Maximum Hawaii

PHOTOS: Movies filmed, series on Hawaiʻi Island

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HAWAII ISLAND, Hawaii (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi Island is commonly called the Big Island. It’s a land of powerful contrasts: lava-sculpted coastlines, snow-capped volcanoes, erupting volcanoes and lush rainforests. Its raw, otherworldly beauty has made it a backdrop for films ranging from sci-fi epics to adventure dramas.

Here are some productions that have featured Hawaiʻi Island’s unique landscapes:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

For this iconic quadrilogy, jungle scenes were filmed near Hilo on the Hamakua Coast. The dense rainforest doubled as a remote and mysterious locale for classic Indiana Jones action.

Waterfall in a valley outside Hilo on the Hamakua Coast on Hawaii's Big Island. (Photo/Getty Images)
Waterfall in a valley outside Hilo on the Hamakua Coast on Hawaii’s Big Island. (Photo/Getty Images)

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

This film features snow-covered Mauna Kea that sets the stage for dramatic climate catastrophe sequences. The juxtaposition of snow on a tropical island helped capture the film’s apocalyptic tone.

Kona, Hawaii - January 28, 2022: Wide distant shot of the large Mauna Kia volcano at sunset on Hawaii’s Big Island on January 28, 2022. Mauna Kia is the highest mountain in the state of Hawaii and home to a large astrological observatory on its summit which sits over 4000 meters above sea level. Waterfall in a valley outside Hilo on the Hamakua Coast on Hawaii's Big Island. (Photo/Getty Images)
Kona, Hawaii – January 28, 2022: Wide distant shot of the large Mauna Kia volcano at sunset on Hawaii’s Big Island on January 28, 2022. Mauna Kia is the highest mountain in the state of Hawaii and home to a large astrological observatory on its summit which sits over 4000 meters above sea level. Waterfall in a valley outside Hilo on the Hamakua Coast on Hawaii’s Big Island. (Photo/Getty Images)

Krippendorf’s Tribe (1998)

Filmed in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, it showcases the island’s volcanic terrain, steaming vents and jungle-like areas that’s perfect for its “hidden tribe” plot.

Hawaii Lava Tube. (Photo/Getty Images)
Hawaii Lava Tube. (Photo/Getty Images)

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Scenes were filmed around Kīlauea and showcased the area’s rugged lava fields. The terraine created an alien, post-apocalyptic landscape fitting for the reboot’s dystopian world.

Red glowing lava flow from Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, USA. (Photo/Getty Images)
Red glowing lava flow from Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, USA. (Photo/Getty Images)

Lani Loa – The Heavenly Passage (1999)

A lesser-known mystical adventure was shot deep within Hawaiʻi Island wilderness. The region’s atmospheric and remote terrain added to the film’s mysterious tone.

Rainbow Falls,Hilo,Big Island,Hawaii,USA. (Photo/Getty Images)
Rainbow Falls,Hilo,Big Island,Hawaii,USA. (Photo/Getty Images)

Temptation Island (Netflix, Mar 2025)

This reality series was filmed entirely on the island’s west side. Locations include Kailua-Kona, Cheeky Tiki and Sunset Kai Lanai, with dramatic coastal sunsets, tropical beaches and lava fields in the background.

Aerial view of sunset at Kailua Bay in Kona Big Island Hawaii. (Photo/Getty Images)
Aerial view of sunset at Kailua Bay in Kona Big Island Hawaii. (Photo/Getty Images)

Hawaii Life (HGTV, 2013–present)

While shot across all islands, many episodes spotlight real estate and island life on the Hawaiʻi Island — especially in Kona, Hilo and Volcano — against lush, dramatic and diverse backdrops.

USA, Hawaii, Big Island, Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Park, lava coast and rainbow. (Photo/Getty Images)
USA, Hawaii, Big Island, Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Park, lava coast and rainbow. (Photo/Getty Images)

Lost (ABC/Disney)

Mainly filmed on Oʻahu, but there were a few scenes shot at Hawaiʻi Island locations, such as Kaʻū and local lava caves. This landscape contributed to the show’s mystical geography.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a United States National Park located in the U.S. State of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. It displays the results of hundreds of thousands of years of volcanism, migration, and evolution—processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with complex and unique ecosystems and a distinct Ancient Hawaiian culture. Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow, expelled by a volcano during an eruption. They can be actively draining lava from a source, or can be extinct, meaning the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like channel. (Photo/Getty Images)
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a United States National Park located in the U.S. State of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. It displays the results of hundreds of thousands of years of volcanism, migration, and evolution—processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with complex and unique ecosystems and a distinct Ancient Hawaiian culture. Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow, expelled by a volcano during an eruption. They can be actively draining lava from a source, or can be extinct, meaning the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like channel. (Photo/Getty Images)

From snow-dusted volcano peaks to molten lava fields and emerald forests, Hawaiʻi Island continues to inspire filmmakers with its primal energy and cinematic terrain.

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Whether you’re watching a blockbuster or exploring in person, the island’s natural drama is unforgettable.