Excursions on Oahu: Film Site Tour at Kualoa Ranch
HaWaii SumMer Vacation, 2024
Before any vacation I try to watch all the movies and television shows filmed around my destination. I have watched the Lost Series at least 3 times through, and almost think I might now understand at least 95% of it (maybe). Any movie and television tour of Oahu would not be complete without visiting Kualoa Ranch, an all-in-one stop for film fans.
The Kualoa Ranch is offered as an excursion from many Oahu locations for vacationers who do not have vehicles. We rented a car for the week, and it was just a little over 45 minutes from our Ko Olina Resort on the eastern side of the island.
This working farm was the set for many adventure films, including Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, and the most recent Jurassic World and Jumanji franchises. Over 200 reality shows, films and television series have been filmed at the ranch over the last 50+ years.
Touring the Ranch
There were multiple options for touring the ranch, including by bicycle, ATV, and horseback. We opted for the least adventurous of them with the 90-minute Movie Sites and Ranch Bus Tour. We read in advance that the ranch could be dusty. We were comfortable on the bus, and we did notice that the tourists on the ATV tours had covered their faces and eyes to avoid the kicked up dirt.
After arriving we had to show identification to pick up pre-booked tickets at the will call kiosk. From there, we lined up to meet our guide in the boarding area. The large compound also included a café, a gift shop, and indoor restrooms. While we waited for our tour, we walked through a small indoor collection of documents and other items from the family that purchased the land and started the farm.
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog
There were two stops on the tour. The first was a bunker that housed memorabilia and recreated sets from movies including a scale model of Windtalkers, props from Jumanji, and animatronic dinosaurs from Jurassic World.
While just one scene of the original Jurassic Park movie was filmed there, the ranch was the location for scenes in the later Jurassic World films.
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024, Blog
An entire room inside the bunker was devoted to props from the Lost series.
The Ranch Tour
The Ranch is located on land that was purchased in 1850 from the King Kamehameha III of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The historic use of plants was a central part of the tour is it continued through the crops, pastures and aquaculture ponds of the working farm. Our guide highlighted those plants that were used by indigenous Hawaiians as well as those that were introduced and influenced the agricultural history of the island.
As we rode through the valley, we stopped at locations that were the backdrop for many famous movie and television scenes. Recreated props and signs with photographs helped mark each spot, including “footprints” of King Kong and a fallen tree that marked the hill from the single scene from the original Jurassic Park.
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 
Filming Location Tour, Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024_2 
Filming Location Tour, Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024_3 
Filming Location Tour, Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024_4 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024 
Kualoa Ranch, Honolulu County, O’ahu, Hawaii, July 2024
Some of the most prominent and memorable movie moments included those from King Kong, You, Me & Dupree, 50 First Dates, Mighty Joe Young and Fining ‘Ohana.
We were given the opportunity to exit the bus for a second time in the Jurassic Valley to explore the multiple movie set recreations. The stop was also a stunning spot for photo taking of the valley without the giant fake bones in the background.
Tips for your visit:
- Book in advance: tours sell out.
- Give yourself extra time to check in and pick up pre-booked tickets.
- Be prepared to get dusty, especially if you are on an ATV or horseback ride.
- Visit the Kualoa Ranch website for a list of films and television shows to watch before traveling to Oahu.
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