Jungles: Kualoa to the North Shore
STOP 1 OF 7
Mānoa Falls Trail
Honolulu · Free to visit
A muddy rainforest trail to a tall, thin waterfall at the head of Mānoa Valley, ten minutes from Waikīkī.
EThe editors · 2 Blockbusters on Oʻahu lists — switch
Jungles: Kualoa to the North Shore
Kong’s boneyard, Jumanji’s jungle and treehouse banyans, Captain Jack’s harbor and Windtalkers’ battlefield.
7 placesTwo or three daysRead the guide ↓
- 1. Mānoa Falls TrailA muddy rainforest trail to a tall, thin waterfall at the head of Mānoa Valley, ten minutes from Waikīkī.Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)HonoluluFree to visit1½ hoursFree; $7 parking at the trailhead
2. Judd Trail, NuʻuanuA shady loop through bamboo, eucalyptus and Norfolk pines in Nuʻuanu Valley, past a stream pool locals call Jackass Ginger.Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)HonoluluFree to visit1 hourFree
3. Heʻeia Kea Small Boat HarborA small public boat harbor on Kāneʻohe Bay with a pier and a view of the Koʻolau cliffs.Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)WindwardFree to visit20 minutesFree
4. Kualoa RanchA 4,000-acre working ranch whose three valleys have stood in for half the jungles in Hollywood. Entry is by tour only; the Movie Sites & Ranch Tour covers the sets below.Kong: Skull Island (2017) +4WindwardTour only1½ hours for the Movie Sites tour; half a day with lunchMovie Sites & Ranch Tour $59.95 adult
5. Turtle BayThe resort on Kuilima Point, with public beach access and green sea turtles hauled out on the sand.Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)North ShoreFree to visit1 hourFree
6. Kawela Bay banyansA grove of huge banyans behind Kawela Bay, now protected land with open walking paths.Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)North ShoreFree to visit45 minutesFree
7. Waimea ValleyA botanical garden up a North Shore valley, with a paved path to a waterfall you can swim under when the lifeguards allow it.Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) +1North ShorePaid entry1½–2 hoursFrom about $26 for visitors; less for residents
Watch before you go
Official clips and trailers from the studios’ own channels. They load only when you tap play.
The guide
How to do it: Jungles: Kualoa to the North Shore
Oʻahu’s rainforest has stood in for Skull Island, the inside of a video game, 1940s Saipan and West Africa. Most of it is a short drive from Honolulu: two valleys behind the city, then the windward coast and the North Shore.
Kualoa Ranch is the heart of it and is private land, so plan around a tour time. Everything else on this list is a public trail, harbor, beach or a paid garden.
- The order to do it in
- Split it in two. Morning one: Mānoa Falls and the Judd Trail. Day two: over the Pali to Heʻeia Kea, a morning tour at Kualoa, then up the coast to Turtle Bay and Kawela Bay, and Waimea Valley before it closes.
- When to go
- Mornings, before the afternoon showers and the crowds. Book Kualoa a few days ahead.
- Getting there
- A car is easiest. TheBus 60 runs up the windward coast past Kualoa to Turtle Bay, but it is slow.
- What to bring
- Shoes you don’t mind muddying, insect repellent, a rain shell, water, and swimwear for Waimea.
- What it costs
- Kualoa Movie Sites tour $59.95 adult; Waimea Valley entry from about $26 for visitors; Mānoa Falls parking $7. Everything else is free.
Worth knowing
- Don’t swim in the Mānoa or Nuʻuanu streams: leptospirosis is a real risk.
- Car break-ins are common at trailheads and beach pull-offs. Leave nothing in view.
- Give resting turtles and monk seals at Turtle Bay plenty of room.
Researched and written by us from Kualoa Ranch — Film and television, Kualoa Ranch — Movie Sites & Ranch Tour, Kualoa Ranch — Tours, Honolulu Star-Bulletin — Pearl Harbor filming plans (Feb 2000), Honolulu Star-Bulletin — Pearl Harbor filming starts (Apr 2000) and Honolulu Star-Bulletin — Pearl Harbor shoot on Ford Island (Apr 2000), among others. Episodes checked against episode guides; places and access checked October 2026. Private homes are view-only from the street.