Magnum P.I. Filming Locations - A Rubber Chicken Guide

[Pahonu]

oups ! Discovering this thread is both a bit it frustrating and really exciting !

I thought that the 1.5 version in the website was the last one, so, for myself, i was beginning to complete it with my little means…

… however, it is obvious that RC is far more qualified than a little frenchy that never been in Oahu ! (sob)

Thanks RC for discovering Wiki wiki club place ! i spent some hours trying locating it on the maps but all has changed so much in forty years...

Funny you mention 40 years. Magnum was tracking down 40 year old leads in the episode and now it’s you guys tracking down a location 40 years after the episode was made.

[Gorilla Mask]

You're Right Pahonu, i got that strange idea too while reviewing this great episode... Precisely when Judge Cain had his flashback getting across the street backyard aboard the ferrari...

... a really good moment with full of nostalgia... and now whe are in the same case, just 40 years after the filming.

When fiction joins reality...

[Gorilla Mask]

Hello,

Since i do not know where to post my findings, i will elect to adress it here. After all, this is the the dedicated RB guide topic which is surely the best place to discuss new hypothesis about filming locations!

Of course, the forum is a huge place, so some of my hypothesis should have been already discussed and disclosed for long elsewhere? in that case, let me know.

At first, i will evoke the (very short)airstrip you could see at the beginning end at the end of "The Black Orchid" (1.16).

I spent somme hours to see where it would better fit. Surely an old and abandoned airfield somewhere in Oahu. I was amazed to notice how many old USAF, Marines or US Navy old aistripes and airfields could be accounted at Oahu !

And i was leading on that good source:

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/HI/Air ... Oahu_N.htm

Scroll the page to the end and you will see pictures of Haleiwa old bitumen-coated airstrip. Il match pretty close the episode (his orientation; length, the proximity of the beachside and access tracks for cars... From Google Earth, You can spot the old emplacement of the wooden ACT for the approach SSW. You could barely see it from the episode prologue.

The fact that the filming team uses numerous spots in the vicinity tends to strengthened that hypothesis.

BTW, Haleiwa is an historical place. It is one of the few airstripes from where an handfull of US fighters did take off to retaliate against Kido Butai airplanes during the infamous Pearl Harbor attack.

Edit: this link to the GE satellite view pointing to this alleged position

https://ibb.co/fCsckrv

[Gorilla Mask]

regarding old Oahu abandoned military airstripes, i had now to mention Bellows airfiled.

It was badly attacked during Pearl harbor raid too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellows_Air_Force_Station

The nice beachside where TM meets Judge Caine in 'Least We Forget' (1.10) introduction was probably filmed on location at Bellows Recreation center, near what seems (to me) to be a semi natural breakwater:

http://hawaiibeachsafety.com/oahu/bellows-field-beach

Edit: i post this GE view to illustrate my guess

https://ibb.co/2hM2xtv

[Gorilla Mask]

Dead's Man Channel (9:57).

https://ibb.co/yyQCDQg

Here is Manoa Campus (University of Hawaii) where the above establishing shot of Prof. Martinez Office was taken.

https://www.kitv.com/story/33276007/uh- ... -beautiful

further edit of my post: below epiosde topic you can find some more informations found by EnsHealy concerning the map that Magnum finds on the Student's desk… Well, the remote Dead Man Channel appeared to be located just in the vicinity of Rabbit's Island, South-West coast of Oahu !

Here: http://magnum-mania.com/Forum/viewtopic ... 7&start=84.

[Gorilla Mask]

That time "Missing in Action" (episode 1.9).

Magnum will encounter strong opposition from Tobin, a deserter, former "Delta" CIA secret service agent, at:

102 North King Street, Chinatown, Honolulu.

1980 episode closeup: https://ibb.co/J33TzRd

2020 street view: https://ibb.co/k9xdxLs.

Well, the builiding front has not evolved much. It is a shop now (Wing Wha Jewelry).

[Gorilla Mask]

"Missing in action" again

The final scene (where Newton shots Tobin) was a piece of puzzling for me. Here are some clues:

https://ibb.co/ZKRv6VJ

An old rusting towing barge... You can see Honolulu freight harbor (silos and warehouses) in the background and also Ko'olau Range mountains chain on the horizon. Not much, will you say...

See these, now:

https://ibb.co/HB2KYRf
https://ibb.co/VgHRVS5
https://ibb.co/3fS7FQ1
https://ibb.co/y49yGQv

In these various action shots, you could see various green and greyish (and well maintained) hangars and builidings. On is particularily visible behind the (awfully yelling...) Rebecca Holden ! If you could deflect your glance from her ( ) you will see aircraft tails too (a C-47 and a F-102A). That might be a kind of USAF museum line up.

