Kauai Movie Locations Tour: Iconic Film Sites & Hotel Pickup

Summary

Walk where Hollywood filmed in Kauai’s lush valleys and waterfalls

You’ll follow a local guide through Kauai’s famous movie locations—Wailua Falls, Opaekaa Falls, Kapa’a Town—watching film clips as you go. Expect laughter on the bus, stories from locals who saw Hollywood up close, and sensory moments that stick with you long after. Includes hotel pickup for most areas.

What’s the experience like?

We’d just pulled up near Wailua Falls when our guide, Kaleo, grinned and asked if anyone could spot the exact spot from “Fantasy Island.” Someone behind me whispered, “The plane! The plane!” and everyone laughed — I swear you could almost hear that old TV theme in the air. The falls were louder than I expected, misty spray catching sunlight while Kaleo pointed out how different the place looks off-camera. He told us stories about crews blocking traffic for hours and locals sneaking peeks at Harrison Ford back in the day. I tried picturing it all, but honestly, just standing there with that earthy smell of wet leaves was enough.

The minibus was cool (thankfully — it gets sticky out here), and between stops we watched clips from movies like “Jurassic Park” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Seeing those scenes right before rolling past Kapa’a Town or Opaekaa Falls made everything click. At one point, a couple next to me started humming the Jurassic Park theme under their breath. I caught myself doing it too. There was this moment on Wailua River where the water looked almost unreal — glassy green, with birds darting low — and Kaleo talked about how some locals still remember Spielberg’s crew camping out nearby. Not sure why that stuck with me.

I didn’t expect to care much about “Six Days Seven Nights,” but when we stopped by one of its filming spots, a breeze came up carrying this faint scent of plumeria mixed with something smoky from a roadside grill. It felt weirdly cinematic, like maybe we’d wandered onto a set ourselves. There were bits where we had to walk over uneven ground (my sandal got muddy — fair warning), but nobody seemed to mind. Honestly, seeing Kauai through all these movie moments made it feel both familiar and totally new at once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Kauai movie locations tour

• Visit Wailua Falls
• See Donovan's Reef filming site
• Explore Opaekaa Falls
• Pass by Wailua River
• Pass by Kapa'a Town Jurassic Park
• Pass by Raiders of the Lost Ark site
• Pass by Six Days Seven Nights location
• Visit Lilo and Stitch site
• Pass by Uncommon Valor and Soul Surfer site
• Visit Miss Sadie Thompson filming location

Top questions

Which movies were filmed at Wailua Falls in Kauai?

Wailua Falls has appeared in Fantasy Island Dragonfly, Castaway Cowboy, The Amazing Race, Tropic Thunder, and more.

Is hotel pickup included for the Kauai movie tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included from select hotels; Poipu pickups have an extra charge per person.

Are children allowed on the Hawaii Movie Tour in Kauai?

Yes, children under 4 are free if seated on an adult's lap; otherwise standard rates apply for a separate seat.

Is the Kauai Movie Locations Tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is ADA accessible with advance notice; however not all stops are accessible due to terrain restrictions.

How long does the Hawaii Movie Tours® last?

The exact duration isn’t specified but expect a full day trip covering several key movie sites around Kauai.

What attractions are included in the movie tour itinerary?

The tour includes Wailua River, Opaekaa Falls, Wailua Falls, Kapa'a Town and other iconic filming locations.

Will we watch movie clips during the tour?

Yes, film clips from Hollywood movies filmed on Kauai are shown during bus rides between locations.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from select hotels around Kauai (with an additional charge for Poipu), guided transport by air-conditioned minibus to iconic film locations like Wailua Falls and Opaekaa Falls, plus onboard screenings of classic movie scenes as you travel between stops.