The city of Honolulu may not necessarily be as well known as Hollywood in terms of filmmaking, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own perks...because it most certainly does.
Honolulu and Oahu in general have had an abundance of large-scale productions filmed here, as well as a mix of hit television series. Notably, Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum PI are two well known television shows that are filmed primarily on the island of Oahu. Last year, I was fortunate enough to have accidentally come across the shrimp truck set of Hawaii Five-0 while in Waikiki Beach. Rather than it being just another casual day at the beach, I ended up being able to watch the filming of a Hawaii Five-0 episode from their last season before going off air. All around me there were people with walkie talkies, tape spread across access points, trailers, trucks, and the entire cast and crew of the show. It’s not everyday that you just casually come across the set and filming of a prominent television show.
Very recently, something similar happened yet again. The night before Halloween I casually was taking a night stroll down Waikiki Beach when I came across the set of Magnum P.I, in the same spot that Hawaii Five-0 had been filming about a year ago. Once again, parts of the beach were filled with trailers, trucks, cones, signs, and a shrimp truck film set, different from the one one Hawaii Five-0. I was fortunate enough to have been able to take a picture at the set before they packed it away and headed on their way to the next filming location. Needless to say, going to school for filmmaking in Hawai’i certainly has its bonuses. All around me there is filming happening somewhere or somehow. Whether it's the helicopters flying around the island to film for Magnum PI or a casual freelancer shooting a music video, creativity always seems to be surrounding me.
Creativity always seems to be surrounding me
Kualoa Ranch, on the north shore of the island, is constantly bustling with feature films and blockbusters being chosen as a filming location. About two months ago, Woody Harrelson was on-island shooting for a new film and the majority of their filmmaking locations were right across the street from my apartment downtown. Who knew that Hawaii is almost like a mini Hollywood.
Who knew that Hawaii is almost like a mini Hollywood.
So if you’re ever in Hawaii, be sure to check out what might be happening in the filmmaking world...you might just run into a famous actor or two.
Written By: Emma Williams