Visit Hawaii Five-0 on Location

The new Hawaii Five-0 television series is making a splash across the nation with an all-new cast bringing Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin), Danno (Scott Caan), and Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim) back to the islands. They’re joined by Kona Kalakaua (Grace Park) and an occasional appearance by Jean Smart, who plays the part of Hawaii’s governor. Visitors to Oahu can add some famous filming locations from vintage 5-0 and the new 2010 series to their itinerary.

Diamond Head – The location of the intelligence command center where McGarrett met with Jonathan Kaye in “The Jinn Who Clears the Way.” The tunnel shown in this episode is real enough, but what’s really inside the crater? Only a few government establishments such as the FAA and the state-run Civil Defense. This same tunnel was used in countless other episodes, including “30,000 Crooked Miles to Honolulu.”

Punchbowl Cemetery – Also known as the National Cemetery of the Pacific, it was seen in the opening of each classic episode. The cemetery appeared in the current season as the resting place of Steve McGarrett’s slain father.

Kahala Hotel and Resort Oahu – The only hotel on Oahu with a swim-with-dolphins experience, the resort appeared in the pilot episode when McGarrett gifted Danno and his daughter with a three-night stay. Rumor has it that the resort will appear in future episodes as well.

Ilikai Hotel Waikiki – Jack Lord can be seen at the beginning of each classic episode standing at the top of the Ilikai. Several classic episodes featured scenes filmed at the Ilikai — most notably “Bomb, Bomb, Who’s Got the Bomb?”

Iolani Palace – Home base to the Hawaii 5-0 force both in the classic version and the remake, viewers see the exterior of the palace, but the interior shots are filmed on set at a different location. In reality, the interior of the palace is a museum honoring its former royal residents.

–Kris Bordessa of Honolulu On The Cheap and Big Island On The Cheap