Then...

https://ibb.co/HxfwZPW

Final "sunset" ( ) wide angle shot... Newton is down, Tobin drank the broth, TM have Rebbeca's head on his shoulder ( ). You can seen an huge C-5 Galaxy from Military Airlift Command taxiing along a ramp to apron or takeoff. That could be only ONE ramp at HNL international airport... The Romeo Bravo RAMP that cross the water and reach 8L Runway.

Ok, ok, i summarize...

Considering these clues, here is my best guess:

https://ibb.co/86znN8n

Therefore, i think the final scene was filmed at, Hickam harbor, just South of the AF base. The area changed visibly a lot within a 40 years span of time ! I might be off, but not so much... did'nt I ?

[Gorilla Mask]

Another little addition concerning "Missing In Action".

Around 11:00-12:00 Laura and TM have a little meeting regarding Eric Tobin whereabouts and Vietnam war.

https://ibb.co/HqMDPgK

The building in the background is very distinctive. I seems to be Hale Koa hotel.

https://ibb.co/z5CdVQk

So, the place of the shooting is probably the lanes and access surrounding the beach fringes in front of Fort DeRussy Park:

https://ibb.co/1zpHW1N

Well at 200 yards more or less.

[Gorilla Mask]

"Least We forget" (1.10) again (great episode ! ).

While having a sandwich, TM is waiting for Judge Caine to exit the Hawaiian Regent Hotel (Waikiki beachfront)

https://ibb.co/DCs0sp9

Today, this hotel is the Marriot Spa&Resort. (Ohua Ave entrance)

https://ibb.co/nwJ6jLM

The parking lot is still there !

https://ibb.co/KLps0Kn

[Gorilla Mask]

"The Sixth Position" 2.10

Curiously the Famous Blaisdale Concert Hall was not listed in the RB filming location guide.

It was used as an establishing shot (just before TC escorts Miss Kendall 16:33)

https://ibb.co/f9GwRWV

And later at 36:37

https://ibb.co/sj3kkC7

This little oversight is now (easily, i have to admit it... ) corrected.

https://ibb.co/6y3Hkfb

For more about this famous concert place where Elvis performed in 1973 (it was known as the Honolulu International Center (HIC) at that time).

https://blaisdellcenter.com/venues/concert-hall/

Thanks for reading

[DavidB]

Noobie here- apologies in advance
Is Version 1.6 the latest for the Map Locations? I've downloaded Google Earth and get an error message when trying to open the Locations-
'This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action. please install an app or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Apps Settings page.'
Any help is appreciated!
Many thanks to RC for creating this and also to the Forum creators and Moderators. This is great fun- we just started watching the series, my wife grew up in Honolulu, her dad met the cast years ago, got some cool swag, and manages an old school property on Waikiki Beach where filming for this show and many others were done there and in the nearby park. My wife met TS when she was quite young, too.

[K Hale]

Noobie here- apologies in advance
Is Version 1.6 the latest for the Map Locations? I've downloaded Google Earth and get an error message when trying to open the Locations-
'This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action. please install an app or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Apps Settings page.'
Any help is appreciated!
Many thanks to RC for creating this and also to the Forum creators and Moderators. This is great fun- we just started watching the series, my wife grew up in Honolulu, her dad met the cast years ago, got some cool swag, and manages an old school property on Waikiki Beach where filming for this show and many others were done there and in the nearby park. My wife met TS when she was quite young, too.

Welcome! Please feel free to fill in more details on all of that!!!!

[Gorilla Mask]

"Bienvenue" DavidB too !

Any help/clues (especially from an Hawaiian confirmed resident ! ) would be appreciated !

[Gorilla Mask]

Back to "Don't eat the snow in Hawaïi", first part, for this one.

The following shots/scene was taken betwen Lanai Lookout and Kaloko beach (on the edge of Kalaniana'ole Highway):

https://ibb.co/MctvXPz

https://ibb.co/R9cYFCw

but where ?

I discarded it for long since the coast line is changing a lot with surf action and... even so... it was 40 years ago...

So here is my 'best guess' (of course, not absolutely sure)

https://ibb.co/pwDCpLH

https://ibb.co/jgTJBR3

As you can see, this is the only promontory i found with this little pile of rock/cliff on it. also, you could note that it could be a match from the camera viewpoint.

To be expertised... If we have a volunteer !

[Gorilla Mask]

And then a warp up to "2.13 The Jororo Kill"

That is a milk run (but i just can't afford to omit it ) to locate that little corner of "South France" seen in the establishing shots of the prologue...

https://ibb.co/0DPXV2G
https://ibb.co/HggjwJf

That seaside location is the well know Mediterranean city of Cannes (you can see the Notre Dame d'Espérance church at the foreground and the Old port and Gare maritime in the background). On the second shot, that palace is the (very famous) Intercontinental Carlton on Croisette Boulevard.

https://ibb.co/2ZZ5p9W
https://ibb.co/X3y4mq9
https://ibb.co/kSvDBh3

From the cars seen i would say the stock footage was taken around 1976-1980...

thanks for reading.