Hollywood loves filming in Hawaii, and for decades, Oahu has led the pack for memorable scenes in memorable movies. Almost any spot on the island makes for an ideal backdrop to romance, but these are the most scenic locations. Feel free to recreate your favorite boy-meets-girl, or boy-kisses-girl, or boy-loses-girl-then-gets-her-back-in-the-end moments at these 5 iconic Oahu spots.
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Windward Coast from 50 First Dates
Windward Coast
In 50 First Dates, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore act out an incredible romantic connection. There are plenty of spots on Oahu featured in the movie, but a few stand out. The most famous is Windward Coast, which boasts miles of sprawling green countryside. It feels worlds away from Waikiki (there are no high-rise hotels, restaurant chains, or Starbucks), and it’s absolutely breathtaking. You can even visit the still-standing set for Hukilau Cafe, where Henry and Lucy met again and again and again.
sprawling green countryside | breathtaking | Hukilau Cafe
North Shore from Forgetting Sarah Marshall
North Shore, Hawaii
Tons of production companies film movies and TV shows in North Shore, a popular surfing town, some more successful than others (remember Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, anyone?) At Turtle Bay Resort, you’ll feel like you’re on the set of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the rom-com with Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis, where the lobby and beach cottages made cameos. There’s no doubt you’ll recognize the resort if you loved the movie. But if blood and guts is more your thing, head out to nearby Kawela Bay, which you’ll recognize from the battle-to-death scene in Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
surfing | beach cottages
Halona Beach Cove from From Here to Eternity
Halona Beach Cove
Here’s a movie you probably never saw, but your parents can tell you all about it. From Here to Eternity is a classic 1953 film whose unforgettable beach scenes (some of the most iconic in all of film history) were shot at Halona Beach Cove. Basically, Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr splash around in the crashing waves and then kiss. To this day, honeymooners flock to this secluded beach to do some splashing and kissing of their own, whether they’ve seen the movie or not.
crashing waves | secluded beach
Hanauma Bay Beach Park from Blue Hawaii
Hanahuma Bay Beach Park
Elvis Presley spent so much time in Hawaii he was made an honorary local. Oahu was his favorite stomping ground. Fans of The King explore the island based on his favorite spots, and the most visited location is Hanauma Bay Beach Park, where Blue Hawaii was filmed in the 1960s. You don’t even have to be a fan of Elvis to immerse yourself in this breathtaking setting. It’s the Hawaii you see in postcards (crystal clear waters and a sliver of white-hot beach cradled by a verdant valley), and it’s so beautiful it almost hurts. Elvis famously crooned here with a ukelele, sporting a Hawaiian shirt and traditional lei. It’s also a great spot for snorkeling if you want to bring gear.
crystal clear waters | verdant valley | snorkeling
Kualoa Ranch from Jurassic Park
Kualoa Ranch
It’d be weird to write a story about famous movies filmed in Oahu without mentioning Jurassic Park. In fact, the franchise gave Oahu a huge boost in tourism, and most people make a point to see at least one of the film’s locations. As you can imagine, the tropical rainforest setting is sublime. To have an instant “I’ve been here before” moment, head straight to Kualoa Ranch. The family-owned cattle ranch basically holds down a second job as a movie set. It’s jaw-dropping, with rainforest jungles, rugged mountains, sandy beaches, and a backdrop of majestic valleys. It serves as Isla Nublar’s home in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, and you can still see a bunch of things left behind from various film shoots.
tropical rainforest | rugged mountains | majestic valleys
