Jurassic Park & Jurassic World may be both names that are commonly associated with Hawai’i, namely O’ahu. But Kualoa Ranch, what is that?
Kualoa is one of many ahupua’a on O’ahu, an old Hawaiian system of land divisions that on a map, look comparable to a state county or parish map. The land became owned by the Judd family in the mid 1800’s and over the course of 150 years, it has remained within the same family chain serving as a sugar plantation to a cattle ranch. The only gap in that time was when the military took grip over the land to built defense installations during the second World War.
But in recent years, Kualoa Ranch has been renowned as a tourist destination bringing all likes of travelers over to tour the massive property. Why? In the past 50 years, Kualoa Ranch has been known as the “Backlot of Hawai’i”, being host to many world famous shows such as Lost, Hawai’i 5-0, Jumani, 50 First Dates, Pearl Harbor, Godzilla & more. But the most popular amidst that long list, are the Jurassic Series: Jurassic World and the classic Jurassic Park.
Jurassic Adventure Tour Price (as of Feb. 2021)
Adults $129.95 & Child $69.95
Kama ‘aina: Adults $115.13 & Child $62.77
A week before Christmas was a kama’aina holiday gift for us and a touristy treat from the horrors of 2020. Me, my partner, and her 6 year old son planned a getaway to the other side of the island to enjoy a day out at Kualoa Ranch. Just months before our trip, Kualoa Ranch designed a whole new Jurassic Adventure tour solely focusing on everything Jurassic. As much as I’ve loved Jurassic anything since that first film, this trip was really for the little guy since he is alike me at that age, in love with everything dinosaurs and Jurassic World.
Hakipu’u Valley
The tour starts off by hopping on one of the Ranch’s custom built open air vehicles and sets off to Hakipu’u valley, the smaller of the two valleys. Here we had an insanely gorgeous view overlooking Secret Island and Mokapu (MCBH) and beyond to Waimanalo. The moli’i fishpond was described to be the filming inspiration where the Mosasaurus Arena was designed in Jurassic World.
Next up was certainly the highlight of the whole trip in my opinion, the set for the Indominous Raptor Paddock. While, only a singular wall, it was what the film needed to keep the indominous Rex in it’s paddock. Unfortunately that didn’t stay that way. 😉 Added experience to this part of the tour, was having the opportunity to walk up the stairs and into the observation room overlooking the Indominous where both Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen (Chris Pratt) stood.
Ka’a’awa Valley
Coming back passed our starting point and passed the abandoned sugar mill, we made our way into Ka’a’awa (ka-ah-ah-va) valley, home to the scenic backdrops we all are familiar with and in love with in Hollywood films. Here we had the opportunity to pass Mr. Mighty Joe Young himself..
… a few large footprints said to have been those of the 1999 Godzilla film
and a dozen of signs labeling some other popular movies filmed in the valley.
Our stops included a bunker like structure which according to our tour guide, was built just for tours not for movies…boooooring!
However, over the hill and facing the mountain is where our beloved Chris Pratt was filmed running away from dinosaurs. And the very mountain above is where the volcano erupts in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Driving up the lower part of the ridge brings us to another bunker like structure, but unlike the previous FAKE, this was was used in “Fallen Kingdom” right before the volcano eruption.
Next up, was the platform built for the gyrospears in the Jurassic World film. This is where people wait in line to get into the gyrospears and go out to roll with the dinosaurs. This spot makes for an added excuse to take in a sick panorama of the valley and ridge!
Our last Jurassic stop was one of my personal favorite and most hilarious. We stopped at the very dead tree used when Alan Grand and the kids were running away from the gallimimus. Also here is a touristy Jurassic Park sign to take a cheesy tourist pic at…..yea, I took one.
The hilarious part I mentioned is having the opportunity to run away from a T-rex. I mean in our age of technology, why not. Our guy took out his phone, had us run away from an invisible T-Rex and with a couple of phone edits, wa-la!!! We ran away from a digitally added in T-Rex!
Well there you have it, in good old blog form. Kualoa Ranch offers a wide array of tours, but the Jurassic Adventure tour is the most unique amongst all of them as it allows you to venture into the film locations for many of the Jurassic Films. But better yet, be a part of the backdrop of some other world famous movies and shows.
Check out this family fun Youtube video I edited of our time in Kualoa Ranch!
Hello Anthony,
Another beautiful, enticing vlog I always look forward to. You’re always informative and fun to read, light, quick, but in-depth at the same time with all the practical stuff. You inspired me to re-read at great Somerset Maugham’s “East and West” again – all his stories of his South seas travels, like Rain (aka Miss Sadie Thompson) and Mr. Know-all and especially “The Letter” the first and last are by far the very best and most entertaining but he’s got so much material and you are like him, one just like to drowns oneself in lovely, dreamy stories. You write. Your casual, instrospective comments and observations about different cultures are so interesting and give them a rounded edge that you feel you understand the place psychologically, not just physically. The Kiribati videos were especially so!
I just wanted to complement you on a fantastic Labour of love, well deserved kudos!
I hope to be able, somehow in this pandemic ridden BS world, to get out to the Pacific again this year. Haven’t been back in a decade! 😲I’m an offshore banking consultant with a long association with Nauru so I found the perfect writings in you to intrigue and keep me informed at the same time, your stories have a mix of information of practical value and all the instrospective beauty of a beautiful soul appreciating what can only be described as the place on earth where God outdid himself….well, there and in North Cyprus where I now live. If you’re ever in our part of the world, do please call on us, would love to meet you!
Meantime, keep the stories flowing and the travels going, we love them…much well-earned encouragement to you!
All best and all good wishes and success on your journeys.
Take good care and hear from you soon!
Your friend,
Tony (Antonio) , Cuban-born globetrotter, lived & grew up in America, Holland, all over UK and now in this lovely blessed Mediterranean isle of Northern Cyprus. If you,re ever here, “my villa es tu villa”.
Enhorabuena….
Aloha brother Tony,
What can I say other than this one defintly made my day, hell my month. This feedback I’ve gotten from you not only is helping to keep me motivated but to reassure my values and in what I can offer the travel world in not just showing this place and that place. But the love for asthetics in everything i everyone by as you said, “drowning” myself into a grand story. I’ll be quite honest man, this pandemic and just coming out of a hard relationship has really put me in a place of finding myself and reassessing my purpose in this world of travel, culture, and people. This comment has really have helped me get some perspective and I am super grateful for that. I am currently still on O’ahu appreciating the blessing to live amongst a strong tightnit culture ravaged by commercialism and an imperialistic mindset. Tough place to live but the challenge comes with a reward, and that reward has been hula and a brotherhood I am in. I don’t know what travel will look like for me when this pandemic is over, but I do sort of love the feeling of being beautifully lost only to be found.
Northern Cyprus is a wonderful place to be as it too is rich in culture, Turkish and Greek on the southern Side. Political divide I’m sure is tough but just makes for a unique experience to soak it all in and understand with your own eyes. Cyprus is in fact a place that’s been on my list for years. And when the time comes for me to make a visit, I’ll be sure to reach out to you guys.
Sending aloha and shine from my island to yours,
-Anthony