Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii

When we visited Kauai in April of 2026, we went on a shore excursion called "Director's Cut" that took us to many of the places that Blue Hawaii was filmed. The 1961 movie was filmed in Oahu and Kauai. Because it was so long ago, many of these locations look very different now. For instance, the Honolulu Airport is much bigger than it used to be back then! Additionally, the Coco Palms Resort where a great deal of the film was shot, was destroyed in a fire and hurricane and is now fenced off from visitors.

Many claim that Opaeka'a Falls appears in the movie, but this famous waterfall is actually not in the movie at any time. But having been to Opaeka'a Falls on Kauai, I can tell that they were in the area for the horseback-riding scene, the falls just never appeared on camera. You can see the Wailua River behind them, though, and I suspect that they were riding just above the falls.

Filming locations on Oahu include:

* Honolulu Airport

* Ala Moana Beach Park

* Puu Ualakaa State Park, Tantalus Lookout

* Hanauma Bay & beach

* Waikiki Beach

* Kalaniana'ole Highway 72 near Halona Blowhole and Koko Crater

* Makapuu Beach

* Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort

Filming locations on Kauai for Blue Hawaii include:

* Coco Palms Resort

* Lydgate Beach

* Wailua River (in background during horseback riding scene)

* Opaeka'a Falls, although the falls are never shown in the movie, but they ride horses in the area

* Lihue Airport

* Kalalea Mountain in the background (Gorilla Head Mountain)

* Wailua Beach

Coco Palms Resort

Many scenes from Blue Hawaii were filmed at the Coco Palms Resort, including the luau and fire dancing, part of the horseback riding scene, the bar where Chad tells his father that he doesn't want to work in the pineapple business, and ultimately the wedding at the end. Here is the "Slicing Sand" scene from Blue Hawaii: Blue Hawaii Slicin Sand and the famous wedding scene: Blue Hawaii Wedding Scene

Unfortunately a fire and a hurricane both destroyed the Coco Palms and it has not yet been rebuilt. This is how it looked in April of 2026.

Coco Palms Resort is currently closed down and fenced off

Coco Palms is located here: Coco Palms Resort

Lydgate Beach

Fantasy Island was also filmed at Lydgate Beach. In the movie, Lydgate Beach is part of the opening credit scenes, as well as the horseback riding scene. It is also where Ellie tried to drown herself before Chad rescued her in the movie. Here is a scene filmed at Lydgate Beach: Chad rescues Ellie from drowning and here is the horseback riding scene that took place at Lydgate Beach: Blue Hawaii horseback riding scene

Lydgate Beach is located here: Lydgate Beach

Opaeka'a Falls and Wailua River

There is a parking lot near the Opaeka'a Falls and Wailua River viewpoint where you are expected to pay a parking fee. You can walk to the viewing area, but be sure not to just stand on the road because it is very busy and you might get hit by a car. On the opposite side of the road from the Opaeka'a Falls viewpoint you can view the Wailua River. The Falls do not appear in the movie, although during the horseback riding scene, I believe they were riding just above the falls, with the Wailua River in the background. Here is a very grainy scene from Blue Hawaii when they go horseback riding with the Wailua River in the background: Blue Hawaii horseback riding scene

walking from the parking lot, the Opaeka'a Falls are almost in view

Opaeka'a Falls

view point of the Wailua River - Wailua River was in Blue Hawaii and Islands in the Stream

Wailua River

Opaeka'a Falls location: Opaeka'a Falls

Other movies filmed at Opaeka'a Falls include The Wackiest Ship in the Army, Donovan's Reef, Robin Crusoe, USN, and Seven Women from Hell. It is one of the most beautiful and accessible waterfalls on Kauai.

Opaeka'a Falls

Kalalea Mountain

Kalalea Mountain, or Gorilla Head Mountain, is one of the most famous and distinct mountains in the world because it is so unique -- it is shaped like a gorilla's head. Filming does not take place on Kalalea Mountain, but it can be seen off in the distance while they are at Lydgate Beach. Kalalea Mountain was used as a backdrop in many movies, including Raiders of the Lost Ark (opening scene) and South Pacific.

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

Kalalea Mountain

Kalalea Mountain is located here: Kalalea Mountain/Gorilla Head Mountain

Ala Moana Beach on Oahu

Before we got on our cruise ship, we went swimming at Ala Moana Beach, which is featured in some of the beach scenes in Blue Hawaii. It is close to the Honolulu Airport, so many planes flew overhead as we enjoyed the soft sand and pleasant water. Additionally, the lunch spot where Chad meets Miss Prentice and where he picks up the girls for their tour is at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach, which is very close to Ana Moana Beach.

