Movies Filmed in Maui Hawaii

Have you ever wondered what movies were filmed in Maui?

It is one of the most common questions people ask once they’ve spent even a few moments taking in the island’s scenery. Maui often looks cinematic without any effort at all. Volcanic cliffs hang over turquoise water, trade winds move through deep green valleys, and long ribbons of golden sand stretch out against calm shorelines. Whether you’re walking along Wailea’s ocean paths, exploring the edges of West Maui near Lahaina, or watching clouds gather over the slopes of Haleakala, the landscapes feel instantly recognizable from film and television even before you learn why.

As it turns out, Maui has appeared across many of the most memorable productions filmed in Hawaii over the last several decades. Looking at the island through its filming history becomes a surprisingly enjoyable way to understand the differences between Maui’s communities, each with its own scenery, culture, and visual character.

Maui’s On Screen Identity Is Defined By Its Range

Maui is one of the few places where a film crew can stage an entire narrative across dramatically different environments without leaving the island. A morning shoot can capture sunrise light through the rainforests of Hana, followed by midday uplland filming across the open fields of Kula, and finishing the day with a sunset scene along the lava coastline near La Perouse. This combination of variety and accessibility is one of the main reasons major studios return to Maui again and again.

Films Shot on Maui

Jurassic Park and Jurassic World

The Jurassic franchise relied heavily on Maui’s natural topography to evoke the ancient, untouched world central to the story. The cliffs around Kapalua and Honolua Bay provided soaring green walls that look overwhelmingly primeval on camera, especially in wide helicopter shots. Many of the transition sequences used in the original Jurassic Park and the modern Jurassic World installments were filmed across the tropical ridges above Honolua, where mist gathers in the morning and sunlight hits the valley walls at sharp angles. Portions of the Hana Highway also appear in long tracking shots, showcasing dense layers of vegetation that now anchor the northern edges of the Kapalua community.

Blue Crush

Although primarily an Oahu production, Blue Crush tapped into Maui’s waters for several open ocean sequences where clarity and color were crucial. Honolua Bay, one of Maui’s most well known surf and snorkeling areas, provided the translucent blue needed for clean underwater transitions and paddling cutaways. The area around Napili also served as a backdrop for calmer surf moments where the film required gentle movement and early morning reflections. Anyone exploring the Napili coastline will instantly recognize the glassy surface and jade hues seen throughout the film.

The Perfect Storm

Several oceanic establishing scenes in The Perfect Storm were filmed off Lahaina and Maalaea, where the water often sits still and quiet during early mornings. These shots capture the eerie calm that comes before major weather shifts, and the open channel between Maui and Lanai gives the horizon a distant, haunting quality. This section of ocean borders the southern entrance to the Lahaina community, whose downtown and harbor area historically served as a staging ground for marine film crews due to its accessibility and reliable water conditions.

The Descendants

The Descendants filmed some of its most introspective moments along the northern portion of Ka‘anapali Beach. These scenes portray George Clooney walking along a quiet shoreline that stretches between Black Rock and Honokowai, a part of the Ka‘anapali community known for its calm mornings and soft pastel lighting. Resort pathways near the Hyatt Regency were used for transitional scenes that capture the subdued emotional tone of the story, giving viewers a look at one of the gentler and more reflective stretches of West Maui’s coast.

A Perfect Getaway

No film highlights Maui’s rugged side quite like A Perfect Getaway. The Kapalua Coastal Trail features heavily in several suspenseful sequences, with its narrow cliffside paths and sweeping Pacific drop offs creating natural tension on screen. The coastline near Nakalele Point and the Blowhole amplified this sense of isolation with jagged formations, sudden spray bursts, and raw wind patterns. Additional jungle scenes were filmed near Wailua Valley, where thick foliage, filtered light, and humid air created an immersive atmosphere perfect for the film’s psychological pacing. This geography remains characteristic of the northern portion of the Kapalua region today.

Step Into Liquid

Step Into Liquid is one of the most iconic surf documentaries ever created, and Maui plays a central role in showcasing two completely different sides of island surf culture. The legendary big wave break at Peahi, known worldwide as Jaws, dominates the film with tow-in surfing and massive winter swells that rise like mountains. These scenes remain some of Laird Hamilton’s most recognized moments. In contrast, the film also highlights the mellow, community-driven surf energy of Lahaina, especially at Breakwall, where longboarders and beginners ride smooth rollers against the backdrop of historic downtown. Anyone exploring Maui’s waves today will still find these exact breaks featured on our Maui surfing page, offering a real-time connection to the film’s most memorable sequences.

