Hollywood Hawaii: Movies & Waterfalls

Some of Hollywood’s most legendary films were shot on location on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Guests looking to explore those sites and feel like they are in the movie themselves can take the “Hollywood Hawaii: Movies & Waterfalls” tour. This special excursion is ideal for movie buffs, as well as those who simply want to experience the beauty of the island. Along the way, the tour stops at locations seen in films and television shows such as “South Pacific,” “Blue Hawaii,” “Jurassic Park: The Lost World,” “Gilligan’s Island,” “Six Days/Seven Nights,” “Fantasy Island,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Honeymoon in Vegas” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii.

On the Theater On Wheels minibus, real movie scenes from locales seen on the tour play on the TV system. Imagine pulling up to a magical landscape while at the same time watching the scene in the move where it appeared. Tour guides are fun and friendly, singing show tunes along the way. Tour participants also learn inside details of the stars and what they did when they were on the island.

Two of the stops on the six-hour tour are Wailua Falls and the Coco Palms Hotel, both which were in “South Pacific” and “Blue Hawaii.” The falls also might be recognizable from “Fantasy Island.”

r7russ wrote: This was an utterly fascinating tour on at least two levels. One, Kauai is unlike the other islands – it’s the quintessential Hawaii that you might imagine, far different from the metropolitan and highly commercial experience you get around Honolulu or even on Maui to some extent. No crowds, fabulous tropical scenery, and a setting that seems largely unchanged from decades past.

That takes you to the second attraction – Kauai’s suitability for movie productions. Its unspoiled tropical setting made it a natural for well-known films like Blue Hawaii (Elvis Presley), Donovan’s Reef (John Wayne) and the epic musical, South Pacific, plus a myriad of other films from the 1930s on that you might recognize. Our tour bus had a large-screen TV at the front … as we pulled up to a particular locale, the operator would show a scene from a well-known movie that was made there. For example, we watched on the screen the famous beach scene from South Pacific while looking at the beach itself. We also walked the beach where Lee Marvin first swam ashore in Donovan’s Reef…

This was the longest excursion on our cruise, a full 6.5 hours and we were spent at its conclusion. But for anyone with an interest in the great movies of yesteryear, this is a fascinating tour. The splendor of Kauai makes it all the more attractive.

More recent films that were filmed on location in Kuaui also include “Descendants” starring George Clooney; “Just Go With It” starring Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, and Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” starring Johnny Depp.

MomB wrote: The tour was just what we were looking for when going to Kauai. An overview of what was there. Our tour guide Mickey and driver Michele made it fun and completely enjoyable. The videos he showed before and after we got to spots were great. We enjoyed singing along to TV tunes and showtunes from place where they were shot. We stopped at the restaurant and had our lunch where George Clooney was shown at in his film. It was exactly the way we wanted to see Kauai … I think the tour guide and driver made the day complete! Well worth the money!

So if you’re looking to walk in the footsteps of legendary actors such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Depp, learn about the island’s movie-making history and experience the gorgeous landscape of Kuaui, the Hollywood Hawaii tour is the ideal option.