Kauai remains a popular film location

"The Descendants," with Shailene Woodley, left, George Clooney, Amara Miller and Nick Kraus, is set on Kauai. The film uses real island locations.
“The Descendants,” with Shailene Woodley, left, George Clooney, Amara Miller and Nick Kraus, is ready on Kauai. The movie makes use of actual island areas.
(Fox Searchlight)

Kauai has been a favourite movie location because it stood in for Bali Hai within the 1958 film model of “South Pacific.” It has been Maui within the Adam Sandler-Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy “Simply Go With It” (launched this 12 months), and it performed the Caribbean in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” the fourth of the Johnny Depp swashbucklers. Typically it even performs itself. In “The Descendants,” which is to open subsequent month, a father (George Clooney) takes his kids to Kauai after his spouse is incapacitated. “Each location is the actual place,” says co-producer George Parra. Right here’s a information to film websites (some on personal property), with tips about how you can discover them from movie location supervisor Angela Tillson, who has been guiding movie scouts across the island for 23 years.

Na Pali coast

What it's: Rugged cliffs in northwest Kauai. Not accessible by automobile — solely by boat, foot or helicopter.

What it starred in: “Hop” (as Easter Island within the opening of this 12 months’s animated live-action film); “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” (as a legendary island within the not-yet-released “Journey” sequel); “Six Days, Seven Nights” (as Tahiti, 1998); “King Kong” (as Africa within the 1976 movie); “Tropic Thunder” (2008, set in Vietnam). “Simply Go With It” used aerial pictures of the shoreline.

How one can see it: “Attempt seeing Na Pali by boat or on a guided kayak tour,” Tillson says. “You don’t wish to go by yourself until you’re an skilled kayaker due to the currents; you need to know how you can land a kayak on the seashore.”

Data: Tillson says there are a number of good corporations that may get you there. (She suggests Googling “Boat excursions down Na Pali” for an inventory.) The fee for seeing Na Pali by boat or sea kayak, primarily based on checks with a number of provides, ranged from $139 to $229 earlier than tax (relying on size of tour and what’s included). Kayak excursions typically can be found from April to early September.

Hanalei City, North Shore

What it's: Small, charming city in entrance of Mt. Namahana with waterfalls within the background.

What it starred in: “South Pacific,” “Lilo and Sew” (2002) and “The Descendants.” In reality, the Tahiti Nui bar (5-5134 Kuhio Freeway) performs itself in “Descendants,” and Parra says it’s a terrific watering gap, standard with locals.

How one can see it: It’s west of Princeville throughout a one-lane bridge. As you arrive in Hanalei City, you are feeling as if you happen to’ve traveled again in time.

Data: See Hanalei City beneath North Shore on https://www.gohawaii.com/kauai.

Hanalei Bay and Hanalei, Lumahai and Blackpot seashores, North Shore

What it starred in: Hanalei Bay seems in “South Pacific,” “Lilo” and “The Descendants.” “Hanalei Bay is exclusive simply by the big dimension of it, very uncooked and largely untouched,” Parra says. Two rental cottages belonging to the Hanalei Land Co. have been used as areas in “The Descendants,” and Tillson recommends them for lodging. (Nalu Seashore Cottage rents for $750 per evening or $5,000 per week, and the Kauikeolani Property (a historic home beforehand referred to as the Wilcox Property) rents for $15,000 per week with a one-week minimal. Hanalei Land Co., (888) 900-1454, https://www.hanaleiland.com.

“South Pacific’s” Nellie Forbush washed that man proper outta her hair in close by Lumahai Seashore. Sailors sang “Nothing Like a Dame” at Blackpot Seashore close to the Hanalei Bay pier (adjoining to the St. Regis).

How one can see them: From Hanalei City, if you happen to keep on Kuhio Freeway, the following seashore shall be Lumahai Seashore (a five-minute stroll from the street). (Lumahai is unmarked, however you’ll see automobiles parked alongside the freeway). To get to Blackpot Seashore, Hanalei Bay and the pier, you flip proper on Aku Street off Kuhio Freeway, then go one block and switch proper on Weke Street (which parallels Hanalei Bay). The street dead-ends into the parking zone for Blackpot Seashore and Hanalei Pier.

