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

[Gorilla Mask]

Hi Everyone,

Let's get back to « No need to know – 1.5 ».

It took me some time and research to find this one.

At 19:30, Magnum, with Rick's help, broke into Samson's bungalow and is reached thereafter by American CIA agents.

Since i am not an Hawaïan native or resident, i called this one the « mysterious bungalow ». The only hint you've given, in that episode, is that Samson (IRA's operative) hide somewhere at … Waikiki...

… strange place for a covered terrorist, indeed...

here are the screen shots....

https://ibb.co/Lzj3Z4B
https://ibb.co/CMc0d8Y
https://ibb.co/89LWHd4
https://ibb.co/3sm6fcD
https://ibb.co/ByfVZXW
https://ibb.co/kSHZTkG
https://ibb.co/RTrhnYh
https://ibb.co/8zQyyqy

No wide angle shot, so not easy to spot...

… especially if you consider it was filmed 40 years ago...

From my knowledge, there was one main hotel at Waikiki directly opened to beachfront with bungalows complex at that time.

Pay attention to these two pictures :

one from the episode (again)

https://ibb.co/Lzj3Z4B

The other, an old 1930 postcard...

https://ibb.co/0QW2K8s

Yes you got it ! Same stairs, same stone basement and first floor opening, windows, stairs railing, flowerbeds from each side, roof rafter...

That is one of the bungalows blocks from the mythical and well known (forever gone, it was torn down and rebuilt in the early 80's...) ol' Halekulani Hotel.

From that shot, i guess it is the left side bungalow complex (when you're staring at the main house of the hotel from the parking/road).

I was not able to pin the accurate filming location for the « break into » scene on that old 1957 Hotel plan (direct seaside balcony ; 'coffee' terrace with palmtrees ?). However i materialized what seems to be the establishing shot traveling with this little red curved line.

https://ibb.co/k2TStD7

Again, not a real smoking gun, but i might not be so far. Any help ?

Thanks for reading !

EDIT nov. 15 2020.

In order to note the whooping and drastic evolution of waikiki beach front, i post this comparison between a USCG 1952 plane view where i underline Halekulani Hotel bungalows zone and today google earth view... 'concrete walling' aside, you can see that the beaches shrinked by a significant measure.

https://ibb.co/mzNNFzQ

Here is also a 1968 bird eye shot.

https://ibb.co/JvhQ9tS

Sometimes progress doesn't mean better welfare or environmental conservation ...

bye.

[Gorilla Mask]

Then, 2.4: From Moscow to Maui".

This one was much more easy...

Have you noticed the location Where Yuri Dolgov kicked the trash bins with anger ?

https://ibb.co/b58H1Jh
https://ibb.co/KqKgjWX

Well, that was there, at Kaiser's High School (at Hawai Kai, not far from Lanai lookout), near the Cafeteria...

https://ibb.co/4ZvfCYs
https://ibb.co/YRgk2tc

[Gorilla Mask]

Another 'easy going' but since it was not listed in RC guide...

again 2:4 – From Moscow to Maui

watch to these two scenes during Nina's escape attempt (that lead to Yuri's Rapture by KGB... ).

At 24 :42 : Magnum tried to temper Dolgov's fierce blood : « Just don't kick anything »

https://ibb.co/9hzkzNr

At 30:58 : «  The escape attemps failed miserabily : « Halt, i am the detective of the Hotel : »

https://ibb.co/3YnTQyQ

Of, course the (really very complete) episodes guide, on the website, identify this (very noticeable) place as the « Kuilima Hyatt Resort Hotel «  on the North Shore of Oahu.

https://ibb.co/bH7M1t4

Today this location is known as the "Turle bay resor"t. The Hotel/Casino/leisure resort complex was built in 1972 and renovated in 2015.

https://ibb.co/wQHrqDJ
https://ibb.co/2hQ5Xch

You could find a brief history of this (while modern architecure) obviously very entertaining place.

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

Thanks for reading.

[Gorilla Mask]

2.14 "Computer Date"

Not one of my favourite episode at all (except for Hillerman spinned off story).

Two locations here:

Global laser corporation street view

https://ibb.co/pdFG5qH

This is Fort Street Mall, near the Harbor, Downtown Honolulu. That is a pedestrian street now !

https://ibb.co/L6nZkb8
https://ibb.co/cc2FWJF

The building is now occupied by several business whose you could come upon Oceanit, an engeeeniring/science/ innovation corporation... Hope their computers/networks are much more protected than in that episode !!

That aerial view from towards Waikiki (ferrari's ride) is taken from Kualakaua Avenue,

https://ibb.co/99N5r7Q

... just past the Louise Dilingham Memorial Fountain

https://ainalaahawaii.blogspot.com/2016 ... ntain.html

Again, thanks for reading

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

2.14 "Computer Date"

Not one of my favourite episode at all (except for Hillerman spinned off story).

Two locations here:

Global laser corporation street view

https://ibb.co/pdFG5qH

This is Fort Street Mall, near the Harbor, Downtown Honolulu. That is a pedestrian street now !

https://ibb.co/L6nZkb8
https://ibb.co/cc2FWJF

The building is now occupied by several business whose you could come upon Oceanit, an engeeeniring/science/ innovation corporation... Hope their computers/networks are much more protected than in that episode !!

