations. The most recent edition of Pirates of the Caribbean has scenes that were filmed here. The 2008 movie Perfect Getaway was filmed along the Kalalau trail.

The 1976 remake of King Kong includes scenes from here as well. The Kalalau Valley is the fabled home of King Kong. Also, when you drive along Kauai’s east coast you’ll see Kong’s Profile, a mountain that looks like King Kong on his back.

Menehune Fishpond

Near Nawilili harbor is the Menehune Fishpond, the remains of an old Hawaiian fishpond. Behind the fishpond a river flows into Nawilili Bay. The opening to the movie Raider’s of the Lost Ark was filmed nearby here. Indiana Jones narrowly escapes from a tribe of “South American” natives after discovering an ancient temple.

Kilauea Countryside

As you’re probably aware, many scenes from Jurrasic Park were filmed on Kauai. Most of the locations are very difficult to reach, but as you drive through the Kilauea area you’ll notice beautiful pasture land with grazing cows. This farm land was used as a backdrop for the first Jurassic Park movie.

The following map of Kauai will help you get a bearing on many attraction locations.

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Kauai GPS Tour Guide for the iPhone (FREE Download Codes)

Kauai GPS Tour Guide is a virtual tour guide that talks to you as you drive around Kauai. Using the GPS built into the iPhone, the Tour Guide knows exactly where you are and alerts you to hidden beaches, scenic lookouts, historic sites, hikes, farmers markets and many other Kauai attractions.

The Kauai GPS Tour Guide is the first and only App of its kind available to Kauai visitors. It’s like having an island resident drive with you to tell you about the island. Unlike a guide book where you’re constantly flipping through pages trying to figure out where you are and what’s around you, the Tour Guide tells you about hidden places, and guides you to difficult-to-find attractions. For example, the Tour Guide will tell you where to find parking for Tunnels beach, show you the location of the Queen’s Bath, and provide important safety guidance, and tell you about movies filmed in the area you’re driving through.

The Tour Guide includes over 200 points of interest and uses a real human voice – not a computer generated one. The application also includes comprehensive information about Kauai’s beaches, weather and surf forecasts, driving directions, Kauai background information for tourists including detailed ocean safety guidelines, and select activity and restaurant recommendations.

I have FREE download codes to the first 5 people who request it.

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WW: Mount Leahi (Diamond Head)

WW: King Kamehameha