Big Eyes (2014)

June 22, 2025June 24, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2014 Tim Burton film “Big Eyes” was shot in Northern California, Hawaii and Vancouver, Canada. The Golden Gate Bridge is seen as Margaret Keane, played by Amy Adams, drives. The bridge is one of the most often seen locations in film, having appeared in “Vertigo,” “The Rock,” “Zodiac,” “Pacific Rim,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Terminator: Genisys,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Superman: The Movie,” “San Andreas,” “A View To A Kill,” “Dirty Harry,” “Hulk,” “Lords Of Dogtown,” “The Bridge” and many more.

LOCATION: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

Margaret paints at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The same location appears in many films, such as “The Rock,” “Vertigo,” “The Room,” “So I Married an Axe Murder,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” and more.

LOCATION: 3301 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Margaret marries Walter Keane, played by Christoph Waltz, at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii. The hotel has been featured in numerous films, such as “Punch-Drunk Love,” “From Here To Eternity,” “Goin’ Coconuts” and “Gidget Goes Hawaiian,” as well as such TV shows as “Mad Men,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “T.J. Hooker,” “Charlie’s Angels” and more.

LOCATION: Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 2259 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

This area near the bakery at the hotel is also seen in the film.

The Keane’s home can be found at 6187 Collingwood Pl, Vancouver, BC V6N 1V2, Canada.

The Hawaiian home of Margaret was filmed at the Grace Cook House, which has historical landmark status in Honolulu.

LOCATION: 2365 Oahu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96822

The courthouse scenes were filmed at Aliʻiolani Hale in Honolulu. This side of the building, seen in the establishing shot with the statue, faces S King St.

LOCATION: Aliʻiolani Hale, 417 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813

The characters enter and exit from the opposite side of the building, facing Queen St.

The media is gathered in this area.

Blue Hawaii (1961)

May 12, 2025May 12, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1961 film “Blue Hawaii,” starring Elvis Presley, was shot on the islands of Oahu and Kauai. Early in the film, Malie, played by Joan Blackman, is seen getting pulled over at this intersection near Aloa Moana Park in Honolulu. The gate on the left side of the street, seen in the film, still stands.

LOCATION: Ala Moana Park Dr / Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814

Here is the area where Malie pulls over and speaks with the police officer, just slightly past the previous location.

LOCATION: Ala Moana Park Dr, Honolulu, HI 96814 (GPS coordinates: 21°17’16.2″N, 157°50’37.6″W)

After Malie picks up Chad, played by Elvis Presley, they are seen driving past the Diamond Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse is still there, but the trees have grown much taller since then, so only the very top is visible from the area seen in the film.

LOCATION: Diamond Head Lighthouse, 3399 Diamond Head Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815

Here is a closer view of the lighthouse.

Chad’s shack doesn’t actually exist, but the area where is was filmed is Hanauma Bay, a famous tourist spot in Honolulu. Many of the landscapes in the background can still be matched up. Chad and Malie are seen standing in front of this area. Chad later performs a song here too. As mentioned, Hanauma Bay is a very popular spot, so much so that visitation for tourists requires advanced reservations. Local residents are able to visit without reservations.

LOCATION: Hanauma Bay, 100 Hanauma Bay Rd, Honolulu, HI 96825

Here is another area seen while Chad performs a song.

Chad and Malie have a picnic at Tantalus Lookout in Puu Ualakaa State Park. This mountain range is seen behind them when they arrive.

LOCATION: Tantalus Lookout, Puu Ualakaa State Park, Nutridge St, Honolulu, HI 96822

Tantalus Lookout is another famous tourist spot, overlooking Honolulu.

Here is the area where they sit and have their picnic.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

June 22, 2024July 5, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The classic 1981 Steven Spielberg film “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was filmed in England, Tunisia, Northern California and Hawaii. The opening famously depicts the Paramount Pictures logo fading into a mountain peak. The real peak is located on Kalalea Mountain in Kauai. While this is a well known filming location, power lines run down the road leading to the peak, so to get an unobstructed shot, you need to be back a further distance.

