Hawaii’s Kualoa Ranch: A TV Location Manager’s Hidden Treasure

kualoaKualoa Ranch, on the Windward Coast of O’ahu, is an entertainment enthusiast’s dream.  It’s full of locations for both the small and large screen, including Hawaii Five-0 (original and reboot), Lost, Magnum P.I., Pearl Harbor, and Jurassic Park, to name a few.

Sites Around the World

The Ranch’s Movie Sites and TV Locations Tour offers a look at locations as well as a peek into some of the history of the Ranch and a look upon its magnificent scenery.  Past and current television episodes have allowed the land to double as Ireland in Magnum P.I. and as North Korea in the pilot episode as well as several later episodes of the reboot series of Hawaii Five-0.  For instance, the bunker where Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos) held McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) captive in Season Two, Episode 10 (“Ki’ilua” Deceiver) is actually at this famous Ranch on O’ahu.  In fact, its Ka’a’a’wa Valley is known today as the “backlot of Hawai’i.”

A Place of Royalty

Originally the property of King Kamehameha III, the Kualoa Ranch was established in 1850 and has a history of being sacred ground to the ancient Hawaiians.  Dr. Gerrit Judd, who came to the Island as a missionary and later became a minister to King Kamehameha III, bought the working cattle ranch and its nearly 4000 acres from the king, and it remains in his family today.  Family members continue to honor the mission to be proper stewards of the land and to preserve, protect, and enhance the beauty of the Island through tourist activities.

Tourist Attractions

The beauty of the Kualoa (“Long Back” in Hawaiian) Mountain Range is meant to be shared, and many activities, other than the TV/Movie Tour, are available at the Ranch.  Many have also been featured, and continue to be so, in easily-recognizable episodes of Hawaii Five-0.  Activities available at the Ranch include a Jungle Expedition Tour, a Tropical Gardens Tour, a Hiking Tour, a Horseback Riding Tour, An ATV Tour, and an Ocean Voyage Tour.

More information about the Ranch, including a more in-depth insight into its history, can be found at http://www.kualoa.com.  And catch Hawaii Five-0 on Fridays on CBS.

Cheryl has been a freelance TV/film writer for more than 10 years. Simultaneously, she has worked in PR for Bon Jovi Productions in NYC, PolyGram Records (also in NYC), and Rogers & Cowan Public Relations. Cheryl has published articles at suite101.com, “Sci-Fi Entertainment” magazine, and “Soap Opera Weekly.” She was also a credited researcher for English author Denis Meikle’s JOHNNY DEPP: A KIND OF ILLUSION. Cheryl enjoys writing for the entertainment industry and meeting new people. She is also an animal lover.