Can this just be my life please?
If you’re a regular around this blog, you know that my dream in life is to move to Hawaii. Alas, I’m stranded in the Canadian wilderness (and by wilderness I mean city) so I have to make due with celluloid sand and surf. Here are my favourite movies set in Hawaii in no particular order:
1. Blue Crush
Sanoe Lake (far right) was born in Kauai, which just hapens to be the island where I plan to live.
I saw Blue Crush when I was 13 and immediately hatched a plan to move to Hawaii after high school. My one regret in life is not doing exactly that. Personal history aside… Blue Crush is part of a rare and elusive movie genre: the feminist chick flick. Also, after watching Kate Bosworth’s stunt double surf giant waves, I like to ask everyone in sight (including cats) the ultimate question, “Do you think you can surf it for real?” DO YOU… DO YOU??? The movie is based on one of the best pieces of travel writing ever.
2. Lilo and Stitch
Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. I have a Stitch stuffed animal. He sits on my bookshelf and looks awesome. My cat has a crush on him. No big deal.
3. 50 First Dates
I know it’s a stupid Adam Sandler movie, but it’s a stupid Adam Sandler movie that makes me makes me cry. Every. Single. Time. She just can’t remember anything… gah… I want to eat fried Spam at the Hukilau Cafe and make waffle cabins with Drew Barrymore. EVERY MORNING.
4. The Descendants
My favourite movie of all time. So. Damn. Good.
5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
I saw this 5 times in the theatre (I was going through a bad breakup.) Forgetting Sarah Marshall is fucking funny. Mila Kunis is gorgeous. What more do you want?
6. Soul Surfer
Hercules on a surfboard!
This is a super cheesy biopic about Bethany Hamilton, a pro surfer who’s arm was severed in a shark attack when she was 14-ish. Ok… so real-life Bethany Hamilton is probably the toughest person alive, but this movie isn’t exactly good. HOWEVER, you get to see Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid and Hercules himself in the roles of ridiculously tanned parental surf rats. Also… there are some seriously over-emphasized Christian undertones that I find campy and hilarious. And Carrie Underwood (who’s a terrible actor btw) plays a youth minister. What? I know. Come for the scenery, stay for the so-terribly-cheesy-it-circles-back-to-good moment when Bethany realizes God has a plan for her (spoiler alert: God likes it when people get their arms bitten off by sharks.)
Anyways, those are my recommendations for visiting Hawaii from the comfort of your futon. Or couch, if you’re one of those people.
