The blockbuster film has inspired fans across America to visit the sites where The Hunger Games was filmed, North Carolina. The Tarheel State has experienced a big increase in tourism ever since the movie’s debut.

In Hawaii, where movies like Jurassic Park have been filmed, movie-related tourism is nothing new. Blockbuster films have spawned a market of movie tours in Hawaii, like at Kualoa Ranch, home to some of Hawaii’s most scenic landscapes.

Kualoa Ranch offers a Movie Sites & Ranch Tour as part of a full-day adventure on Oahu.

Kualoa Ranch Movie Tour

It is a known fact:

Visitors want to see where their favorite movies have been filmed.

Although Hunger Games and, for example, television series Hawaii 5-0 are very different in storyline, they still have one thing in common—their popularity with audiences around the world generates more tourism for the places where they were filmed.

In Hawaii, Hollywood movies and television shows like Lost, 50 First Dates, Hawaii 5-0, You Me & Dupree, Godzilla, Waterworld, Jurassic Park, and most recently the ABC TV pilot series Last Resort have drawn visitors to the Hawaiian Islands.

And it’s not stopping anytime soon.

Waiola Shave Ice setup for Hawaii 5-0. Photo by Kyle Nishioka.

The production crew fuels local economy, too

Hawaii is one of Hollywood’s favorite destinations for filming blockbuster movies. In 1994, movie production reached nearly $100 million—money spent for the making of Waterworld, starring Kevin Costner, hit $35 million.

With hundreds of production crew coming to Hawaii to film a movie or TV show, local businesses experience a welcomed increase in visitor spending. Are you one of these visitors?

What sites are popular with actors and production crews when they film in Hawaii? Sometimes hotels are completely booked with crew members filling every room. Cafes and restaurants experience an influx of hungry actors and staff.

Even local music stores can see a positive impact from visitors—music supervisors for The Descendants, starring George Clooney, stopped by Hungry Ear Records in Kailua, Oahu, to buy lots of Hawaiian music on CDs.

Experience Movie Filming Sites at Kualoa

Join us today for a tour of Kualoa Ranch, where moives like Godzilla and 50 First Dates come to life before your eyes!

Most travelers will ask, what do I bring to Hawaii on vacation? Shorts and slippers? Sunscreen and sunglasses?

Keep reading for the essential packing list for your trip to Hawaii.

What to pack for a Hawaii vacation? (Photo: jepoirrer / Flick)

What to pack for your trip to Hawaii:

Light jacket or sweater.
Even though we live in paradise, we still live in a tropical climate–which means it can still rain in Hawaii. Also, fall and winter seasons in Hawaii don’t bring snowfall, but the nights are certainly cooler–between 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Comfortable shoes.
First off, bring a pair of slippers/flip-flops/sandals. But because Hawaii is a great place for outdoor activities, be sure to bring shoes too. If you’re touring the Big Island volcanoes, bring hike-friendly shoes for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Aloe vera gel.
Aloe helps reduce the pain and effect of sunburns. Aloe also speeds recovery time. Prevent it from the start and bring sunscreen, too. If you can’t find a bottle under 3 ounces in size, pick up some at a local ABC Store when you land.

Refillable water bottle.
We pay 6 cents per can/bottle in Hawaii, and soft drinks are no exception. Save money on buying beverages and reduce waste by bringing your own refillable bottle.

Casual dress wear.
Hawaii is laid back when it comes to dining out–an Aloha Shirt and long pants is usually all a guy needs to look ‘dressed up’. There are some places where formal wear is necessary, so consider calling ahead to a restaurant when you’re still on the mainland to ask about the dress code for dining.

Cash, and a CO-OP credit union debit card.
The banking market in Hawaii is dominated by local banks. You won’t find an ATM from a national branch like US Bank, Chase, Bank of America and so on. If you have a credit union debit card that’s part of the CO-OP ATM network, you can avoid ATM fees by using a CO-OP ATM in Hawaii. Otherwise, you’ll be paying an extra $2.50+ every time you withdraw money at an ATM in Hawaii with your mainland bank card.

Polarized sunglasses.
Protect your eyes on vacation.

Maps.
Find your way around the islands, avoid getting lost. If you’re using a smartphone, you can use Google Maps or a similar app.

Respect.
You might be on vacation, but there are over a million people living on these islands. Arrive ready to understand and respect the communities of Hawaii and your vacation experience will be even more fulfilling. Residents of Hawaii are friendly and happy!

