Beach on Napali Coast by Nenad Radojcic
While visiting Kauai, we learned of many places that have served as perfect settings for film and video. More than 70 movies and television series have used the island of Kauai for settings that have depicted a vast array of world locations, both real and fantastical!
Hanalei Valley
Many of the spots can still be visited today, and, inadvertently, we did! Others are tougher, as they are on private property or only accessible by air or boat. But Hollywood has loved Kauai since the 1934 melodrama “White Heat” was filmed on Kauai.
Where the Wailua River meets the Pacific Ocean
1950’s “Pagan Love Song” was filmed on Wailua Beach, which also represented Australia’s Queensland for the 1983 TV miniseries, “The Thorn Birds” with Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward.
Lumaha’i Beach
We can easily picture Mitzi Gaynor washing that man right out of her hair on Lumaha’i Beach in 1958.
Remains of Coco Palms Resort
The entire “South Pacific” cast stayed at the once glorious Coco Palm Resort.
Hanalei Bay
Of course, featured was the famed Hanalei Bay, as well as Mount Makana towering over Tunnels Beach, serving as “Bali Hai.”
Tunnels Beach and Mount Makana
Makua Beach is nicknamed Tunnels Beach because of the many lava tube caves under the water’s surface. But it’s the sandy surface that has captured makers of several films since South Pacific.
Makua aka Tunnels Beach with Mt. Makana
Among the better-known is 1981’s “Body Heat with Kathleen Turner and William Hurt. Never mind 1958’s “She Gods of Shark Reef,” but 2011 “Soul Surfer” was also made at Tunnels Beach, and tells the harrowing, true story of teenage surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost her left arm to a shark attack. Hamilton does her surfing stunt work in “Soul Surfer,” reflecting her dramatic comeback.
Hanalei Bay
Lydgate Beach
Of course, 1961’s “Blue Hawaii” found Elvis Presley romping on the Coconut Coast, Hanalei Bay, and at Lydgate Beach.
The lagoon at the old Coco Palms Resort
The famous wedding scene was filmed in the lagoon of the Coco Palms Resort in Kapa’a.
Ke’e Beach on Napali Coast
Other famous Kauai film beaches include Ke’e Beach, for scenes in “The Thornbirds” and 1990’s “Lord of the Flies,” along with Danny Devito and Billy Crystal’s “Throw Mama from the Train.” That 1987 release was also filmed at Kauai’s Kalihiwai Beach.
Moloa’a Beach and Bay
Though the tv series was done in the Bahamas, “Gilligan’s Island” was on Kauai’s Moloa’a Beach and Bay for the 1964 pilot and first episode.
Kukuiula Harbor
The lists go on and on…. 1977’s “Islands in the Stream” was filmed in Kukuiula Harbor.
Jurassic Ranch
1998’s “Mighty Joe Young,” used the north shore’s Jurassic Kahili Ranch.
Mahaulepu Beach
1974’s “Castaway Cowboy” was filmed on Mahaulepu Beach.
Sign in historic Hanapepe
Even 2002’s animated feature film “Lilo & Stitch” used the tiny town of Hanapepe and the North Shore’s Kilauea Lighthouse as inspirations, and 2009’s “Avatar” chose Kauai for its non-CGI scenes.
Kilauea Lighthouse
Kipu Kai photo credit to Parrish Kauai
Kipukai Beach set the scene for 1991’s “Hook” and also played host to 1998’s “Six Days, Seven Nights.” That film brought Harrison Ford back to the Napali Coast. It’s hard to forget the crazy leap he and Anne Heche made of Shipwreck’s Cliff to escape the pirates.
Shipwreck Beach and Cliff
Of course, Ford’s first foray into filmmaking in Kauai happened for 1981’s blockbuster, “Raiders of the Lost Ark, filmed near Lihue’s Menehune Fishpond on the Hule’ia River.
Famous cast members are not likely to balk at going on location to Kauai.
Waimea Canyon
Ahukini State Recreational Pier
1963’s “Donovan’s Reef” brought John Wayne and the cast to settings in Waimea Canyon and at the Ahukini Pier.