Just Go With It

Maui appears throughout the movie as a warm, peaceful backdrop that reinforces the story’s relaxed pacing. Transition shots across Wailea Beach, Ulua Beach, and Polo Beach showcase the calm water and wide sandy stretches that define the Wailea community. The glowing orange light of late afternoon, commonly seen in these areas, appears repeatedly in the film’s montage scenes, capturing the luxurious, slow-moving environment that makes South Maui so inviting.

Honeymoon in Vegas

The Kamaole Beaches in Kihei were used for several bright, playful scenes involving Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, and James Caan. These beaches include some of the widest sandy expanses in South Maui, creating a perfect setting for lighthearted shoreline sequences. The blend of calm water and family-friendly atmosphere remains a defining characteristic of the Kihei community today. Additional shots filmed in Wailea brought a more polished and romantic tone to the film’s Maui segments.

Princess Kaiulani

This historical drama takes advantage of Maui’s quieter upcountry landscapes to portray scenes set in the late 1800s. The fields of Kula and the open ranch land of Ulupalakua provided a timeless backdrop with broad horizons and golden upland light. These areas, part of the larger Kula region, remain some of the most peaceful and scenic parts of the island. Coastal sequences at Hamoa Beach near Hana added a dramatic, almost mythic quality to the story, capturing one of East Maui’s most celebrated shorelines.

Running With The Devil

Running With The Devil used Maui’s dramatic elevation and volcanic terrain to support the tone of its storyline. Scenes filmed on the upper slopes of Haleakala near Hosmer Grove used the stark contrast between red cinder, dark rock, and high-altitude fog to create a sense of unease and tension. Additional scenes filmed along the Kahekili Highway near Waihee, just north of the Wailuku community, used narrow cliffside roads and deep ocean views to heighten the film’s intensity and sense of danger.

Donovans Reef

This classic John Wayne and Lee Marvin film used many of West Maui’s undeveloped shorelines during the 1960s, including areas around Olowalu, Launiupoko, and early Lahaina. The movie captures a side of Maui that feels frozen in time, showing palm-lined beaches and quiet oceanfront stretches that have since evolved into the modern Lahaina region. Longtime residents often recognize the older depictions of Lahaina Harbor and Front Street that appear in the film.

South Pacific

Long before Wailea became one of Maui’s most luxurious resort areas, South Pacific used its beaches and coves to create sweeping island settings for the film. Makena and La Perouse Bay served as some of the film’s primary backdrops, taking advantage of the contrast between bright turquoise water and black lava rock. These areas, now part of the Wailea and Makena region, remain visually striking and easily recognizable from the classic scenes in the movie.

Paul Rudd Tsunami Anthology Segment

This lesser known anthology project used Maui for several calm shoreline scenes involving Paul Rudd. Baby Beach in Lahaina, known for its gentle waters and shallow reef, provided a soft visual tone ideal for quieter emotional moments. Wahikuli Wayside Park, located further north along the Lahaina coastline, introduced palm-lined walkways and open ocean transitions that helped give the film segments a grounded sense of everyday life in West Maui.

Television and Streaming Productions Filmed on Maui

The White Lotus (Season 1 filmed entirely on Maui)

The first season of The White Lotus offered one of the most complete and immersive portrayals of modern Wailea ever captured on screen. Filmed almost entirely at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, the production showcased everything from oceanfront lawns to tropical gardens, outdoor pathways, pools, and beachside cabanas. Cast members including Murray Bartlett, Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Alexandra Daddario, Sydney Sweeney, Steve Zahn, and Jake Lacy filmed throughout the property, often using real ambient light and the natural sound of South Maui’s coastline to anchor each scene.

The show also expanded beyond the resort in several exterior sequences filmed across Wailea Beach, Polo Beach, and the surrounding coastal pathways. These stretches of shoreline, part of the Wailea community, appear repeatedly in morning and sunset shots that set the emotional tone of key episodes. A few scenes were inspired by the energy of nearby high-end dining spots in South Maui, echoing the ambiance and oceanfront setting found in several restaurants on our Maui restaurants page. Even without filming inside these establishments, the show captures the feeling of what dining in Wailea is truly like.

The effect is a version of Maui that is both glamorous and introspective, highlighting the contrast between the island’s natural beauty and the character dynamics that unfold within it. For many viewers, this season remains the single clearest example of how Maui’s landscapes shape the mood of an entire series, and the locations used in the show continue to be among the most visited in Wailea today.

