Hawaii’s scenery has certainly captured the interests of television producers and viewers alike. I think a case in point is the popularity of the hit ABC show, LOST, which is filmed on Oahu. I’m sure the fantastic scenery of Oahu is a huge asset to the show. I know it’s one of the reasons I started watching the show from the outset. I got so hooked on LOST that I even planned one vacation around finding LOST filming locations.
Just take a look at this long list of television shows that have been filmed on Hawaii from the Hawaii Film Office. It’s quite an impressive list, isn’t it? I counted well over 170 shows. From that long list of shows, there are three classics with significant connections to Hawaii that really stand out. Those shows were either exclusively set on the islands or featured in a mini-series or episode. Those shows would be:
- Hawaii 5-O – Oahu
- Magnum PI – Oahu
- Fantasy Island – Kauai
Just for fun, let’s revisit each show’s opening theme.
Hawaii 5-O
(E-mail subscribers, click here for the Hawaii 5-0 opening theme.)
Magnum PI
(E-mail subscribers, click here for the Magnum PI opening theme.)
Fantasy Island
(E-mail subscribers, click here for the Fantasy Island opening theme.)
As I’ve prepared this post, each one of the themes brought back memories and a smile to my face. I hope you enjoy them, too.
So, what do you think of this list? Would you agree that these are the top 3 classic shows with Hawaii connections?
Sheila Beal
Andy Beal
2 comments
It would need to be the top 4 and I would add Gilligans Island.
The departure for the “3-Hour Tour” in the opening credits was filmed at the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, in front of the Hilton & Ilikai.
Filming of the show took place at the CBS’ Radford Studios complex in Studio City, California. But – The pilot and the first episode were filmed in at Moloaa Bay on Kauai.
BTW – There are no “Head Hunters” in Hawaii. It’s perfectly safe. 😉
Dave – I debated whether to include Gilligan’s Island and make it a top 4, but I just felt like the others had a bigger connection to Hawaii.
I’m soooooooooo glad to hear that there aren’t real head hunters in Hawaii. Whew! 🙂