Kauai Film Commission

09/15/2026

Did you know that some of Kauai’s most memorable movies actually started on the printed page? And over the years, filmmakers have repeatedly turned to Kauaʻi to bring those worlds to life.

Our island has served as the setting for several popular adaptations, including Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park and Kaui Hart Hemmings’ The Descendants. It’s always fun seeing a story you read on the page come to life on screen right here at home.

What’s your favorite book-to-movie adaptation filmed here on Kauaʻi? 👇🏼

09/12/2026

: During the production of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, key search scenes for the Fountain of Youth were filmed entirely on location across Kauaʻi, including the historic grounds of Allerton Garden and the wet caves of the North Shore.

To bring the film's high-seas atmosphere to life, the production held an open casting call in Līhuʻe, hiring hundreds of local Kauaʻi residents to serve as background extras. Many local cast members even arrived at auditions in their own period outfits before joining the cast and crew on set.

09/06/2026

Last month marked the 45th Anniversary for Body Heat!

Released in 1981, this classic thriller starring William Hurt and Kathleen Turner brought 80s neo-noir mystery to the big screen. While the story was set in Florida, production traveled to Kauaʻi's North Shore to film scenic beach moments along Mākua (Tunnels) Beach.

Have you seen this film? 👇🏼

09/04/2026

: When Silence Becomes The Song

Storytelling meets conservation in this powerful documentary directed by Kauaʻi’s Ella Marcil. The film follows a team of biologists and videographers hiking through the rain-soaked Alakaʻi Plateau on a mission to save Kauaʻi’s endangered ʻakikiki bird. It’s an eye-opening look at the dedication required to protect our island’s rarest native species.

You can watch the trailer and learn more about the project at ForestCalls.org.

09/02/2026

September is !

Kauaʻi’s coastlines have provided natural, unforgettable backdrops for stories shared around the world for decades. Celebrating our shores is a great reminder of mālama kai—caring for our beaches and oceans so these cinematic landscapes stay preserved for generations to come.

What’s your favorite Kauaʻi beach? 👇🏼

07/26/2026

Celebrating five years of Disney’s Jungle Cruise!

This month marks 5 years since audiences were taken on a thrilling ride down the Amazon. But did you know the movie was filmed right here on Kauaʻi?

Production crews constructed a fully functioning Amazonian port town from scratch right on the banks of the Kapaia Reservoir near Līhuʻe. The production also heavily featured the Kauaʻi Plantation Railway at the historic Kilohana Plantation for the film's train sequences, alongside breathtaking shots of Wailua Falls and the Hulēʻia River.

07/22/2026

https://www.sagaftra.org/kauai-sag-aftra-hawaii-curious-about-union-membership-join-us-coffee

Whether you're an experienced actor, background performer, or just starting out in Hawaii's vibrant film, television, and commercial industry, you might have questions about SAG-AFTRA. We’re here to help!

07/22/2026

? During the production of the Academy Award-winning film The Descendants, a key interior scene was filmed entirely on location within a historic, family-owned establishment in Hanalei that has operated on the North Shore for decades.

To maintain a grounded atmosphere, the production hired local Kauaʻi residents to serve as background extras rather than using standard talent. Additionally, local musicians were used to perform live on camera.

07/18/2026

It’s , and we’re looking at the unique role Kauaʻi played in creating the fantasy world of Cittàgazze for the series His Dark Materials (2019)!

While the physical streets of the city were constructed on a studio backlot in Wales, the visual effects team needed real-world tropical landscapes and coastal textures to complete the environment. A specialized production unit spent six days on Kauaʻi capturing aerial and ground-level footage to build the show's parallel world.

The accompanying photo shows a local crew setting up a specialized camera rig on a dual-ladder platform directly on the shoreline. This setup allowed technicians to capture stable, unobstructed background plates of the horizon and water over the low treeline. These elements were later combined with digital models to give the fictional city its signature coastal backdrop.

Have you seen this series?

07/13/2026

It’s ! Can you guess which famous actor used to be a Jungle Cruise skipper? 👇🏼