Chief of War (Apple TV+) starring Jason Momoa

Chief of War filmed several sequences across Upcountry Maui, especially near Keokea and Kula, where sweeping open fields, soft light, and unobstructed views toward Haleakala created the historical settings needed for the series. These locations sit within the larger Kula region, known for its crisp air, wide horizons, and golden upland atmosphere. Additional scenes shot along the lava coastline at La Perouse added a raw elemental quality that deepened the series’ sense of place.

Hawaii Five 0

Although based primarily on Oahu, Hawaii Five 0 returned to Maui for several of its most dramatic landscape shots. Honolua Bay, D.T. Fleming Beach, and sections of Olowalu appear across different seasons, showing sweeping cliffs, rolling surf, and contrasting shades of blue. These areas stretch across the outer edges of both the Kapalua and Lahaina regions, giving the show variation in scenery beyond its usual filming locations.

Magnum P I

Select episodes of the Magnum P I reboot filmed at La Perouse Bay and along the northern edges of the Kapalua area. The lava fields of La Perouse, paired with the polished coastlines of Wailea and the dramatic cliffs of Kapalua, offered contrasting backdrops that helped broaden the visual scope of the series beyond Oahu.

The Amazing Race

Several seasons of The Amazing Race featured Maui, using locations such as Kapalua Ziplines, the Kihei Canoe Club, and various overlooks above Peahi. These areas span the boundaries of the Kapalua, Kihei, and upper north shore regions, allowing the show to capture high-adrenaline moments against expansive landscapes.

Living Lahaina

This MTV series filmed entirely in Lahaina and documented the daily rhythm of the Maui Surfer Girls program. Scenes shot at Puamana Beach Park and Breakwall near the harbor highlight popular surf spots within the Lahaina community. Additional footage filmed along Front Street and surrounding neighborhoods captures a meaningful snapshot of the town’s lifestyle and culture prior to the 2023 fire.

Why Maui Continues To Draw Filmmakers

Maui offers a rare combination of visual diversity, consistent light, and compact geography. Productions can shift between polished resort environments, rugged volcanic terrain, lush rainforests, and small-town waterfronts in a matter of minutes. This adaptability, paired with the island’s natural beauty, makes Maui appealing for filmmakers searching for variety without sacrificing authenticity.

Movies Not Filmed in Maui

Many scenes from popular movies are often assumed to have been filmed in Maui, mostly because the islands share similar landscapes and atmospheres. However, several well known films rumored to include Maui locations were actually shot elsewhere in Hawaii or outside the state entirely. Below are some of the most commonly mistaken titles, along with where they were really filmed.

50 First Dates

Despite long standing rumors, none of 50 First Dates was filmed on Maui. The movie was shot almost entirely on Oahu, with many scenes taking place along the Windward Coast, Kualoa Ranch, and locations in Kaneohe and Wahiawa. The distinctive sea cliffs and lush backdrops that appear throughout the film belong to Oahu’s eastern shoreline, not to any part of Maui.

Hereafter

Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter opens with a dramatic tsunami sequence that many viewers mistakenly associate with Maui. In reality, the disaster scene was filmed in a controlled studio environment and on sets constructed in Europe. None of the wave sequences or aftermath shots were filmed in Hawaii. The Pacific Island aesthetic was achieved entirely through visual effects rather than filming on Maui’s coastline.

Hunger Games

The Hunger Games franchise has long been rumored to have filmed some jungle or shoreline scenes in Hawaii, with Maui often named as one of the supposed locations. However, the films did not use Maui for any of their production work. When the series did film in Hawaii, it was exclusively on Oahu, particularly at Kawela Bay and areas within the private Kualoa Ranch reserve. No segments of the action sequences or arena landscapes were shot on Maui.

The North Shore

The surf film North Shore has frequently been misattributed to Maui because of its focus on Hawaiian surf culture. In reality, the entire movie was filmed on Oahu, with major surf scenes shot at Haleiwa, Waimea Bay, and Sunset Beach. These breaks, part of Oahu’s famed North Shore, serve as the true backdrop for the film’s surfing sequences. None of the production took place within Maui’s communities or along its coastlines.

Explore Maui Through Its Filming Locations

Many of the coastlines, surf breaks, neighborhoods, and upland areas seen on screen are the same places visitors explore every day. The island also attracts many recognizable public figures and property owners, which we highlight on our Maui celebrities page. Experiencing these places firsthand gives travelers a deeper appreciation for what makes Maui the backdrop of so many memorable stories.

Start Your Maui Journey

If you’re inspired to explore the places featured in these films or want to learn more about the coastal, inland, and upcountry regions seen throughout these productions, the information across our website can help guide your steps.

For those considering making Maui a part of their long-term lifestyle, begin with our complete overview of Maui real estate and start exploring the communities that feel most like home.