Explore the lush island of Oahu with this movies-inspired road trip itinerary!
If you look up ‘tropical paradise’ on Google, the island of Oahu will undoubtedly come up at the top of the search results. This Hawaiian destination’s emerald mountain ranges and deep blue seas are a feast for the eyes, especially during the high summer season when the skies are clear and the sun is high. It’s a must-visit for nature lovers, beach bums, and adventure seekers!
But besides the usual crowd of travelers, cinephiles also make their way to Oahu’s shores. Fans of popular movies like Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, and even 50 First Dates are on the lookout for the island’s beaches and coves that once graced the silver screen. Discover many more blockbuster film locations in this 4-hour Oahu road trip itinerary where we also share the best car rental deals and top things to do in Oahu. Happy reading!
Oahu Roadtrip Itinerary
- Driving time: 3-4 hours
- Distance: 104 miles
- Duration: 1 day
- Route: Sample Google Maps guide
- What to bring: Camera, sunglasses, hat, hiking boots/shoes, snacks and water, and comfortable clothing
Stop 1: Hanauma Bay
After picking up your Klook car rental, kick off your exploration of movies filmed in Oahu with the tourist favorite Hanauma Bay. This postcard-perfect beach became the face of Blue Hawaii, a 1960s movie helmed by Elvis Presley that put the state of Hawaii on the movie map. See its crescent-shaped coast from above and the surrounding greenery with this parasailing experience.
Stop 2: Halona Cove
Just a few minutes away from Hanauma Bay lies Halona Cove, the setting for Whitecap Bay in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger’s Tides. Halona, or ‘lookout’ in Hawaiian, is made up of towering volcanic rocks that offer an amazing vantage point of the cove’s jagged coastline. A blowhole can also be found nearby, where 30-foot geysers shoot out of its molten lava tubes below.
Stop 3: Kualoa Ranch
Of course, this wouldn’t be a complete Oahu filming locations guide without Kualoa Ranch – the ultimate movie set! Nicknamed the ‘Jurassic Valley’ for its appearances in Jurassic World and Jurassic Park, Kualoa Ranch is also known for starring in other smash hits like Jumanji and Kong Island, as well as classic TV shows like Hawaii Five O. Its hulking volcanic cliffs blanketed in a canopy of trees make for a scenic landscape that you can explore through the Jurassic Jungle Jeep Expedition Tour or the Hollywood Movies Sites Tour! If you’re short on time, you can go straight to the action with the ATV Raptor Experience.
Stop 4: Kahuku
When Peeta and Katniss shared that fateful kiss by the beach in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, their love–and their fates–were sealed. Take a walk down the very beach that witnessed Katniss’ rebellion against the Capitol when you visit Kahuku! You can also find the banyan tree from the acclaimed television show Lost nearby as you make your way to Turtle Bay Resort.
Stop 5: Turtle Bay Resort and Haleiwa
If trouble in paradise were given a romcom spin, Forgetting Sarah Marshall would be a perfect example of it. This endearing story of a guy finding love again despite heartbreak showcases Turtle Bay Resort as the ultimate honeymoon destination in Hawaii, where luxury is combined with Hawaii’s natural beauty and its people’s innate hospitality. Meanwhile, you can channel Jason Segel's character in the movie as you try surfing at Haleiwa, the surfing capital of the world.
Stop 6: Mokule’ia Beach and Dillingham Ranch
It all started with a plane crash, leaving unwitting survivors at the mercy of a strange island and their own minds. One season in and millions of viewers are glued to their TVs waiting for the next episode of Lost. Retrace the film crew’s steps as you explore the Mokule’ia Beach’s rocky coast teeming with turtles and marine life. Another stop you can make is Dillingham Ranch, where the Other’s in Lost stayed throughout the series!
Stop 7: Pearl Harbor & Battleship Missouri Memorial
Action movies Pearl Harbor and Battleship are an obvious choice for this list, given that the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and Battleship Missouri Memorial are both in Honolulu. Learn more about the local military history during your visit to both places, as well as technological advancements in airplanes when you stop by the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
Stop 8: Honolulu County and Manoa Falls
Photo Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Manoa_Falls%2C_Hawaii%2C_March_2012.jpg
In 2018, Godzilla VS Kong shook the box office to the core with CGI-powered fight scenes and a Monsterverse storyline that had fans roaring for more! While we wait for the next release, you can check out some of its movie sets in Honolulu County: the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Sand Island as Apex Cybernetics, the Aloha Tower Marketplace where Godzilla first attacked mankind, and Dr. Mark Russels’ home on 4629 Aukai Ave. For a quick hike and swim, drive to Manoa Falls where some of King Kong’s habitat was inspired.
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