Ala Moana Beach near our cruise ship port

Ala Moana Beach is located here: Ala Moana Beach

Honolulu Airport

The Honolulu Airport has changed quite a lot since the filming of Blue Hawaii in 1961. In the movie, Chad arrives on a United Airlines plane, which lands at the airport and guests come to greet the passengers. The plane door opens to reveal Chad kissing a stewardess. Things are run quite differently at the Honolulu Airport now. This is views from our plane as we landed in April of 2026.

Inside the Honolulu Airport -- our plane was delayed a few hours, so we got comfortable on these couches in the airport while we waited. We witnessed a very beautiful sunset.

This bird had made himself at home inside the airport as well.

The Honolulu Airport, or Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, is located here: Honolulu Airport

Kalaniana'ole Highway, Highway 72

We drove the Kalaniana'ole Highway when going to visit the Halona Blowhole and Koko Crater Arch. In the movie, Chad and Maile drive this highway on the way to Chad's beach shack just after she picks him up from the airport. Chad drives his tour guests past Makapuu Beach along this highway as well. Here is a scene from Blue Hawaii when Chad and Maile were driving along Kalaniana'ole Highway: Almost Always True to You

Koko Crater Arch along the Kalaniana'ole Highway

Koko Crater Arch is on the south-eastern tip of Oahu. The trailhead is across the street from the Halona Blow Hole. The trailhead is located here: Koko Crater Arch Trailhead

The trailhead is located along Kalaniana'ole Highway

There is a pull-out on the highway across from where the trail to the arch begins. If you are driving north on Kalaniana'ole Highway, this will be before the Halona Blow Hole parking lot. You will be able to see the blow hole from where you park in the pull-out.

our parking spot to hike to the arch

our car parked across from the trailhead

The hike to the arch is under half a mile. I read reviews that said not to attempt it in the rain, but it was my only chance to see it, so I went in pouring rain. It wasn't slippery until the end, when we tried to climb under the arch. My husband was able to make it, but I waited below and watched him. When he came back down I asked if I would have been able to make it underneath the arch if it had been dry, and he said no. He understands my huge fear of heights, and while I might have been able to climb up there with his help, climbing back down would have been terrifying for me. As it was, he was slipping all the way down. It is a very impressive arch once you're under it, though. You can see a video of it here: Koko Crater Arch

There is a small arch near the road on the left-hand side, near the parking for the Halona Blow Hole. If you're looking at this arch, you have gone too far north and need to go back to where you parked at the pull-out to find the trailhead.

This small arch is past the trailhead, visible from the road

You can see the tiny arch up above, this is past the trailhead.

This is what the beginning of the trailhead looks like. Climb over that large red rock and the trail begins on your left.

You can see the arch in this photo, but you wouldn't know it until after you've been there. It is visible from the road once you know what it is.

starting the trail

Our very short hike from the trailhead to Koko Crater Arch

This is where I stood, as compared to where the arch actually is. My husband climbed under it, but I stayed at the base of the steep climb. It is less than a half mile from the road.

the slippery trail to Koko Crater Arch

Our view of Koko Crater Arch as we followed the trail

Us with the arch in the background

The trail was very easy to follow

the arch is on the edge of the crater

a zoomed-in view of the arch through the rain

I went part-way up, but it was very slippery in the rain, and I am very afraid of heights. My husband made it all the way up, though.

My husband under the arch

the beautiful view from inside the arch

My husband inside the arch

view from the arch

view from behind the arch

under the arch

view from the arch

view on our hike back to the car

one last look back at the arch

our hike down with beautiful views

admiring the arch from the end of the trail

Halona Blow Hole & Sandy Beach

Across the street from the Koko Crater arch trailhead and just a little bit north along the highway is the Halona Blow Hole parking area. The blow hole is fenced off so that you can't walk all the way to it, but there is a lot of evidence that people go down there quite often. That would be dangerous, though, as you could get swept out to sea quite easily, especially on a day like the one we visited. We also went to enjoy the beach next to the blow hole. We could see the Halona Blow Hole from where we parked for Koko Crater Arch trailhead, from the Halona Blow Hole parking area, and from Sandy Beach. A video of our visit to the Halona Blow Hole and Sandy Beach is here: Halona Blowhole & Sandy Beach The google maps location for the Halona Blow Hole is here: Halona Blow Hole The blow hole was formed thousands of years ago during volcanic eruptions. The hot lava formed lava tubes in the water, and when waves come in, water rushes up the blow hole into the sky. It was fun to watch the water shooting high into the air while we were there.