On Location in Hawaii: The Descendants
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Photo Credit: Courtesy Wolfgang Jung / flickr
The Descendants, based on a book of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings, opens in select theaters today, starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne. For an insider look at the making of the film, we talked with producer Jim Burke, who highlighted some of the most scenic locations during their 11-weeks of shooting in Hawaii. You'll recognize these iconic properties and landscapes if you've ever visited Oahu and Kauai.
Kauai: Highlands of the East Side
The title of the film refers to the group of white missionaries who came to Hawaii and gained control of native lands in the 1800s. Matt King (George Clooney), the descendant of a wealthy white banker and a Hawaiian princess, inherited a large track of property on Kauai. "There are many descendant families—probably two or three on each island—that control huge amounts of land," Burke said. In the movie, King is forced to wrestle with his past and make difficult decisions for the future after his wife is badly injured in a boating accident.
Photo Credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace, SMPSP
Kauai: The King Family's Land
In the film, the land the King family owns is on Kauai's South Shore, the sunniest part of the island. In comparison to the North Shore's rocky, hilly landscape, the southern coast is lined with palm trees and white sand beaches. It's also more developed, and so there are plenty of sprawling resorts to choose from in and around Poipu.
Photo Credit: Courtesy egazelle / flickr
Kauai: Kicking Back in Hanalei
The tiny, colorful town of Hanalei is nestled in the mountains of Kauai's North Shore. It's a great place to spend a morning shopping for local produce at the farmers' market, stop for some famous Hawaiian shave ice in the afternoon, or relax in the evening at one of the casual restaurants, including Tahiti Nui. "We filmed there and had a few meals, had a few mai tais," Burke said.
Photo Credit: Courtesy The St. Regis Princeville Resort
Kauai: Lodging for the Cast and Crew
The St. Regis Princeville Resort, one of the most luxurious lodgings on the North Shore, was where members of the cast and crews stayed. The resort is known for its impeccable service, sweeping oceanfront views, and its bar, which overlooks Hanalei Bay.
Oahu: A Shot of Downtown Honolulu
In the film, the King family lives in Honolulu, where the majority of shooting took place, including on the Gold Coast at the base of Diamond Head. Burke said that during their stay, the cast and crew had a chance to get to know the locals. "You can go to any one of them and ask them about their own ancestry, their own lineage, and they all know, he said."
Photo Credit: Courtesy Wolfgang Jung / flickr
Oahu: A Scenic Spot for Filming
To give the film a sense of Hawaii beyond where tourists visit, Burke said that the crew shot on location in Nuuanu, right outside Downtown Honolulu. "It’s a little rainier up there, up in the hills, but that’s actually where people live," said Burke. "There are no hotels. It’s beautiful; it’s lush." This scenic view is from Nuuanu Pali Lookout.
Photo Credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace, SMPSP
Oahu: Out on the Water in Waikiki
One of the scenes in the film is set at the Elks Lodge in Honolulu, which looks out on Mamala Bay, located near Diamond Head State Monument and Park. Other nearby sites include the Waikiki Aquarium and the popular waterfront restaurant Hau Tree Lanai.
A Perfect Hawaiian Sunset
Aside from the stunning beaches, vistas, and sunsets the cast and crew got to see while filming The Descendants, their experience went far beyond the islands' physical beauty. Burke said that they were fortunate to see a side of Hawaii that most tourists can't on a short vacation. "It’s a fascinating state that has a history like no other," he said.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Wolfgang Jung / flickr
The Descendants, based on a book of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings, opens in select theaters today, starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne. For an insider look at the making of the film, we talked with producer Jim Burke, who highlighted some of the most scenic locations during their 11-weeks of shooting in Hawaii. You'll recognize these iconic properties and landscapes if you've ever visited Oahu and Kauai.
Kauai: Highlands of the East Side
The title of the film refers to the group of white missionaries who came to Hawaii and gained control of native lands in the 1800s. Matt King (George Clooney), the descendant of a wealthy white banker and a Hawaiian princess, inherited a large track of property on Kauai. "There are many descendant families—probably two or three on each island—that control huge amounts of land," Burke said. In the movie, King is forced to wrestle with his past and make difficult decisions for the future after his wife is badly injured in a boating accident.
Photo Credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace, SMPSP
Kauai: The King Family's Land
In the film, the land the King family owns is on Kauai's South Shore, the sunniest part of the island. In comparison to the North Shore's rocky, hilly landscape, the southern coast is lined with palm trees and white sand beaches. It's also more developed, and so there are plenty of sprawling resorts to choose from in and around Poipu.
Photo Credit: Courtesy egazelle / flickr
Kauai: Kicking Back in Hanalei
The tiny, colorful town of Hanalei is nestled in the mountains of Kauai's North Shore. It's a great place to spend a morning shopping for local produce at the farmers' market, stop for some famous Hawaiian shave ice in the afternoon, or relax in the evening at one of the casual restaurants, including Tahiti Nui. "We filmed there and had a few meals, had a few mai tais," Burke said.
Photo Credit: Courtesy The St. Regis Princeville Resort
Kauai: Lodging for the Cast and Crew
The St. Regis Princeville Resort, one of the most luxurious lodgings on the North Shore, was where members of the cast and crews stayed. The resort is known for its impeccable service, sweeping oceanfront views, and its bar, which overlooks Hanalei Bay.
Oahu: A Shot of Downtown Honolulu
In the film, the King family lives in Honolulu, where the majority of shooting took place, including on the Gold Coast at the base of Diamond Head. Burke said that during their stay, the cast and crew had a chance to get to know the locals. "You can go to any one of them and ask them about their own ancestry, their own lineage, and they all know, he said."
