South Pacific

Growing up I loved the musical South Pacific. Many years later, in April of 2026 actually, I took a trip to Kauai, Hawaii and was able to visit the beach where part of South Pacific was filmed. Hanalei Pier and Hanalei Bay are both featured prominently in the movie, especially in the opening scenes. Other beautiful places featured in the movie include:

* Na Pali Coast

* Kalalea Mountain

* Mount Makana on the northern coast of Kauai represented Bali Ha'i

* the former Birkmyre Estate served as Emile's home

* Lumahai Beach where "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" was filmed

* Kilauea Slippery Slide, which is no longer open to the public. This man-made slide built at the Kilauea Falls was created specifically for the movie. It was closed because tragedies occurred there, including drownings.

* Tunnels Beach

Hanalei Bay & Hanalei Pier

A lot of the movie was filmed at Hanalei Bay. The song "There Is Nothin Like a Dame" was filmed on this beach: There is Nothin' Like a Dame Bloody Mary sings "Bali Ha'i" on this beach also: Bali Ha'i and here is the song Bloody Mary, which was also filmed on the Hanalei beach: Bloody Mary

Hanalei Bay from the air

Hanalei Bay is located here: Hanalei Bay

Here is a scene from South Pacific filmed at Hanalei Beach and pier: South Pacific opening scene

Kalalea Mountain

Kalalea Mountain, or Gorilla Head Mountain, can be seen from the plane as Lt. Joseph Cable is being flown into the base. It was also the filming location of Emile and Lt. Cable when they went to spy on the Japanese and send radio messages to the base. In fact, there is a window right next to the gorilla's head, that used to be much bigger before a rock collapse in the 1980's, and they set up camp inside this arch.

Kalalea Mountain, the one that looks like a gorilla's head, is shown as they are flying over Kauai in the arrival scene.

Kalalea Mountain is located here: Kalalea Mountain

This is a screenshot from the movie, showing Kalalea Mountain with the "Hole in the Mountain" next to it. This hole is not as big as it used to be back then.

I am not sure if Lt Cable and Emile were actually inside the hole or if they created this arch on a stage somewhere, but they are supposedly looking out through the Hole in the Mountain next to the Gorilla Head.

Kalalea Mountain can be seen from many places on the island and is very recognizable.

Kalalea Mountain from a distance

Kalalea Mountain is the pointed peak that is shaped like a gorilla's head

Kalalea Mountain

Na Pali Coast, Kauai

The Na Pali Coast serves as a backdrop several times during the movie.

The Na Pali Coast

Six Days Seven Nights

This movie claims to be set on Makatea Island, and also on an unnamed deserted island, but both of these islands don't exist. The movie was actually filmed exclusively on Kauai. Locations featured in the movie include:

* Lihue Airport

* Kalalea Mountain

* Honopu Beach & Honopu Arch

* Na Pali Coast

* Shipwreck Beach

* Kipu Kai Beach

* Kipu Falls

* Papaa Bay Beach

Honopu Arch

When Quinn and Robin are being chased by pirates, they swim to Honopu Beach and run through Honopu Arch.

On the island of Kauai in Hawaii is this famous arch that has appeared in many movies through the years, including Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It was perhaps most prominent in the 1976 version of King Kong, where the crew made camp right beside the arch and many views were provided of the arch throughout the movie. It also appeared in the movie Honeymoon in Vegas. In a movie called Acapulco Gold, a helicopter flies through the arch.

Honopu Arch is only accessible by air or sea. There are no roads or hiking trails to it. You can swim to it from a boat or nearby beach, or you can view it on a helicopter tour. This is a scene from the movie that took place at Honopu Beach and Honopu Arch: Six Days Seven Nights pirate attack

The arch is located here: Honopu Arch

These photos I took of the arch from my helicopter tour have not been doctored in any way -- the water really is that blue!

Notice the waterfall next to Honopu Arch.

The arch has sand on either side of it

the top of Honopu Arch

Na Pali Coast, Kauai

The Na Pali Coast serves as a backdrop for arrivals at Kauai and also the fictitious islands of Makatea, as well as the deserted island that Harrison Ford and Anne Heche land on.

The Na Pali Coast

Kalalea Mountain

Kalalea Mountain, or Gorilla Head Mountain, appears in the background of scenes in the movie.

Kalalea Mountain is the pointed peak resembling a gorilla's head.

Kalalea Mountain is located here: Kalalea Mountain

Kalalea Mountain is sometimes called Gorilla Head mountain because it looks like the side profile of a gorilla. Many other movies feature this mountain. At the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Paramount mountain fades into this mountain.

Kalalea Mountain can be seen from many places on the island and is very recognizable.

Kalalea Mountain from a distance

Kalalea Mountain is the pointed peak that is shaped like a gorilla's head

Kalalea Mountain

Shipwreck Beach

Shipwreck Beach on the southern tip of Kauai is featured in the movie when Harrison Ford & Anne Heche's characters jump from cliffs into the water. Here is the scene: Six Days Seven Nights cliff jump scene

We visited Shipwreck Beach in April of 2026. We took an Uber to Shipwreck Beach, which was a big mistake because we couldn't get an Uber back to our cruise ship. We ended up having to walk to the Grand Hyatt nearby and ask them to call a taxi for us, which cost twice as much money and required some waiting for them to arrive. When in Kauai, rent a car! Shipwreck Beach is worth visiting, and there's a beautiful lava arch only about a half a mile away on a very easy-to-follow trail.