Naman Shrestha
With Seth Jarrett at the helm, Hallmark’s ‘Aloha Heart’ is a romantic drama movie that follows a conservationist named Sara, who packs her bags and travels to Hawaii to attend her best friend’s wedding ceremony in the hope of having a relaxing and enjoyable vacation. However, she finds herself busy preparing for the wedding soon after she reaches the venue. When Sara meets Manu, the new hotel manager, she has several suggestions for bettering the hotel and making it more sustainable.
However, Manu takes Sara’s overzealous approach the wrong way. Despite getting off the wrong foot, as the wedding approaches, they realize they are kindred spirits and make a perfect team. Unexpectedly, love blossoms between the two as they dream of making the world a better place. The story unfolds in Hawaii against the picturesque backdrop of the hills and open waters, making the viewers wonder whether ‘Aloha Heart’ was actually shot on location.
Aloha Heart Filming Locations
‘Aloha Heart’ was filmed entirely in Hawaii, specifically on the island of O’ahu. According to reports, principal photography for the rom-com commenced in April 2023 and wrapped up in a month or so, in May of the same year. Now, let’s not waste time and get a detailed account of all the specific locations that appear in the Hallmark movie!
Oʻahu, Hawaii
The island of O’ahu, also known as The Gathering Place, served as the primary production location for ‘Aloha Heart.’ In particular, most of the pivotal sequences for the movie were lensed in Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, located along the southeast coast of O’ahu. They set up camp in and around The Kahala Hotel And Resort at 5000 Kahala Avenue and renamed it Hale HoAloha Resort for the Hallmark romance.
Apart from the capital, ‘Aloha Heart’ features the locales of the census-designated place of Waimānalo and the Makapuʻu area, which mainly comprises beaches as it sits on the extreme eastern end of the island. Furthermore, the 4,000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch, Kualoa Ranch, served as another prominent filming site for the romantic movie. Besides being a tourist attraction, the ranch is a popular production location with three valleys — Kaʻaʻawa, Kualoa, and Hakipuʻu.
In the backdrop of several sequences of the movie, you can spot the rolling hills, rocky waterfalls, and sandy beaches, all typical of Hawaii. The setting not only provides a picturesque backdrop but also plays a key and central role in the movie. Besides ‘Aloha Heart,’ O’ahu has hosted the production of numerous film projects, including ‘The Wrong Missy,’ ‘Aloha,’ ‘Blue Crush,’ ‘Running for Grace,’ and ‘Love, for Real.’
Aloha Heart Cast
In the Hallmark movie, Taylor Cole essays the character of Sara. Throughout her acting career, Cole has bagged several leading roles in other Hallmark movies, including ‘Long Lost Christmas,’ ‘Pumpkin Everything,’ ‘Ruby Herring Mysteries,’ and ‘One Winter Wedding.’ Moreover, you might know her from several TV shows, such as CBS’ ‘Salvation,’ ‘CSI: Miami,’ The CW’s ‘The Originals,’ NBC’s ‘The Event,’ and The WB’s ‘Summerland.’ Starring opposite Cole is Kanoa Goo, who portrays Manu, the hotel manager.
The Hawaiian actor is best recognized for his work in CBS’ ‘Fire Country‘ and ABC’s ‘The Rookie.’ He also appeared in ‘I Was A Simple Man,’ which was dubbed as one of the best movies of 2021 by the New Yorker. Apart from the leading pair, ‘Aloha Heart’ features other actors who play supporting roles, including Olivia Nicole Hoffman (Lydia), Sasha Dominy (Tessa), Jordan Matlock (Michael), Micah Minh Miyashiro (Young Manu), Camille Claire Senseman (Cait), and Peter Togawa (Kimo).
Read More: Where Was Hallmark’s The Wedding Contract Filmed? Who is in the Cast?