LOCATION: Kamalomaloo Pl, Anahola, HI 96703 (GPS coordinates: 22°09’09.6″N, 159°18’41.5″W)

South Pacific (1958)

May 4, 2024May 4, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1958 musical “South Pacific” was filmed in Hawaii. Early in the film, Joe Cable, played by John Kerr, is seen arriving on the island at Hanalei Pier, located in Kauai.

LOCATION: Hanalei Pier, Hanalei, HI 96714

The beach appears in numerous scenes with the Seabees. The pier also appeared in the 1954 film “Beachhead,” while “The Descendants” also filmed scenes at the same beach.

There is a plaque in front of the pier, primarily noting a fundraiser to save and restore the pier in 2013, after it had suffered damage from a hurricane in 1992. At the bottom, the plaque acknowledges the film, stating, “The pier was featured in the movie South Pacific and became a location for many Hollywood productions.”

Aloha (2015)

March 17, 2024September 5, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2015 Cameron Crowe film “Aloha,” starring Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone, was filmed in Hawaii. Much of the film, however, was shot around military bases inaccessible to the general public. One such example is when, early in the film, Gilcrest, played by Cooper, arrives in Hawaii at Hickam Field Base Operations, 800 Hangar Ave, Honolulu, HI 96818.

The Royal Aloha Hotel, where Gilcrest and Ng, played by Stone, stay was filmed at The Breakers Hotel in Waikiki. This is just off the main strip of Waikiki and the hotel is marked with no trespassing signs, so this is as close as we got.

LOCATION: 250 Beach Walk, Honolulu, HI 96815

Gilcrest and Ng are seen driving down Kalākaua Ave in Waikiki, passing Kaʻiulani Ave.

LOCATION: Kalākaua Ave / Kaʻiulani Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

The house where Woody and Tracy, played by John Krasinski and Rachel McAdams, live is part of Hickam Field’s Fort Kamehameha housing development. It was originally built for Navy housing, but abandoned by 2008. The area remains military owned and closed to the general public. The house can be found at 22 Worchester Ave, Honolulu, HI 96818 (GPS coordinates: 21°19’20.6″N, 157°57’41.6″W).

King Kanahele’s house can be found at Waikupanaha St, Waimanalo, HI 96795 (GPS coordinates: 21°20’21.3″N, 157°44’49.5″W).

The area where Tracy gets food from a food truck with her son is just a parking lot. This is what the area looks like now.

LOCATION: N Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817 (GPS coordinates: 21°19’04.2″N, 157°52’43.5″W)

As they leave, a Global One truck passes in front of them. The buildings seen in the background align with what is seen in the film.

The holiday party scenes were filmed at the Historic Hickam Officers’ Club, 2000 Signer Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96818. This is another military location closed to the general public.

Ng and Gilcrest go on a date in the Chinatown neighborhood of Holonulu.

LOCATION: N King St / Kekaulike St, Honolulu, HI 96817

Ng can be seen jogging at Freedom Tower, 800-898 Manzelman Cir, Honolulu, HI 96818. This is part of Hickam Air Force Base and not open to the general public.

Ng confronts Gilcrest at the Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop. Ng first enters from this area.

LOCATION: 2950 Manoa Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822

The two sit in this area, although the tables aren’t laid out the same way as seen in the film.

Ng is seen leaving from this area.

The two argue in the parking lot, with Ng driving away in this area.

Late in the film, Ng and Gilcrest, rushing to a black ops outpost, drive through this intersection.

LOCATION: N Pauahi St / Maunakea St, Honolulu, HI 96817

The are seen exiting a vehicle to a back room of the command center, which is actually just a grocery store.

LOCATION: 915 Kekaulike St, Honolulu, HI 96817

While never seen from this angle in the film, here is the general area they enter.

Gilcrest stands outside and watches Grace’s dance class.

