Hanalei Bay and the “Bali Hai” Mountains provided the scenic backdrop for “South Pacific”.

hen I first saw the movie, "South Pacific", I remember thinking: "Wow, I could live there." Beautiful white sand beaches, tropical plateaus looking over a beautiful azure Pacific bay surrounded by mist-shrouded mountains – and of course, the mystical island of "Bali Hai" beckoning in the background. I assumed that this magical place was on the island of Bali, Indonesia. Turns out it's much more accessible than that. When Hollywood directors are seeking a lush, tropical, exotic location, chances are they'll hop a plane to Kauai.

Exotic flowers.

It's not hard to figure out why more than 50 major productions have been shot here since Hollywood discovered the natural beauty of the island. Kauai is a place of jaw-dropping splendour. From the dramatic, starkly eroded cliffs of the Na Pali Coast to the mist-shrouded "Bali Hai" mountains of Hanalei Bay to the miles of coral-reef ringed white sand beaches, Kauai would be a finalist in any "piece of land surrounded by water" beauty contest.

Its charms are not just to be gawked at, but rather experienced. The island offers some of the world's most spectacular hiking trails through "grand" canyons, majestic waterfalls, tropical forests, gardens and wildlife refuges. Some of the best golf courses in America are here. The rivers and ocean are a watersport playground.

Star-gazing

Bird of Paradise.

The first step on the scavenger hunt for familiar movie locations is to pick up the free Kauai Official Map Guide from the Visitors Bureau. Along with points of interest and suggested one-, two- or three-day itineraries, the map uses a "camera-action" symbol to label film locations on the island. The numbered symbols correspond with film titles on the right side of the map.

As soon as you touch down at Lihue Airport on the southeast shore, you're at one of the locations used for "Honeymoon in Vegas" and "Six Days, Seven Nights". A scenic 20-minute drive from the airport leads to Wailua Falls. These falls were featured in the opening credits of the television show "Fantasy Island", just before Tattoo would shout: "Da plane, da plane!"

Wailua Falls provided the scenery for the opening credits of "Fantasy Island".

Thirty minutes southwest of Lihue is the Poipu Beach area. It boasts some of the best snorkelling and watersport sites on the island as well as great golfing and horseback riding. A must-see is the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Not only will you see stunningly beautiful tropical flowers and plants, but also the Allerton Gardens have been a location for five major Hollywood productions including "Jurassic Park".

The Wailua area on the central east coast is not to be missed. Ricky Nelson and Jack Lemmon sailed "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" up Wailua River. Elvis Presley got married near here in "Blue Hawaii". Today, Lydgate Park offers some of the most sheltered swimming and snorkelling on the island. It's a favourite for families. One of the most popular kayaking and hiking sites is along the lush scenery of the Wailua River. This area is also well known for its abundance of Hawaiian historical sites.

And the award goes to...

Kilauea Lighthouse stands ever-vigilant on the beautiful northern coast of Kauai.

The north shore of Kauai is arguably the most scenic area in all of the Hawaiian Islands. Majestic mountains, lush rolling fields, and great beaches make it well worth a visit. Mitzi Gaynor sang "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" on the shores of Lumahai Beach in "South Pacific". At least a dozen major Hollywood films have been shot in the vicinity. The Princeville Hotel is an elegant place to stay, or stop for lunch to enjoy a knockout view of Hanalei Bay and the "Bali Hai" mountains. The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a great spot for watching seabirds in their natural habitat. Kayaking the Hanalei River is a unique way to see the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.

Na Pali Coast State Park provided the exotic location for films such as "Six Days, Seven Nights", "King Kong" and "Jurassic Park". As there are no roads here, access is more difficult. If you want a physical challenge, there are hiking trails or you can kayak along the coast. Otherwise, there are helicopter and boat tours.

Whether you're a film buff or just looking for a variety of activities in a beautiful setting, Kauai is an island that's sure to please.

Air Canada and a number of charter airlines offer non-stop service from various Canadian gateways to Honolulu and Maui from which Hawaiian Airlines offers over 1100 inter-island flights per week between the four major islands. For reservations or information, call 1.800.367.5320 or log onto www.hawaiianair.com. For more information on Kauai, call the Kauai Visitors Bureau at 1.800.262.1400 or visit www.kauaivisitorsbureau.org. For information on the Princeville Resort, call 1.800.325.3589 or log onto www.princeville.com.

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