Hanamaulu Beach
Filmmakers also used Kauai’s Hanamaulu Beach and the Wailua River in representing Haleakaloha Island and French Polynesia.
Wailua River
Napali Coast photo by Kathy VanDeventer
Mt. Makana and Tunnels Beach
The 1976 remake of “King Kong” brought Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange to settings from Tunnels Beach and the Napali Coast to the idyllic surroundings of Makana Mountain.
Jo Jo’s Shave Ice in Waimea town
1992’s “Honeymoon in Vegas” with Nicholas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, and James Caan, featured several Kauai settings.
National Tropical Botanical Gardens
These ranged from the town of Waimea to the Lawai National Tropical Botanical Gardens.
Wailua Falls photo by Zane Persaud
The 2008 action comedy “Tropic Thunder” with Tom Cruise and Robert Downey, Jr was set against the dense backwoods of Kauai and the Wailua Falls, not in Vietnam at all.
Hanalei Bay
“
The Descendants” with George Clooney set the 2011 release on Kauai’s North Shore, at Lihue Airport, and at Hanalei Bay.
Napali Coast photo by Casey Horner
Not stopping there, they also filmed along the Napali Coast, Kipu Kai, the famed Tahiti Nui Bar, Kipu Ranch, and the Kipukai Beach overlook, along with the towering waterfalls cascading down Mt. Namolokama.
Mt. Namolokama with its lengthy waterfalls
Honopu Beach on Napali Coast photo by Chor Tsang
2019’s “Fast & the Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” brought Dwayne Johnson to Honopu Beach on the Napali Coast and into the Kalalau Valley.
Johnson returned to Kauai for his thoroughly delightful 2021 “Jungle Cruise” Disney film. They worked on the Wailua River, not the Amazon.
Opaeka’a Falls
Other scenes included the Kilohana Plantation Railway, Kapaia Reservoir, and the popular Opaeka’a Falls. What fun it was to stand looking at actual settings from films we have enjoyed!
Wailua Falls
Waterfalls always have a giant pull on filmmakers. 1978 – 1984 The hit weekly television series “Fantasy Island” brought Ricardo Montalban to Kauai and featured the Wailua Falls and Wailua River State Park.
Olokele Canyon
With all the Jurassic films taking advantage of Kauai, it’s no wonder people still look for dinosaurs in the Olokele Canyon or on the Napali cliffs from 2015’s “Jurassic World.”
Napali Coast photo by Kathering Loydall
Moreton Bay Fig Tree roots
And standing amidst Moreton Bay Fig trees with roots as big as 5 feet tall, you just might find yourself looking for some dinosaur eggs.
Manawaiopuna Falls
Here’s an interesting side note. While filmmakers took advantage of Kauai’s 400-foot Mauawaiopuna Falls for 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” with just one day of filming remaining in the summer of 1992, Category 4 Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai. Filmmaking stopped.
Ruins of Coco Palms Resort
The Coco Palms Resort, the once glamorous playground for the rich and famous, was destroyed, along with more than half the homes on the island.
Poipu Beach
Honopu Arch
But Kauai’s resilience remains remarkable. They were back to hosting filmmakers within a year. One which used various sites on Kaua’i was 2011’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” Johnny Depp was brought onto the scene at the Honopu Arch on the Napali Coast by helicopter. Visitors today can get there by boat.
And these tidbits are just about Kaua’i, the Garden Island. Whether we are movie buffs or not, there are several more islands, and they are all most assuredly worth visiting for the true star power of the scenery.
North Shore Sunset
One of the most influential voices in the 19th Century was born in Newport, New Hampshire in 1788. Sarah Josepha Hale was born to parents who believed in education for both boys and girls, so she was encouraged to study and then became a writer. After only 9 years of marriage, her husband passed away, leaving her with 5 children. Relying on poetry for income, she wrote the famous nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Hale moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she became the editor of the leading women’s publication of the day, Godey’s Lady’s Book in 1837.