LOCATION: 1159 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96817

Special thanks to Reel News Hawaii for finding many of these locations.

To see our “Aloha” location page, click here.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

November 5, 2023November 9, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2001 Michael Bay film “Pearl Harbor” was primarily filmed in Hawaii, Southern California and England. In the film, Rafe McCawley, played by Ben Affleck, is accompanied by Danny Walker, played by Josh Hartnett, as he departs a train station to join the front lines of the war in England. These scenes were filmed at Union Station, a train station in Downtown Los Angeles. It has been featured in many films, such as “Blade Runner” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “To Live And Die In L.A.,” “Bugsy,” “Nick of Time,” “The Replacement Killers,” “Mike’s Murder,” “The Way We Were,” “Union Station,” “Under the Rainbow” and more.

LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The scenes where Doolittle, played by Alec Baldwin, prepares his pilots to fly short takeoffs were filmed at the north hangar of the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin (72-7 Tustin Ranch Rd, Irvine, CA 92606). There are two hangers located at the air station, which closed back in 1999 and has since been used in many productions, such as the 2009 version of “Star Trek,” “The Hindenburg,” “The Man’s Navy” and “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.” It also appeared in Michael Jackson’s music video for “Hold My Hand,” as well as countless commercials. In 2023, a fire destroyed the north hanger. However, the south hanger, which has been seen in such TV shows as “The X-Files” and “From the Earth to the Moon,” was unaffected by the fire and remains standing.

Evelyn Johnson, played by Kate Beckinsale, leaves a movie theater after she is upset by one of the newsreels. This scene was filmed at the Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro, California. The same theater also appeared in many other films, including “Zodiac,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Babylon,” “Seabiscut,” “Remote Control,” “Win A Date With Tad Hamilton,” “It’s Pat: The Movie,” “Ghosts Of Mississippi,” “Boys And Girls,” “Live By Night,” “Worth Winning,” “Mark Of Love,” “Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here” and “From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks.” It has also appeared in such television series as “The O.C.,” “Party Of Five,” “Melrose Place,” “T.J.Hooker,” “7th Heaven” and “Cousin Skeeter.”

LOCATION: 478 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Evelyn and Danny talk next door to the theater at the fictional Black Cat Diner.

LOCATION: 470 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Japanese planes are seen approaching Hawaii near Kualoa Regional Park, with a small island known as Mokolii seen on the right. It is a popular photo spot for tourists and very close to the house from “50 First Dates.”

LOCATION: Near Kualoa Regional Park, 49-479 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

A man is seen riding a motorcycle towards a bunker, where the planes are first detected by American radar. This scene was filmed at Kualoa Ranch in O’ahu. The ranch offers tours and this area can be seen on their film tour. Inside are many props and displays showcasing the many filmed shot at the ranch over the years.

LOCATION: Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

The Japanese planes are also seen passing this area, which is also part of Kualoa Ranch. Kualoa Ranch has been featured in dozens of films, such as “Jurassic Park,” “Jurassic World,” “Triple Frontier” and many more, as well as the television show “Lost.”

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

June 24, 2020January 4, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Much like the previous installments, the 2018 sequel “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” filmed largely in Hawaii, with some additional filming in England. After the events of “Jurassic World,” the island of Isla Nulabar is heavily damaged and mostly abandoned. A team of mercenaries arrive on the island to collect DNA as a volcano nears eruption.

Ken Wheatley, played by Ted Levine, leads a team on an expedition back into Jurassic World. Owen, played by Chris Pratt, and Claire, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, join the expedition to track down the dinosaurs, in hopes of relocating them to a new sanctuary. The convoy travels across this valley, which is seen in both “Jurassic Park” during the gallimimus stampede and in “Jurassic World,” when the boys ride a train out to the Gyrosphere area. This area can be found on Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii.

LOCATION: Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

Much like in “Jurassic World,” the mountains seen here have a railway added via CGI.