That aerial view from towards Waikiki (ferrari's ride) is taken from Kualakaua Avenue,

https://ibb.co/99N5r7Q

... just past the Louise Dilingham Memorial Fountain

https://ainalaahawaii.blogspot.com/2016 ... ntain.html

Again, thanks for reading

Hi, Gorilla

Just a note - your Fort Street Mall pic is looking the other way, away from the Aloha Tower. In the episode where Magnum is driving his Ferrari in that spot (which is now for walking only) you can see the Aloha Tower in the back, so we're looking towards the Aloha Tower. In your pic you don't see the Tower in the back. In fact I think the pic you posted is on the other side of Nimitz Hwy, whereas the Ferrari was on the side closer to the Aloha Tower. In other words, in the episode if we're coming from the Aloha Tower the Ferrari is BEFORE Nimitz Hwy. In your pic it's AFTER Nimitz Hwy.

[Gorilla Mask]

'Privet', Ivan

Oops, you should be right... I will check it out...

[Gorilla Mask]

Thanks, Ivan i checked it out. The 'maps' pic i posted was taken from merchant street, so, from that point, we are actually looking towards Aloha Tower. The fact is that the monument is hidden behind dense foliage.

Here is another shot, but i can't get a better perpective from 'maps', sorry.

https://ibb.co/FwvxWvw

Edit: Actually i still have a doubt... The area might have change a lot in forty years... In the episode shot, the Ferrari seems much more closer to Aloha Tower but that could be a camera "depth of field" effect. I am not photograph, so... (only a little lawyer ...)

... On 'Maps' (today) the only filming location match is the Ferrari coming from Queen Street, turning gently, right hand, on Fort Mall Street... And besides, you're right, that is AFTER Nimitz Highway, not BEFORE... Quite puzzling...

Today, from that perspective/angle, there is no closer street 'framed' with builidings in both sides, closer to Aloha Tower... Than obviously can't be Walker Park or Aloha Twr Driveway... Any clue ?

... Also; another hint: you could see, on the episode's shot, the concrete pillars of the building that match the style and type shown on the pic taken in 2020...

Well, that is the interest of that kind of search... backed up in time 40 years ago !

Thanks again, tovarishch

[Gorilla Mask]

This is quite annoying...

'Maps' is quite limited, but i post these pics taken from different points, still from that line of sight:

These, from Ala Moana Blvd

https://ibb.co/88H0gwt
https://ibb.co/p2NjJGt

And Those from Queen st.

https://ibb.co/Lh7vL5d
https://ibb.co/6RF0k7Y

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

I see, so that pic was the corner of Merchant and Fort Mall St. looking towards the Aloha Tower. That means the tower is quite a bit in the distance behind the foliage. In the episode of course it looks like the tower is almost right behind the Ferrari. But like you said, it might have something to do with depth perception in the camera. Looking at those pillars you mentioned (between Merchant and Queen streets, along Fort Mall St.) it does look like a match with what's shown in the episode. I noticed that there are no pillars like that in the area right in front of the Aloha Tower, before Nimitz Hwy, if we're walking away from the tower.

Dosvedanya, and no more school-boy tricks, ok?

[terryfromkerry]

Really enjoy this great tread . Terrific contributions by everyone . Kudos Ivan for staying in character while you signed off .............. "Dosvedanya, and no more school boy tricks, ok ?" . Classic MPI !

[Gorilla Mask]

Bonjour Terry,

If our little researchs (once may call it some kind of monomania ! ) could add ot the community, then, that is great !

Yes, Ivan, your character playing is 'chilling' ! ... Ok, i won't do any other school boy tricks, i promess... a least, until sunrise.....

[Gorilla Mask]

Here we resume out little 'Waikiki hotels and resorts' tour...

In the episode «2.14- Computer Date » i wanted to find the palace where Claudia Randolph had her tender dates with the unfortunate, still romantic, Rick (roughly at 11:00)...

https://ibb.co/ggTM2LH
https://ibb.co/ftc2jGs
https://ibb.co/PYPH9yp

The answer should have been obvious... for a resident on location ! Believe it or not, it took me some time to find out that it was the well known Hyatt Regency, (Uluniu Av. Drive Entrance).

https://ibb.co/7jKHykr
https://ibb.co/dGZx1Xx
https://ibb.co/DVDvPyC

Definitively not my favourite Luxury Hotel. However, i have to admit the inner hall water fall was quite impressive for its days.

https://ibb.co/0rZMggH

The 'twin towers' (Ewa and Diamond's Head Twr) are quite impressive too... But , besides the luxurious features it provides, that is still concrete 'big bunkers' from the 60/70's, IMO...

https://ibb.co/6tgTzLd

Thanks for reading !

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Yep, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki is a very unique and easy identifiable hotel, from its twin towers to its distinct entrance and lobby. In fact I stayed there in 2018 on my 2-week visit to O'ahu. Love it! My favorite Waikiki hotel! That waterfall is still there too!

If you watch the original Hawaii Five-O you'll see that this hotel magically pops up around season 9 (1976-1977) - that's around the time it was built. In the earlier seasons prior to that you don't see those twin towers anywhere in Waikiki. So at the time of MAGNUM filming this was still a very new hotel.

[Gorilla Mask]

Spacibo Ivan For pointing out these details. Yes, one of my question was if the awesome waterfall was still standing. Good news it is still there !

The interior of the Hyatt Regency seems really oustanding luxury ! You should have spent a very good and entertaining time there ! However, i still have a little pinch at the heart thinking about ol' Alekulani bungalows... It was definitively my favorite. But i would need to visit Waikiki during the 1930-1980 era to see it... Well i do not have H.G. Wells Time Machine, so...

To be continued...

[Gorilla Mask]

In The episode 1.15 – Don't Say goodbye , Rubber Chicken's Guide do not mention the well known Hanauma Bay Lookout, where Magnum meets Frank Larue , the blackmailer (about 12:10).



https://ibb.co/bLvyRmr
https://ibb.co/YdRztsS
https://ibb.co/QN45CJR


Of course, the touristic Belvedere has changed so much that it is barely recognizable today.

https://ibb.co/5nDnrDv