Our “room” turned out to be a large apartment with two king bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, a dining table for 8, a laundry, 3 wide-screen TVs, and a private lanai in the back.
The Hawaiians remain a highly spiritual people. In an earlier article, I mentioned seeing a prominent, double peak on the northern shore of Kaua’i as our ship approached the island. This is part of the Kalalea Mountain range near the town of Anahola.
As these mountains stretch toward the Pacific Ocean, one particular “spike” stands out. The wider one is Hokuyalele Peak, and the skinny spike is Mono Mt.
Leave it to cranberries to get two official days back-to-back. Because my cousin, Barbara Cote asked if I make our Grandmother Burnham’s Cranberry Orange Relish, I knew I needed to post a recipe today in celebration of all the marvelous meals that came out of Grammy’s loving kitchen. Sorry, because I do not know if this recipe is or is not a spin on the way she made the relish. I just know I always loved it! She likely prepared it with no recipe card at all!
KISS Tips: This is an old recipe, as I made it back in 1980. I now tend to cook without sugar. Replacing the sugar with granulated monk fruit works great. As I prefer it less sweet, I only use ½ cup. This is also yummy with the addition of a T of liquor, such as Grand Marnier or even peach schnapps.
Cranberries are easily one of my favorite fruits. I get caught popping these fresh, tart little berries into my mouth all Fall.
This is a day to be zany and do silly things as if we need a specified day. History is full of examples of human absurdity. For example, in 1913, when the U.S. postal service launched, children falling within shipping weight limits could be “mailed” cross-country for as little as 15 cents.
Because November is National Adoption Month, I thought you might enjoy a little adoption update. Back on June 10th, I posted about our friends Rick and Claire Johnson watching over two tiny, twin fawns that had been orphaned when their mom was struck by a vehicle on the road near our ranch. Keeping them safe from predators at night in a stall in our barn, but opening the door during the day, the struggle was on to help them stay alive while awaiting space with a wildlife rescue service. Thankfully, after just a couple of days, a doe in a herd of deer on the property appeared to have lost her own fawn, and she sniffed out the babies and chose to adopt them, nuzzling them to join the herd and slip into the woods.
In ancient times, a heiau was a place of royalty, yes… but also refuge. This was a pu’uhonua or place of refuge. In times of war or turmoil, if anyone in trouble could make it to the temple, they would be safe as long as they remained there.
Also at the State Park is the Lydgate Beach Park. A mighty undertow threatens swimmers at the mouth of the river and has carried many out to sea, including the Lydgate’s 2-year-old son. They wanted no other families to suffer their loss and had large lava boulders added around an enormous area by the beach, forming a natural, yet safe swimming and snorkeling area. The beach park was named in this family’s honor.
Nearby, my eye-opening cultural education continued. A large cluster of rocks featured a flat, square one in the front and center. Any princess or queen who was pregnant delivered her baby here in front of all to see, as they wanted the people to witness the birth of the next king or queen. Yes, they have medical centers now.
One phenomenon along the lava rock coast is something called blowholes. When large waves crash into the shore, the pressure pushes water straight up through a vertical lava tube hole, delivering a whale-like vertical blast of water. On Kauai’s south shore in the town of Koloa just after Po’ipu Beach, we visited a most spectacular one called the Spouting Horn. The surf crashing into the rocks forces the spout of water as high as 50 feet into the air, bringing smiles to all faces visiting this most highly photographed site.
This all acknowledged, the dramatic beauty of Waimea Canyon is staggering. Whether viewing from the various lookouts that are accessible by road or hiking the multitude of trails, its dramatic vibrancy remains unforgettable in all directions.
The weather was on our side. Only as we prepared to depart were the misty clouds forming down the side canyons. This happens daily by the trade winds picking up the warm ocean waters and getting caught up, forming clouds beside the high volcanic peaks.
Serving up a stark contrast is a crazy little town on the southwest shore. A small village now, Hanapepe used to huge and was known as Party Town from WWI to the 1950’s. Then it was filled with bars, brothels, and US military personnel. Then Kauai closed all the bars and brothers, and they were replaced by a dozen churches. Due to its Friday night “Art Walk” event, Hanapepe is now known as Art Town. Not through with this day’s Hawaiian adventures, our next stop was some shave ice at Jo Jo’s in Hanalei. (Naturally!)