The team arrives at this bunker, where they are able to get inside and activate the dinosaur tracking system. The set from the film remains in tact at Kualoa Ranch.

Just as depicted in the film, right next to the bunker is the mountain top where the volcano threatens to blow throughout the film. If you’re facing the bunker set, it is located directly on the left.

There are a wide variety of tours available at Kualoa Ranch, more than one of which is film related. We recommend the Premier Movie Site Tour, as it takes you to many filming locations exclusively featured on that particular tour. If you make it out to Hawaii, it is a highly recommended place to visit.

Snatched (2017)

January 26, 2020October 21, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2017 comedy “Snatched,” Amy Schumer plays a woman named Emily, who travels with her mother, played by Goldie Hawn, to Ecuador. The two find themselves kidnapped and taken to Colombia. After escaping, they find a local bar and call the U.S. State Department. At the bar, they also find an American who agrees to take them to a U.S. Embassy in Bogota.

The bar scenes were filmed near the Moli’i Fishpond on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, which is adjacent to Kualoa Ranch. The ranch in fact owns this land and it has been featured in many films, including “50 First Dates,” “Jurassic World,” “Triple Frontier,” “Tears of the Sun,” “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,” “You, Me and Dupree” and the TV show “Lost.” There is a sign in front of the building identifying it as the location from the film.

LOCATION: 49-243 Kuukama St, Kailua, HI 96734

There are a couple ways to see this area. The local shops near the pond, which rent their buildings from Kualoa Ranch, offer tours of their own near the water for a small fee. However, the Premier Movie Site Tour offered by Kualoa Ranch itself stops at this area and covers it in detail, which is our recommended way to see it.

Jurassic Park III (2001)

December 2, 2019May 13, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2001 film “Jurassic Park III” was filmed in Hawaii and Southern California. Early in the film, Dr. Alan Grant, played by Sam Neill, visits the home of Ellie, played by Laura Dern. Ellie’s house can be found in South Pasadena, California. The same house was featured in the film “Bringing Down The House,” as well as the TV shows “Family” and “Fatal Attraction.”

LOCATION: 1230 Milan Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Much like the original “Jurassic Park” and the sequel “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” this third installment also shot scenes at Jurassic Kahili Ranch in Kauaʻi, Hawaii. In Spring 2019, the ranch began offering tours to the public for the first time. However, it is unclear if they are still offering them, as most of their tour information has been removed from their website. It’s difficult to pinpoint specific scenes from the film, as the ranch is quite large and mostly credited for being featured in general outdoor and jungle scenes. The ranch’s movie tour focused primarily on the original film and the 2015 hit “Jurassic World,” with little mention of where scenes from the third film specifically shot. Here are some looks around the grounds of Jurassic Kahili Ranch. Please note that this land is private and unless you have express permission from the owners, it is trespassing to attempt to enter the grounds.

LOCATION: Jurassic Kahili Ranch, 5-1771D, Kuhio Hwy, Kilauea, HI 96754

One scene that can be matched up comes late in the film is when Dr. Grant and the survivors ride a barge along the water and pass herds of dinosaurs standing along the banks. This was filmed at the Pu’u Ka Ele Reservoir. After a breach of the nearby Ka Loko Reservoir in 2006, located about 2 miles east of the ranch, the owners decided to decommission the Pu’u Ka Ele Reservoir in 2009 and downsize it into a lake. This is how it appears now. This is the same area where Grant sees the dinosaur herds at the lake in the original film.

From Here To Eternity (1953)

October 24, 2019October 18, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The famous beach from the movie “From Here to Eternity,” known as Halona Beach Cove, can be found on the Southeast shore on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The beach is located just off the Kalanianaʻole Hwy (HI-72), but nearby parking can be limited during peak tourist times. The beach itself is only accessible by hiking down the rocks.

LOCATION: Halona Beach Cove, HI 96825

Film Oblivion

Movie and TV locations, points of interest.

Hawaii