If you haven't yet seen the new blockbuster motion picture Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull my guess is that you will soon. The film took in over $300 million in its first five days.
Where did they film those tropical rainforest scenes? Like Raiders of the Lost Ark, much of the latest movie was filmed in Hawaii. This time, though, it wasn't on the island of Kauai, but rather on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Not Peru, But Puna
Yes, those Peruvian rainforest scenes were actually filmed not in South America, but in the lush Hawaiian rainforests of East Hawaii's Puna District, on the Big Island of Hawaii.The movie is the fourth in the popular Indiana Jones series, produced by George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Denis L. Stewart, and directed by Steven Spielberg. Hawaii shows up near the second hour, in one of the film's most action-packed sequences: a seat-clutching chase scene through dense, ivy-covered, palm tree-studded forest on a narrow, unpaved road that meanders along steep coastal cliffs.
Don't worry about those gigantic ants and vicious monkeys that attack everyone. Those were created in the fertile imaginations and computers of the special effects team, far from Hawaii.
In the scene, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), his rekindled flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) try to out-race and out-maneuver wily Russian villains in circa 1957 army jeeps. A thrilling sword fight between Mutt and the evil Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) orchestrated atop speeding military vehicles through impenetrable jungle should come with a warning: don't try this on your Hawaii vacation.
Explore in the Footsteps of Indiana Jones
The scene was filmed on private land in the Puna District, and several eco-tour operators on Hawaii's Big Island, including KapohoKine Adventures, Wild Orchid Tours and Native Guide Hawaii, can lead intrepid explorers to similar exotic Puna locales. The production was on island for approximately eight weeks in the summer of 2007, and was cloaked in secrecy, according to insiders.Gail Pyburn, a Papaikou-based location scout/videographer and owner of Rolling Lilikoi Productions scouted locations back in January 2007 without knowing what film he was actually working on. "What's amazing is they scouted the entire world for this location, and chose Puna," she said. The crew erected a massive tent city in Puna, far off the beaten path.
The Puna District, the largest district in the state, is revered for its Hawaiian rainforest, lush dense jungle, dramatic coastline, and relatively untouched wilderness. It's also one of the most affordable and unique places to visit, with numerous B&Bs, vacation rentals, and spa retreats available to travelers.
State Tax Credits Encourage Film Production
Commissioner John Mason of the Big Island Film Office explained why Hawaii makes such an desirable filming location: "Another big deciding factor was Act 88, the state tax credit we provide to encourage film, television, commercial and TV productions to shoot in the state."Where, you may ask, did the cast and crew stay? The crew and some of the cast stayed at the Banyan Drive hotels along Hilo's scenic bayfront, namely the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort, the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and Uncle Billy's. The megastars stayed in private, non-disclosed homes in the area.
Hawaii's Big Island as Major Motion Picture Shooting Location
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is just one of over 30 motion pictures which have filmed on the Big Island. Those films include: Black Widow (1985), Sliver (1992), Picture Bride (1993), Waterworld (1994), Planet of the Apes (2001) and The Day After Tomorrow (2002).So, next time you visit the Big Island of Hawaii, look around yourself. You may be standing in the footsteps of Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, Debra Winger or Mark Wahlberg.