We were then off to the Luau Kalamaku at the historic Kilohana Plantation. The sounding of the conch shell signaled the Imu Ceremony for the unearthing of the roasted pig.
This was followed by what was dubbed a “scrumptious buffet” of local Hawaiian specialties. In truth, the food was sadly mundane, especially after we have enjoyed so many delightful local dishes. (It even made the cruise ship buffet look gourmet.)
However, the music and choreography made up for it. Through music and dance, the professional cast relayed the legends and lore of the first Polynesians finding their way to the Hawaiian Islands.
Yikes! Who knew??!
I used to say that McDonald’s french fries were the no-contest best… crispy and perfect every time. However, that is no longer the case. No other spot has topped them, but consistency in the franchise world has simply vanished. You can now order a great favorite one day and get something quite unrelated the next time you order it, even from the exact same location.
KISS Notes: Add ½ c of chopped nuts, if you like. You can also replace all or part of the raisins with other dried fruit, such as cranberries, apricots, or cherries. These also freeze very well.
Everyone has their favorite guac, and this is your day to enjoy it your way. If you haven’t made it at home, give it a go!
I pause from my typical postings on this day for a brief look at Life as it has been affecting me over the past couple of months. Life. We are not in charge.
A Facebook posting of his from nearly one year ago served up a memorable slice of his philosophy. “Life is a puzzle. Solve it with the right pieces.”
Of the 13 distinct climates found on Earth, 11 are right here on the Big Island. No arctic glaciers nor desert sand dunes exist here, but you could ski in the morning and sit under a tropical palm tree on the beach in the afternoon. The population has grown from 185,000 to 200,000 since the Covid pandemic. That also drove home prices crazy, just as it did elsewhere. On the rainy side of the Big Island, the median home price in Hilo of $375K jumped to 600K. In Kona, a small home now runs between $800K and one million dollars. Eek.
Our second day on the Big Island was spent in Kona, on the west side of the island. We had a Zodiac Boat adventure. This was a rollicking excursion. Our inflatable Zodiac could handle 17 guests, but we had just 7. Perfect!
We cruised the Kona coastline for 17 miles to our snorkel site… a “no fishing” bay filled with superb coral and massive schools of colorful fish!!! It is amazing when Yellow Tangs, for example, are schooled together in such numbers that they boldly color the water… yellow in this case.
On the shore stands a statue in tribute to Captain Cook. This is the site where he had come ashore and initially thought to be a god. This is also where he died as the people no longer viewed him as a god. Further, and there are conflicting stories on this, he got upset about the people borrowing the long boat they had given to him. When he challenged them, they killed him. Or it is said that when he challenged them in his conversation with the King or Chief, Cook touched his arm, which is forbidden, so they killed him… OR stabbed him… or not…. He may have tried to swim back to his ship, but since he could not swim, he drowned. Regardless, they burned the flesh from his bones in the honoring method used for chiefs and kings… and then buried his bones in a secret place.
No mongoose can attack their nests and eggs here, so it is wise. The mongoose was brought to the Hawaiian Islands to rid them of rats. However, since mongoose like daylight, and rats are creatures of the night, all they got was more trouble. The mongoose love to dine on bird eggs, which is leading various species down the path to extinction. Fortunately for the island of Kauai, a mongoose bit the handler when he was bringing the crate from the boat. He was ticked off and threw the crate of mongoose into the ocean, drowning them all. Inadvertently, he thus protected the birds on that island.
You first scoop locally made vanilla, macadamia nut, or coconut ice cream into your bowl. Pile the shave ice on top. Then a favorite house-made syrup is generously poured over the ice, followed by a drizzle of Haupia. (This is basically a cream pudding made from freshly grated coconut, cornstarch, sugar, and water.) You can even dash fun bits on top… from chunks of fruit, like papaya or kiwi, or a sprinkle of fresh or roasted coconut flakes.
