This is how Halona Cove looks today. It seems smaller in person that it did in the movie, "From Here to Eternity".
One of the most recognizable movie scenes of all time is the kiss on the beach scene in “From Here to Eternity”. Despite growing up in Hawaii, I never knew that the scene was filmed on Oahu. Not only that, but it was filmed on a beach that I have driven past hundreds of times over the years. The beach in the movie scene is Halona Cove, which is a tiny cove tucked beneath the highway that snakes along the scenic Makapuu coast on the south shore of Oahu. It shares the same parking lot as the more famous “Blow Hole” which is always crowded with tourists. Few people bother to hike down the hill to the beach. But if you do, this is what it looks like from ground level.
And this is what it looked like in the movie over half a century ago. It’s funny how much bigger the beach looks in the movie. In real life, it’s a really small beach!
So next time you happen to be driving along the Makapuu coast on your way to Sandy Beach, the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail, Sea Life Park or anything on the south shore, be sure to check out Halona Cove. You’ll be standing on a piece of Hollywood history!