Photo Credit: Courtesy Wolfgang Jung / flickr
Oahu: A Scenic Spot for Filming
To give the film a sense of Hawaii beyond where tourists visit, Burke said that the crew shot on location in Nuuanu, right outside Downtown Honolulu. "It’s a little rainier up there, up in the hills, but that’s actually where people live," said Burke. "There are no hotels. It’s beautiful; it’s lush." This scenic view is from Nuuanu Pali Lookout.
Photo Credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace, SMPSP
Oahu: Out on the Water in Waikiki
One of the scenes in the film is set at the Elks Lodge in Honolulu, which looks out on Mamala Bay, located near Diamond Head State Monument and Park. Other nearby sites include the Waikiki Aquarium and the popular waterfront restaurant Hau Tree Lanai.
A Perfect Hawaiian Sunset
Aside from the stunning beaches, vistas, and sunsets the cast and crew got to see while filming The Descendants, their experience went far beyond the islands' physical beauty. Burke said that they were fortunate to see a side of Hawaii that most tourists can't on a short vacation. "It’s a fascinating state that has a history like no other," he said.
Member Comments (2) Post a Comment
Added a few more locations. here they are.
Take a tour of the houses and filming locations in the movie The Descendants adapted from the book by Kaui Hart Hemmings.
5160 Old Pali Road, Honolulu, HI
This is the address on the living will for Elizabeth King. This address doesn't seem to actually exist.
3849 Old Pali Road, Honolulu, HI 96817
This is the address for the house Matt King is living in, where the pool is in the front, the cement/concrete pots in front, the flagstaff properties in the back (note the 2 extra mailboxes) and its on the corner of Old Pali Road and Gartley Place. http://g.co/maps/y5pw6
155 Dowsett Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
This is the address for the house Matt runs to, the place where Mark and Kai Mitchell are in the movie.
4328 Papu Cir, Honolulu, HI 96816
This doesnt have the turtle on it as it did in the movie. This is the address of Brian Speer where Elizabeth King was caught with Brian Speer by Alexandra King.
55-202 Kamehameha Hwy Laie, HI 96762
This the house across the street from Pounder Beach. Its where Mike King told the family he wasn't signing documents to transfer the estate from the King Family to Don Holitzer. Its owned by a group - Kikila Partners.
3745 Maunaloa Ave Honolulu, HI
This is where Lani and Barb Higgins lives and Scottie and Matt go to apologize to Lani.
4420 Aukai Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816
This is the house Brian Speer has for sale.
130 Wailupe Cir, Honolulu, HI 96821
I strongly suspect based on the views that this is Scott Thorson's house. The house in front says 130 Hale Aka'ula.
Kipu Kai Beach
The Descendants - Kauai Property - Kipu Kai Beach. This is the location of the bay view from the movie. This is the plot of land that the King family and cousins collectively own in trust and have the issue with trust in perpetuity.
21.9117222222222, -159.389930555556
21°54'42.20"N, 159°23'23.75"W
Tahiti Nui
5-5134 Kuhio Hwy Hanalei, HI 96714
The bar in Hanalei.
Take a tour of the houses of The Descendants.
5160 Old Pali Road, Honolulu, HI
This is the address on the living will for Elizabeth King. This address doesn't seem to actually exist.
3849 Old Pali Road, Honolulu, HI
This is the address for the house Matt King is living in, where the pool is in the front, the cement/concrete pots in front, the flagstaff properties in the back (note the 2 extra mailboxes) and its on the corner of Old Pali Road and Gartley Place. (96817). Owned by Craig and Joanne Chun.
This was harder to find. http://g.co/maps/y5pw6
155 Dowsett Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
This is the address for the house Matt runs to, the place where Mark and Kai Mitchell are in the movie. Its owned by John and Tiare Finney.
55-202 Kamehameha Hwy Laie, HI 96762
This the house across the street from Pounder Beach. Its where Mike King told the family he wasn't signing documents to transfer the estate from the King Family to Don Holitzer. Its owned by a group - Kikila Partners.
Part of the reason for doing all this research is two fold, people are curious and probably want to see these houses for fun. The other side to finding these houses is this - the elites, the lucky, the upper echelons of society have money. And with this money comes power and with his power comes the ability to make more money. These people made handsome money for renting these places for this movie. Yet they are fastidious about trying to keep these locations private and anonymous. Yet they want to taunt the rest of the world with their houses of beauty, wealth and power while at the same time try an anonymously take the money for owning these special places.
As was said in the movie:
"Now, we're haole. And we go to private schools and clubs... ...and we can barely speak pidgin, let alone Hawaiian."
What is very unfortunate is very little is being done in high cost of living areas to help with the housing shortages and crisis. They make us, the middle class barely squeak out a living renting from the land owners who take the fruits of our labor, earned income, and confiscate a large par of that as unearned rentier income. The landowners often protest any new development. What they are thinking is they are protecting the property values. That is all. They dont care about traffic, how bad the schools get, etc. They just want to keep things private and the way they are. However, all of us lower middle class people who need to provide the standard of living for these folks - we are the nurses, we are the para legals, we are the cooks, the chefs, the landscapers, the truckers. We have to live somewhere too, and we have to send our kids to school.
We have gone from being the land of opportunity to the land where being middle class is a constant struggle.
If the upper classes want to keep what they have, they must become involved in making middle class possible again. The trajectory we are on will lead to us all into hot bedding in overpriced rentals with multigenerational living a rule not an option while sending our kids to inferior schools.