With the time it takes for volcanoes on the ocean’s floor to form new land, and with the fact that the earth’s plates are still moving, the islands’ ages differ. The eldest are the furthest west. Thus, Kaua’i is the oldest Hawaiian island at 5 million years old, followed by Oahu, which is between 3- and 4 million years old, then Moloki at 2 million, Maui at 1 million, and finally the youngest, which is The Big Island. At a mere 750,000 years old, The Big Island is still forming thanks to Kilauea. This pewing volcano has been erupting continuously since January 3, 1983.
“Fascinating” is how I describe standing on ground that we know will be gone with the next earthquake on the Big Island. So many fissures in the land are visible, it was rather disconcerting.
While Kilauea is still erupting, it is not the world’s largest volcano. That honor belongs to another volcano, also on the Big Island, which remains at an elevated threat level to erupt again. While Mauna Loa is Earth’s largest volcano, Mars can boast of having the largest one in the solar system. Scientists say it’s the size of New Mexico.
Check how big Haleakala is from base to summit. Though erosion has chopped off 2,000 feet, Haleakala still stands at 29,704 feet from base to summit. Yup. That’s BIG. She stands taller than Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341’), Mount McKinley (20,320’), and even Mount Everest (29,029’).
Even more interesting are some of the species endemic to Hawaii, meaning they are not only native, but they grow nowhere else on earth. One example is the Haleakala Silversword. Its Hawaiian name is ‘ahinahina (which is pronounced like ah-HEE-nah-HEE-nah. This literally translates to “white white,” as the Hawaiian language has no single word for “silver.” This plant grows at 7,500 feet up the mountain and only blooms once per year. They have a soft, hairy feel to them, like the spot just above a cat’s nose. My picture lacks the blossom, as they are done blooming by fall.
Another favorite, though hardly endemic to Hawaii, is a partridge-like bird we saw scurrying all about our vehicles and the edges of the crater. We learned it is the Chukar partridge, native to Eurasia. The upland game bird is from the pheasant family. So, go Hawaiian and have a Chukar in your pear tree for the 12 days of Christmas.
On our cruise, we got to enjoy 2 days docked at the Kahului Port on the island of Maui, known as The Valley Island. Cruising into the harbor, I could easily see how the warm moisture from the Pacific Ocean is captured on the windward side of the island by the giant volcanic mountains. Thus, a lovely tropical rain shower is likely in some places, while the other side of that mountain stays dry.
That’s how we spent our first day here. On one of Pacific Whales Eco-Adventures’ 65’ power catamarans out of Ma’alaea Harbor, we cruised 5 miles into the Pacific to Molokini, which is actually a steam release crater. It was formed during eruptions of the now dormant, great Haleakala volcano.
colorful fish and lots of bulbous coral live here. The coral is not too colorful, but it’s plentiful and healthy, along with black and red huge sea urchins and a couple of jellyfish.
And we watched out for sharks. We were there in late October, also dubbed as “Sharktober,” as they see so many sharks. Of the 40 shark species found around Hawaii, only about 10 are seen close to shore… including the hammerheads, various reef sharks, and tiger sharks. Great white sharks tend to only be seen between January and April when water temperatures drop below 75°F. We learned that when sharks die, their teeth become fossilized and turn black. If you buy white shark teeth, the shark was killed to get them. Eeek. Regardless, we were pleased to learn about sharks but not see any!
We did get to see the green sea turtles. We learned we must stay 10-15’ away from them as they are near-sighted, might not see us, and could accidentally bump into us. These sea turtles are important in Hawaiian culture, as many believe they are ancient ancestors.
I also got “the sighting of the day,” as I spied the pod of spotted dolphins swimming toward our boat. Local law prohibits the tours from letting us get into the water with dolphins, but these dolphins came to us, and a few folks were still in the water.
I love nachos of all sorts. A marvelous Mexican chef and restauranteur taught me to make them with a single layer of chips, individually adorned with cheese, sauce, and any other finely diced toppings you need. That is still my favorite preparation.
