Kualoa Ranch is a massive area of Kaneohe, O’ahu, Hawaii. It is primarily a cattle ranch but also raises pigs, chickens, turkeys, and various fruits and vegetables. In addition, it serves several movie and TV studios as a location for filming movies, TV shows, and commercials. There are several ways to enjoy the ranch. For this trip, we had to choose one, and the consensus was for the movie tour. Come along with us on this great trip through Kualoa Ranch as we explore its history in television and film.

Hours of Operation

• Kualoa Ranch

  Monday-Sunday, 7:30 am – 6:00 pm (last tours depart at 3:30 pm)

  Closed Christmas Day & New Year’s Day

• Aunty Pat’s Café (located in the Visitor Center)

  Monday-Sunday, 7:30 am – 3:00 pm (grab & go items available until 4:00 pm)

  Closed Christmas Day & New Year’s Day

• Retail & Gift Shop (located in the Visitor Center)

  Monday-Sunday, 7:30 am – 6:00 pm

  Closed Christmas Day & New Year’s Day

• Kualoa Grown Market

  Thursday-Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

  Closed Christmas Day & New Year’s Day

Admission (For a complete list of tours and options, visit their website)

• Hollywood Movie Sites Tour: Starts at $54.95/Adult

Equipment for the movie site tour ONLY*

*Consult the FAQ for clothing requirements for other tours and adventures.

• Insect Repellant

• Sunscreen

• Comfortable shoes or sandals

• Dress for the weather

• Water Bottle

Approach

Kualoa is just 45 minutes from Waikiki. Take the H-1 Freeway west to the Likelike Highway, Route #63. Proceed up the Likelike Highway and go through the Wilson Tunnel. Descend towards beautiful Kaneohe town and exit onto Kahekili Highway, Route #83, heading north. Continue along Kahekili Highway – note that the road becomes Kamehameha Highway as you pass the historic “Hygienic Store” in the village of Kahalu’u. In about 10 minutes, you will see signs indicating you are approaching the Kualoa entrance, which will be on your left as you round the curve past Mokoli’i Island.

Arriving for the Tour

No matter your adventure at Kualoa Ranch, arrive at least 30 minutes early. Usually, there are no issues, but arriving late means missing out. Once you check in to your adventure, you can kill any spare time in the gift shop, grab a bite to eat, or just walk around the beautifully landscaped entrance.

The Movie Site Tour

The movie site tour starts with a fun photo op at the waiting area, where you can stick your head into the mouth of a carnivorous dinosaur. It is either a small T-Rex or a Velociraptor. Soon, you’ll be asked to board a bus and be on your way. The tour takes you up the mountain, with the guide pointing out the old sugar processing mill for the 1900s and the WWII bunkers. You will not stop along this section, so take pictures, record videos, or enjoy the view.

Nearing the top of this mountain, you will rise above the tree canopy to a gorgeous view of the ocean and reef below. This will also be your first stop on the tour, the largest bunker on Kualoa Ranch. The bunker cuts a path through the mountain to the opposite side. Inside, you will see props, posters, and items from WWII, movies, and television shows. You are given about 15 minutes to go from one side to the other, which is sufficient, but does not allow time for dillidallying. They explain that you will have time on the other side to take pictures of the incredible view of the reef and ocean below. The mix of history from both war and entertainment makes for a strange combination, but it keeps things interesting as you make your way through the bunker.

On the other side of the bunker, you have a few minutes to take some beautiful pictures of the view. Then, it’s back on the bus to your next destination. From this point, you will tour several movie sets, including 50 First Dates, Jumanji, Kong Skull Island, and more. You’ll also see incredible views of the vast valley of the Ranch that slices between two incredible mountains and some of the ranch's farming areas. You will remain on the bus for most of the valley tour until you reach the boneyard from the Kong Skull Island set. There will be times when the bus stops for you to take pictures, but you are almost constantly moving during this tour section.

The final stop is at the Kong Skull Island boneyard. You are given plenty of time at this stop to take many pictures of the dinosaur bones and skulls. There is a statue of Mighty Joe Young to pose with and a sign for Jurassic Valley next to a huge, fallen tree trunk that captures the valley behind it. If you have the time to help others, offer to take pictures for others and enjoy the opportunity to serve and help others have a wonderful experience.

Summary

Overall, the movie site tour takes about 90 minutes, but the time flies. Its great blend of history, entertainment, and agriculture keeps you engaged. If you are so inclined, there are plenty of other adventures available to make a day of your time at Kualoa Ranch. With only the movie tour as a baseline, I can imagine the other experiences are equally rewarding and entertaining. This was a great adventure for my first time in Hawaii. I do recommend it to anyone else visiting.