Movie road trip: A cinematic site per state for all 50 states

Hawaii: Jurassic Park

Dinosaurs fascinate young and old. The creatures that roamed Earth and then disappeared are important to scientific discovery. The Jurassic Park movies played to people’s interest in dinosaurs. Both scary and mesmerizing, the movies were a huge success.

While the original Jurassic Park movie was supposed to be in Costa Rica, a large part of the movie was filmed in Hawaii, specifically Kauai. The lush tropical region is a highlight of the Hawaiian landscape. One area to experience this Jurassic Park environment is National Tropical Botanical Garden.

The National Tropical Botanical Garden spans around 2,000 acres. The garden features a vast amount of Hawaii’s native flora and fauna. The research center is devoted to conservation and education. Several different types of tours are available and vary depending on personal preference.

Yes, the dinosaurs were impressive, but the natural landscape was equally stunning. The cascading waterfalls from Jurassic Park weren’t the creation of a computer. The Manawaippuna Falls in the valley do exist. These falls can be seen both on foot and via the air. Also, the Hanapepe Valley that leads up to the falls is very picturesque.

Many different areas around Hawaii, and specifically Kauai, were used. A working cattle ranch was home to many of the dinosaurs. The overall tropical landscape in Hawaii is similar to the Costa Rican jungles. Shooting in the U.S. was easier for movie producers.

The subsequent Jurassic Park movies also used several Hawaiian locations. While the area looked great on film, it is highly unlikely real dinosaurs would have roamed this area.