Hawaiʻi is considered a paradise for many location scouts. With so many climate zones to choose from, TV show directors can get a good bang for their buck when aiming to create shows depicting a wide variety of backdrops. From hit series to short-lived flops, there’s no shortage of television shows filmed in Hawaii. Here is a list of some of the shows — from long-running classics to one-hit wonders — filmed in Hawaii’s tropical paradise.
Gilligan’s Island (1964-1967)
This iconic 1960s sitcom follows the antics of seven shipwrecked castaways stranded on a deserted island. The series was shot on location at Coconut Island, less than a quarter mile from Kaneohe Bay on Oahu. Some scenes were also filmed throughout the island of Kauai.
Hawaiʻi Five-0 (1968-1980 and 2010-2020)
The original Aloha State crime series, Hawaiʻi Five-O made its debut on CBS in 1968. The opening theme song included shots of the monster waves on the North Shore of Oahu, gorgeous Waikiki sunsets and bird’s-eye views of Honolulu. This TV classic filmed all 12 seasons on the island of Oahu. In 2010, the series returned with new episodes of the adventurous crime-fighting crew.
Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
This hit series, starring Ricardo Montalbán, is set on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and follows the adventures of visitors wishing to make all their fantasies come true. The series featured famous locations on Kauaʻi, including the Na Pali Coast and Wailua Falls.
Magnum P.I. (1980-1988 and 2018 to present)
Tom Selleck starred as the iconic private investigator, Thomas Sullivan, in this hit 80’s TV series. Sporting the famous red Ferrai and strategically buttoned aloha shirt, he stole the hearts of women all over the world. Magnum P.I. ran for eight seasons and was filmed on locations around Oahu. The reboot starring Jay Hernandez as Sullivan premiered in 2018.
The Byrds of Paradise (1993-1994)
The ABC family drama, The Byrds of Paradise, ran for only 13 episodes and followed the life of a single father and his three children as they adapted to life in Hawaiʻi from their Mainland roots.
Dog the Bounty Hunter (2002-2012)
This reality show TV series followed real-life bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman as he chased down fugitives on the Hawaiian Islands. Dog the Bounty Hunter ran for eight seasons on A&E.
LOST (2004-2010)
The mysterious island location for this six-season hit was filmed on the island of Oahu and is considered one of the most expensive TV series ever produced. Sources say the pilot alone cost over $14 million. Filming locations included Mokuleʻia Beach, Kualoa Ranch and the banyan tree near Turtle Bay Resort
Flight 29 Down (2005-2007)
Created for young adventurers, this series was described as “LOST for Kids.” The story follows a group of high schoolers who survive a plane crash and find themselves on a deserted island in the South Pacific. Oahu serves as the backdrop for the series and includes great scenes with Hawaii’s beaches, rainforests and mountains.
The River (2011-2012)
Although it ran for only eight episodes, the supernatural horror TV show, The River, included some epic shots of Kahana Valley and Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, which was staged to look like the Amazon rainforest.
Last Resort (2012-2013)
ABC’s military drama, Last Resort, followed the adventures of a group of U.S. soldiers stranded on the island of Saint Marina. Filmed on Oahu, the series’ 13-episode run lasted only one season. The series was filmed predominately on Oahu but was not picked up for a second season.
Inhumans (2017)
Shots of Hawaii’s majestic banyan trees and tropical rainforest can be seen in Marvel’s TV series Inhumans. The show was shot on Oahu over the course of several months. The show wasn’t met with much enthusiasm and wasn’t renewed for a second season.
NCIS: Hawaii (2021 – )
This NCIS installment starring Vanessa Lachey is filmed on Oahu.
Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. (2021 – )
Peyton Elizabeth Lee stars as Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha in this Disney+ series based on the 1989-1993 series “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” starring Neil Patrick Harris.
The show is filmed primarily in Honolulu and in Los Angeles.
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Many other TV series have shot episodes in Hawaiʻi throughout the years. Some shows taking advantage of the islands’ beautiful backdrops include:
- Wheel of Fortune
- The Hills
- Blind Date
- Amazing Race
- The Bachelor
- Beverly Hills 90210
- MTV’s The Real World.
- A Current Affair
- America’s Funniest People
- American Journal
- Anyplace Wild
- Basic Training, The Workout
- Lucille Ball Show
- Baywatch
- Beverly Hillbillies
- Beverly Hills 90210
- Bodies in Motion
- The Best of Wine & Food
- The Brady Bunch
- Charlie’s Angels
- China Beach
- Code 3
- The Dating Game
- Dateline
- Days of our Lives
- Dr. Who
- Mike Douglas Show
- ER
- E! Entertainment Television
- Eight is Enough
- Entertainment Tonight
- Eye on L.A.
- Fantasy Island
- Fox Summer Games
- Full House
- Gamewarden Wildlife Journal
- Arthur Godfrey Show
- Good Day L.A.
- Good Morning America
- Gotcha Pro Sports
- Growing Pains
- H30 Hawaiian Heavywater
- Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures
- The Hardy Boys
- Hart to Hart
- Hennessy
- Home & Family
- T.J. Hooker
- I Dream of Jeanie
- Inside Big Game Fishing
- Inside Edition
- The Jeffersons
- Barnaby Jones
- Life Goes On
- Life of Riley
- Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
- Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
- Lonely Planet
- Mama’s Family
- The Howie Mandel Show
- Meet the Barkers
- Miss Universe Pageant
- MTV – Beach; House of Style;
- Totally Pauly
- Mrs. America Pageant
- Murder She Wrote
- NBC Friday Night
- NBC Today Show
- Our House
- Jack Paar Show
- Pacific Blue
- Places of Mystery
- QVC Home Shopping
- Ready…Set…Cook!
- Real People
- Rebecca’s Garden
- Renegade
- Rescue 911
- Rockford Files
- Sanford and Son
- Santa Barbara
- Saved by the Bell
- Scratch
- Sesame Street
- Showtime Comedy Club Network
- Six Million Dollar Man
- Sixty Minutes
- Starsky and Hutch
- Step by Step
- Stewardess Cops (Japan)
- Too Hot Tamales
- Tour of Duty
- True Detectives
- TV Magazine
- 20/20
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Untold Stories
- Vegas
- Lawrence Welk
- West 57th Street
- Wheel of Fortune
- Win Lose or Draw
- The Young and the Restless
- Your Big Break
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The 2021 NBC series Young Rock, which follows the life of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, includes a time period when Johnson and his family lived on Oahu. However, the series has not filmed in Hawaii as of early 2021, opting instead for recreations of the various island settings that are shot in Australia.