Got a packing tip to add?

Leave a comment with your best packing advice for a Hawaii vacation.

Oahu: Chinaman’s Hat (Mokoli’i)

Hawaii Travel Guide: Chinaman's Hat

One of my favorite places on Oahu is the Windward side, where Kualoa Ranch is located. A scenic drive along Kalanianaole Highway–which travels South Shore Oahu, past Waimanalo and into Kailua–brings you to Kamehameha Highway, which then leads you past Kualoa Ranch.

Just across Kualoa Ranch is the Kualoa Regional Park, where Chinaman’s Hat sits just offshore (if you’ve got a kayak you can actually visit the island!). But not everyone knows that “Chinaman’s Hat” is not the island’s true name.

The island’s true name is Mokoli’i, meaning “little lizard”. Hawaiian legend tells of Pele’s sister, Hi’iaka, defeating a dragon and placing the body into the sea.

You can learn more about the legend and “Chinaman’s Hat” with our Hawaii Travel Guide and on our Oahu Circle Island Tours.

Maui: Ho’okipa Beach

Hawaii Travel Guide: Ho'okipa Beach

The world’s capital of windsurfing is on Maui, near Pa’ia Town close to where the Road to Hana begins.

The ideal conditions at Ho’okipa Beach were widely recognized as a windsurfer’s paradise with the rise of a new trend in ocean sports in the 1970s.

Modern day surfing at Ho’okipa Beach was popular, but it was the windsurfing community that really took this beach to worldwide stardom.

Learn more about Ho’okipa Beach here, or take one of our Road to Hana tours and experience it for yourself!

Kauai: Tunnel of Trees

Hawaii Travel Guide: Tunnel of Trees (Photo: lytfyre on Flickr)

Historic, picturesque and inspiring. There are so many ways to describe Kauai’s Tunnel of Trees, which mesmerizes passerbys as they drive through the lush canopy.

Kauai residents, businesses, and volunteers gather each year to clean up the Tree Tunnel on Kauai. In 1992, Hurrican Iniki damaged the Tunnel, but with the help of volunteers and Father Time, the trees grew back to their full state.

Learn more about the Tunnel of Trees and our Kauai tour on the Hawaii Travel Guide.

Big Island: Thurston Lava Tube

Hawaii Travel Guide: Thurston Lava Tube

The Thurston Lava Tube enchants visitors as they walk through an underground pathway formed when lava flowed, cooled and hardened at its edge. Those hardened edges helped for a tube or tunnel.

Both eerie and otherworldly, the lava tube is actually a short, easy walk along a path with dim lights.

However, the tube extends deeper (and darker) on a path that regular visitors don’t go. Adventurers who want to explore the darker side of the Thurston Lava Tube can do so, but flashlights are essential!

Learn more about the Thurston Lava Tube and our Big Island Volcano tours.

What’s your favorite destination in Hawaii?

We met up with one of our Hawaii tour groups on the Oahu Circle Island Eco Tour. (Click here to learn more about the Full Day Circle Island Eco Adventure Tour.)

Kualoa Ranch Tours

Kualoa Ranch offers a variety of fun things to do on Oahu, like horseback riding and ATV adventures through the valley. We recently launched a variety of easy-to-book tours at Kualoa, including:

• Horseback
• ATV
• Movie Sites & Ranch
• Jungle Expedition
• Ocean Voyaging
• Secret Island (includes Ocean Voyaging Tour and counts as two 1-hour tours)
• Ancient Fishpond & Gardens
• Legends & Legacy
• Hula Lessons

If there’s one lesson everyone learns when they’re vacationing in Hawaii, it’s to be prepared for the sun! We recommend wearing sunscreen and bringing drinking water on your day trips. Don’t forget your sunglasses and a camera, too!

Secret Island at Kualoa

One secluded area on Windward Oahu that is owned and operated by Kualoa Ranch is Secret Island, which requires access via boat ride and has a beautiful, quiet beach where you can swim, sunbathe, and kayak.

While on the Secret Island Boat Ride, look “mauka” (toward the mountains) for a stunning view of Oahu’s Koolau Mountain Ridge. Check out more on our previous blog post.

The scenic drive home

Leaving Kualoa, highway 63 will take you either North toward La’ie or South toward Kailua. It’s one of the most scenic drives on Oahu–along the way you’re right next to the beach or directly below mountains. It’s one of my favorite highways on Oahu!

Windward Oahu on Highway 63