Movies Set in Hawaii

I love watching movies set in an area before I go to visit an area. It familiarizes me with the history, culture and landscapes of the region. It is amazing how many movies are made about even the most quiet and remote area of the earth! It's part of the cool wealth of knowledge documented on video over the past 100+ years.

Blue Crush - 2002
Surfer girls and gorgeous coastline. You really don't need anything else.

Blue Hawaii - 1961
Elvis has gotten back from World War II, and he starts his new movie career with this classic filmed in Hawaii.

The Caine Mutiny - 1954
This classic movie starring Humphrey Bogart has scenes shot in Hawaii.

Die Another Day - 2002
I have long reviews of all the Bond films on my wineintro.com site. Only the opening scene was shot in Maui, Hawaii - the surfing scene.

Farewell to the King - 1989
Nick Nolte and Nigel Havers star in a WWII movie where a soldier is captured in Borneo.

Fifty First Dates - 2004
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore star in this romantic comedy set on the beautiful island of Oahu. Locals say that it does a lovely job of showing off both the landscape and the laid back culture of this area.

Godzilla - 1998
Giant lizard, stomping, and screaming humans. Who could ask for anything more?

Hawaii - 1966
Missionaires in the early 1800s try to mold the islanders to suit their own needs.

Hawaii Five-0 - 1968
One of the first hard, gritty cop shows. Trouble doesn't last for long in paradise!

Joe Vs the Volcano - 1990
You have to believe that a movie involving a volcano would be shot on Hawaii :)

Jurassic Park - 1993
An island with dinosaurs! Sound like Hawaii? The classic intro scene of the helicopters flying in is the beautiful coastline of Kaua'i.

Krippendorf's Tribe - 1998
An interesting hoax film which showcases the landscapes of Oahu.

Magnum PI - 1980s
I grew up loving Magnum PI. Tom Selleck is the classic crime solver who roams the Hawaii islands with his gang of friends.

Midway - 1976
After Pearl Harbor, the Japanese planned on attacking Midway. Luckily, US troops intercepted and decoded the messages, and one of the great battles of World War II . There are many scenes shot on Hawaii in the historical footage, although the actual movie was filmed in California.

Molokai - 1999
In the 1800s, a priest came to Hawaii to work with the lepers.

Pearl Harbor - 2001
Soap opera but still enthralling story about the day which will live in infamy.

Picture Bride - 1994
Back in the early 1900s, Japanese girls would be shipped in as wives. An interesting look at life on Hawaii.

Point Break - 1991
Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves star in a surfer movie.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - 1981
I love this adventure movie! Interestingly, George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg were vacationing in Hawaii before Star Wars released, because George was so scared of a flop. They ended up shooting the opening scenes in Hawaii. Interestingly, they had originally wanted Tom Selleck to play Indy, but he was too busy filming Magnum PI in Hawaii :)

South Pacific - 1958
This movie was filmed on Kauai as well as in Spain and Malaysia.

Tears of the Sun - 2003
Bruce Willis is with the special ops, and he ends up in Nigeria helping refugees. Filmed in part on Oahu.

Throw Momma from the Train - 1987
This cute movie with Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal involves Danny killing off Billy's ex-wife. The ex-wife lives on Maui, so there are some scenes with the wife there and getting onto a cruise ship.

Tora! Tora! Tora! - 1970
A very well done movie about WWII and both sides of the story.

Under Siege - 1992
I love this movie! Seagal shines in it. Poor Hawai is the target of destruction here.

Windtalkers - 2002
I reviewed this movie extensively for its native American themes, on my Native American site. For the Hawaii list, I'll just comment that there was a short part shot on Oahu, as the soldiers are heading out to war.

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