Exploring Kualoa Ranch, Oahu

Lea Ready to Roll
  On my circle island tours I drive past the huge Kualoa Ranch all the time, yet I have never ventured deeper into the ranch itself. There are several tours that allow you access to the ranch lands varying from movie location bus tours, to ATV tours, to horseback rides, and jungle vehicle tours. I knew that Lea is always on the lookout for famous movie locations so we jumped into the remodeled school bus for an hour long tour through Kualoa and Ka'awa Valley, or as I like to call it 'Jurassic Valley.'

Sugar Mill Ruins
WWII Bunker
  On the way to the movie locations we passed the ruins of the old sugar mill, hearing the story of how the 9 year old son of the plantation manager slipped and fell into one of the boiling vats of syrup back in the 1860's. We passed WWII pillboxes and a massive bunker that housed some rapid fire guns that could have aided in the defense of the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base.

ATV exploring

On the Set of Jurassic Park
  Back into Ka'awa Valley the scenery from so many movies unfurled around us. Perhaps the most famous scene filmed here was in Jurassic Park where Dr. Grant and the two kids are running away from a herd of dinosaurs and have to hide behind a big log. Well, the log is still there and we just had to jump out and get our picture taken next to it. As we were checking out scene an ATV tour buzzed by. It looked like it could also be a pretty fun way to explore the valley. The sides of the valley converged off in the distance at a mighty peak, which just so happens to be the same peak that "Mighty Joe Young" was found in the movie.
   We passed by old delapadated sets from Bruce Willis's 'Tears of the Sun', Windtalkers, Pearl Harbor, Lost, and Godzilla. On the way back down we had amazing views out over the Pacific and past Chinaman's Hat into Kaneohe Bay. Just then a horseback ride emerged out of the trees to pass in front of the picturesque offshore island. I can definitely see why this place was one of the most revered sacred places of old Oahu.
Chinaman's Hat

Horseback Riding in Hawaii

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