St. Regis Resort, Princeville

What it's: Luxurious lodge

What it starred in: Solid and crew of “Simply Go With It” and “The Descendants” stayed on the lodge. The latter filmed scenes within the foyer and on the Princeville Fountain, the point of interest of the primary entrance to the Princeville space.

How one can see it: You go the fountain to enter Princeville, which is about 32 miles northwest of Lihue airport.

Data: St. Regis Princeville, 5520 Ka Haku Street, Princeville; (808) 826-9644, https://www.stregisprinceville.com. Mountain view rooms often begin at $460 an evening.

Anini Seashore

What it's: It’s a slim household seashore off a protected reef with shallow water that looks as if a lake when there’s no surf.

What it starred in: “Honeymoon in Vegas” (1992). Tommy Korman (James Caan) confirmed off his Kauai house on Anini Seashore to Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker). Tillson says Anini is nice for swimming as a result of it’s protected by a big coral reef.

Data: Anini Seashore is 4 miles east of Princeville off Hawaii Freeway 56.

Wailua River, Kapaa

What it's: The Wailua River traverses a number of ecosystems. You progress from forested river banks and tall cliffs to lush inexperienced rain forest as you wind upriver. The Fern Grotto is downstream of the place motion pictures have been filmed.

What it starred in: Scenes for “The Misplaced World: Jurassic Park” have been shot upriver from the Fern Grotto. Scenes from “Outbreak” (1995) and “Pagan Love Story” (the 1950 Esther Williams musical) have been additionally shot right here. Tillson recommends kayaking up the Wailua, Kauai’s solely navigable river.

Data: Kayak Kauai rents kayaks and provides guided excursions alongside the Wailua River year-round for $85 (pretax) and down the Na Pali Coast from late April by way of August for $185 (pretax). (800) 437-3507, https://www.kayakkauai.com.

Coco Palms lodge ruins, Kapaa

What it's: Elvis Presley made Coco Palms well-known in “Blue Hawaii” (1961). On Sept. 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki destroyed it. Steven Spielberg and the forged and crew of the unique “Jurassic Park” rode out the hurricane in a ballroom on the Marriott.) A number of storm scenes in “JP” are precise footage of Iniki. “Pirates 4" selected this location as a result of “it has the most important coconut grove on Kauai,” says property supervisor and tour information Bob Jasper.

Data: Coco Palms Excursions, (808) 346-2048.

Waialeale Blue Gap space

What it's: On the base of Mt. Waialeale is a crater generally known as the Blue Gap. Mt. Waialeale is likely one of the wettest spots on Earth. Tillson recommends seeing it by helicopter.

What it starred in: The world simply above the “Jurassic Park” gate (a leftover prop) was used for “Avatar” actors. They have been studying how you can stroll within the jungle so their actions would seem reasonable once they trekked by way of “Pandora,” the fictional world that was created in James Cameron’s film.

Data: See helicopter excursions beneath.

Allerton Nationwide Tropical Botanical Backyard, South Shore

What it's: The Allerton part of the Nationwide Tropical Botanical Gardens (which incorporates the McBride Backyard towards the mountain) is the world closest to the ocean.

What it starred in: Dinosaur eggs appeared between the enormous roots of the Moreton Bay fig tree in “Jurassic Park.”

Data: (808) 742-2623, https://www.ntbg.org/gardens/allerton.php; a tour prices $45 for adults (13 and older); $20 for these 8-12; guests have to be at the very least 8 years previous. Reservations beneficial.

Websites by helicopter

A number of areas for “The Descendants” are on personal property, together with Kauai Ranch, Keipukai (which performed Tahiti in “Six Days, Seven Nights” and was additionally utilized in “Jurassic Park II: The Misplaced World”) and the Grove Farm (which was Vietnam in “Tropic Thunder”). Tillson recommends seeing these websites by chopper, together with the Manawaiopuna Falls within the Hanapepe Valley, seen in “Jurassic Park.”

Data: Jack Harter Helicopter Excursions, (888) 245-2001, https://www.helicopters-kauai.com. $259 for 60 minutes.

Island Helicopters (the one firm that may land at Manawaiopuna Falls, (800) 829-5999, https://www.islandhelicopters.com. Waterfall touchdown tour begins at $308 ($269 and $39 for gasoline for 75 to 85 minutes).

journey@latimes.com

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