Written by on Nov 21, 2011. Posted in On Location

Quieter Hawaii locations satisfy Payne and George Clooney on The Descendants

Indie filmmaker Alexander Payne avoided the better-known areas of Hawaii when he scouted locations for his latest feature The Descendants, which stars George Clooney. Budgetary limitations played a role in the decision, but Payne was also struck by the landscapes on offer on Kaua’i.

In an interview with stltoday.com, Payne spoke of his experiences filming in Hawaii: “For budgetary reasons we scouted locations on Oahu (the island where Honolulu is located). But Kaua’i really is a distinct ecosystem that looks like nowhere else. So after we shot the scenes we needed in the city, all the equipment had to be put on barges and moved to the other island. The cost of filming on location made it my most expensive movie to date.”

So after we shot the scenes we needed in the city, all the equipment had to be put on barges and moved to the other island. The cost of filming on location made it my most expensive movie to date.

Alexander Payne, Filmmaker

“There is a Hawaiian film commission that was very helpful to us. The state offers tax incentives to producers and the new Governor has made a commitment to attract filmmakers. That's why things like Lost, Hawaii Five-0 and the latest Pirates of the Caribbean have been able to shoot there. Actually I lost a lot of crew members to that Pirates movie.”

Hawaii’s been a popular filming location for years and the massive success of Lost especially kept it firmly on the television map. The state’s been under pressure this year to increase its filming incentives in order to attract more studio development, but authorities are wary and a firm decision has been deferred until 2012.

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  • Mick Russom

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    Take a tour of the houses and filming locations in the movie The Descendants adapted from the book by Kaui Hart Hemmings.

    5160 Old Pali Road, Honolulu, HI
    This is the address on the living will for Elizabeth King. This address doesn't seem to actually exist.

    3849 Old Pali Road, Honolulu, HI 96817
    This is the address for the house Matt King is living in, where the pool is in the front, the cement/concrete pots in front, the flagstaff properties in the back (note the 2 extra mailboxes) and its on the corner of Old Pali Road and Gartley Place. http://g.co/maps/y5pw6

    155 Dowsett Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
    This is the address for the house Matt runs to, the place where Mark and Kai Mitchell are in the movie.

    4328 Papu Cir, Honolulu, HI 96816
    This doesnt have the turtle on it as it did in the movie. This is the address of Brian Speer where Elizabeth King was caught with Brian Speer by Alexandra King.

    55-202 Kamehameha Hwy Laie, HI 96762
    This the house across the street from Pounder Beach. Its where Mike King told the family he wasn't signing documents to transfer the estate from the King Family to Don Holitzer. Its owned by a group - Kikila Partners.

    3745 Maunaloa Ave Honolulu, HI
    This is where Lani and Barb Higgins lives and Scottie and Matt go to apologize to Lani.

    4420 Aukai Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816
    This is the house Brian Speer has for sale.

    130 Wailupe Cir, Honolulu, HI 96821
    I strongly suspect based on the views that this is Scott Thorson's house. The house in front says 130 Hale Aka'ula.

    Nalu Beach Cottage
    5032 Weke Rd, HANALEI , HI 96714
    This is the cottage Brian Speer is renting on the beach.

    Kipu Kai Beach
    The Descendants - Kauai Property - Kipu Kai Beach. This is the location of the bay view from the movie. This is the plot of land that the King family and cousins collectively own in trust and have the issue with trust in perpetuity.
    21.9117222222222, -159.389930555556
    21°54'42.20"N, 159°23'23.75"W

    Tahiti Nui
    5-5134 Kuhio Hwy Hanalei, HI 96714
    The bar in Hanalei.

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