Sean O’Kane got it right! He recognized the classic spot on the North Shore near the Polynesian Cultural Center.
We wanted to visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, which we found to be extraordinarily moving. When the Japanese bombed Battleship Row and the airfield on December 7, 1941, they launched the United States into World War II. 1,177 sailors and Marines were killed on the USS Arizona alone, and the ship still lies on the bottom of Pearl Harbor and is the final resting place for more than 1,100 of those killed that day… and a number of survivors who later chose to have their ashes interred with their fallen shipmates.
As we reached the north shore, we saw fields of huge windmills, capturing the trade winds to generate electricity. (Despite the many solar paneled buildings and solar panel farms and windmills, Hawaii has the dramatically highest electricity costs of anywhere in the USA.) Seeing the giant fields and rows of windmills looked very Stephen King’s “Langeliers.”
We dined there with our friends, Ken and Priscilla Rondeau, who were also cruising the Hawaiian Islands with us. I loved the tagliatelle with Italian prosciutto and mixed mushrooms with alfredo sauce. Oh, yes!!!!
Yes, it’s an island… a very specific island. Can you name it? (Only true guesses, please. Just email, text, or private message to me if you know because Sir Ronald or I shared the info.) Think now… the visual and video hints will make you say, “Of course!”
Most historians agree that the sandwich was “invented” by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, and thus, the name. It is noted that the “problem gambler” did not like leaving his card game for any reason. He asked that his serving of roast beef be placed between two slices of bread so he could eat with his hands. Yup… that simple.
Book 2 in my Destiny trilogy officially becomes available today! While both sweet and heart-wrenching, this story is also 100% true.
With Halloween falling on a Monday this year, a great many parties and celebrations happened Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! For those who cherish this holiday… like a few special friends of mine… nothing could be more perfect.
Thanks, Mom! Thanks for teaching me to cook, bake, and celebrate all that is wonderful around us. Especially I thank you for teaching me to appreciate all our similarities and differences. We are so blessed that your love and fun sense still sparkle today. I simply love how you now have a chef and a team of decorating ladies cooking up more than 1,000 gingerbreads every season at your independent living apartments. Bravo!
This is officially the day to celebrate America’s favorite “vegetable.” Candy corn was yellow, orange, and white to represent the bright colors of corn kernels. Talk about sweeeeet! If you are a fan, you most assuredly have a sweet tooth. George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company is said to have created candy corn in the late 1800’s.
“Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.”
“If we cannot live so as to be happy, let us at least live so as to deserve it.”
My folks used to say that I could live on hot dogs and popcorn. They were probably right.
“If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.”
I am a nut. If we are what we eat, then I am truly nutty. I like them all… pecans, walnuts, cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, pistachios, pepitas, macadamias, hazelnuts, and even the ones, like peanuts, that aren’t really in the “nut” category.
Looking back at my photos taken for Granddaughter Ada’s 2nd birthday celebration on October 8th, I realize how many busy hands the celebration took. Everyone helped out. Adam and Caiti were constantly in motion, from last-minute touches for the special birthday cupcakes to prepping the chicken kebabs for the grill.
From Melanie tending to Ada, plus Mel and Julian supplying the much-needed extra tables and chairs… to Joe and Odette, teaching Ada to ride the shiny new bicycle they’d brought her, and Odette skillfully creating the fancy pepperoni and salami roses for the meat & cheese platter.
Steve and Chris delighted everyone with his amazing smoked ribs and macaroni and cheese and her ease blowing up the balloons for the arch and helping Odette, Caiti, and Adam assemble Ada’s beautiful new dollhouse. Sir Ronald and I also helped with set up, decorating, and clean-up. So, it may “take a community,” but a big family can also help make light work of big projects. We all loved it!!! May we enjoy many more such loving family gatherings together. And next year, we will be adding Adaline’s brand new baby sister, Ayla to the festivities!!!! Multiple blessings!
Even the word “bisque” sounds fancy. Chefs make bisques out of all sorts of ingredients, including fruits, squash, carrots, and tomatoes. However, the original bisque was always seafood based. This is a rich soup and pricy, too.