11 Top Movie Destinations in Hawaii

If you've ever been to the Hawaiian Islands, you'll easily understand why so many movies have been filmed here. The sheer unparalleled exotic beauty of these islands with their multi-hued Pacific waters, backdrop of towering verdant mountain ranges, lush, tropical surroundings and stunning beaches makes for an ideal movie set. And here's the best part - it's all the real deal.

Add in gorgeous year-round weather and a fascinating Hawaiian culture, and it's no wonder the land of aloha is the perfect place for movie makers. And the films they have made here are among the most iconic in the industry. As a lover of everything Hawaii and a frequent traveler to its islands, I've had the pleasure to visit these awe-inspiring movie locations.

A palm-studded resort that occupies a small peninsula on the tip of North Shore where Pacific views are staggering was the setting for the 2008 cult classic Forgetting Sarah Marshall starring Jason Segel, Mila Kunis and Kristin Bell. The beloved resort built in 1972 recently underwent a massive renovation, but the breathtaking views of the stunning shoreline haven't changed a bit.

This Northern Kauai beach is where the hula is said to have originated. Anchoring the start of the magnificent Na Pali Coastline, it's also one of the most picturesque beaches in the Hawaiian Islands. One of the most famous movies filmed here was the classic 1958 South Pacific as well as the 1983 wildly popular miniseries, The Thorn Birds.

Waimea Canyon State Park overlooks one of Kauai's greatest treasures. Commonly referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," this stunningly beautiful and deep gorge was used in the filming of Donovan's Reef, Honeymoon in Vegas, and Lilo & Stitch. The park consists of a scenic drive with a myriad of "honey, stop the car" moments for photo opportunities. It's an unexpected and unforgettable sight to behold.

Once a leper colony, this island has also been known for its agrarian economy with cattle ranching, pineapple and sugarcane production and small-scale farming. Many visitors love it for its remoteness and steadfast dedication to its Hawaiian roots and rural lifestyle. But the island is strikingly beautiful with the tallest seaside cliffs in the island chain. Here a large portion of the megahit Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was filmed.

This 4,000-acre private nature reserve on the windward coast of Oahu also serves as a working cattle ranch, popular tourist attraction, and a filming location for many Hollywood blockbusters. The list includes 50 First Dates, Jumanji, Jurassic Park, The Hunger Games, Jurassic World and Kong. The site is so picturesque and renowned that it offers 90-minute tours where guests can experience Ka'a'awa Valley, known as Hollywood's "Hawaii Backlot," to see where over 300 of the biggest blockbuster movies and TV shows were filmed.

Known for its unparalleled beauty, Kauai's daunting Na Pali Coast is the Hawaii of your dreams. Twenty-two miles of verdant green valleys with nearly vertical cliffs hug the coastline, and thundering waterfalls cascade into the sea from cliffs as high as 4,000 feet. It's no wonder this mind-boggling stretch of unblemished heaven on Earth has been the backdrop for many movie productions. It should be of no surprise that Jurassic Park: The Lost World and portions of King Kong were filmed here, along with the Six Days Seven Nights romantic comedy.

Michael Bay's movie, Pearl Harbor successfully recreated the attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The blockbuster starring Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Alec Baldwin and other well-known stars was filmed throughout the Hawaiian Islands, however there's no doubt about its most famous setting. Visitors still flock to Pearl Harbor to pay homage to sacred monuments such as the USS Arizona and USS Missouri, icons to the "day that will live in infamy."

This spectacular 186-acre botanical paradise on Kauai's south shore feels like a modern day Garden of Eden. The property stretches along the banks of Lawa'i Stream that empties into the nearby Pacific Ocean. Tropical fruits, spices, trees, rare exotic plants and astonishingly captivating flowers are located throughout this landscaped architectural masterpiece preserving the largest collection of native Hawaiian flora anywhere. But it's the famous Moreton Bay fig trees prominently featured in Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean that lure visitors to this botanical nirvana. Jurassic Park fans will recognize the trees' massive roots as the place a velociraptor sheltered her nest of eggs.

This volcanic crater is a nature preserve and pristine marine ecosystem. It is also one of Oahu's best loved snorkeling spots for its calm waters and amazing array of tropical fish and coral reefs. But the stunning bay is also one of the locations where Blue Hawaii starring Elvis Presley was filmed in 1961. The first of three movies to be filmed in the islands, Blue Hawaii remains a nostalgic throwback to the island's fascinating tiki culture and of course, the Hawaiian born cocktail.

The inspiring movie Soul Surfer is based on the true story of Kauai native and teen surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost her left arm in a shark attack in Hanalei Bay, but bounced back in a miraculous way. Tunnels Beach, known to the locals as Makua and located just outside of Hanalai on Kauai's North Shore provided the setting for the movie. The name refers to the lava tubes that run through the reef and into the ocean. The area is known for its incredible snorkeling, stunning rock cliffs, abundant marine life and habitat for sea turtles. It's also one of Kauai's best surf spots due to two impressive shore breaks.

Located on a small pocket of sand on the southeastern shore of Oahu, this sheltered stunning beach was the setting for the hot love scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the 1953 throwback flick From Here to Eternity. The remote cove is so picturesque and one that's often spotted accidentally after visitors come to see the popular Halona Blowhole, also seen in the movie 50 First Dates. One of the islands natural wonders, the blowhole sends geysers as high as 30 feet in the air. The Hawaiian Islands are indeed magical. But it is even more amazing to see the beauty in person rather just through the eye of a camera lens.