16 March 2019

O'ahu HI, USA



 
The television series CHARLIE’S ANGELS was a big hit in the 1970s. The main characters were three female detectives working for the Townsend Agency. They have never seen their employer, Charles "Charlie" Townsend. He gives all assignments by telephone, linked to a speaker, and is assisted by John Bosley.

Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:04:30
The second season opened with a double episode, "Angels in Paradise", first broadcasted in the US on 14 September 1977. In syndication and on dvd it is shown in two parts. Because Jill Munroe (Farrah Fawcett-Majors) has left the agency, Sabrina Duncan (Kate Jackson) and Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith) are introduced to a new colleague: her sister Kris (Cheryl Ladd). She can show off her skills immediately when Charlie (voice of John Forsythe) is abducted during a vacation in Hawaii. The location shoot was made in June 1977 on the island of O'ahu.

The Angels and Bosley (David Doyle) leave for Honolulu to look for Charlie and are instructed to stay at the Royal Hawaiian. This pink painted hotel is located on Waikiki Beach and was opened in 1927. From the street side, Kalākaua Avenue, it is possible to walk through the hotel to the beach, also for non-guests. The hotel can be seen several times in the episode, both from the street side and from the beach.

Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:08:13
Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, 9 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:09:03
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, 9 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:17:27
Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, 9 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:17:38
Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, 9 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 2, 0:08:30
Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, 9 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 2, 0:08:38
Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, 9 June 2017

The kidnappers of Charlie ask the Angels and Bosley to come to Waimanalo Beach, located in the southeast of O’ahu. While they are waiting on the beach, a young woman emerges from the sea. She introduces herself as Leilani Sako (France Nuyen) and says that she wants to hire the Angels to free her husband from prison. To make sure they accept the assignment, she kidnapped Charlie. Leilani departs as she came and dives into the sea.

Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:11:46
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:12:16
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:13:33
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:13:34
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:13:49
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:15:22
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:15:27
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017

A second meeting with Leilani later in the episode is set on the same beach. Some local Hawaiians are having a party, one of them invites Kelly to dance.

Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 2, 0:38:16
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 2, 0:38:40
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017

On Waikiki Beach, Kelly encounters two of Leilani’s henchmen. They want to know what the Angels are up to. With the help of other men on the beach, she manages to get rid of them. The Royal Hawaiian can be seen in the background.

Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:28:53
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:29:09
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:30:05
Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, 11 June 2017

Another meeting with the kidnappers takes place at the Tantalus Lookout, a view point overlooking Honolulu. As the information board indicates, the view and landscape of South O'ahu have changed but the landmarks remain the same, such as the volcano crater Diamond Head that can be seen behind Kris.

Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:42:57
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:43:20
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:43:31
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:43:40
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:44:36
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 2, episode 1, 0:44:48
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017






In the fifth and final season of the series a new Angel is introduced, Julie Rogers (Tanya Roberts). Five episodes are set in Hawaii where the Townsend Agency now also has an office.

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, 11 June 2017
In the US, these episodes were shown in December 1980 and January 1981. I saw these episodes after our trip to Hawaii. Filming on location was done in various places, some of which we also visited and some locations from the episode "Angels in Paradise" can be seen again. Note that the home of Leilani Sako is now the office of the agency. The Hawaiian islands remain a popular destination for movies and television series, according to the Internet Movie Database (retrieved on March 14, 2019) almost 3,000 productions were filmed here.

The episode "Angels of the Deep" revolves around a sunken boat full of drugs. Two scenes are set at the Tantalus Lookout. The first two screenshots include guest actor Sonny Bono.

Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 4, 0:19:49
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 4, 0:33:24
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 4, 0:33:43
Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017

In "Island Angels" the Angels go undercover at Club Ahola Resort, looking for a potential assassin. These scenes were filmed at Turtle Bay Resort in the north of O’ahu, still a popular hotel and often used for filming.

Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 5, 0:11:43
Turtle Bay Resort, O'ahu, 12 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 5, 0:19:47
Turtle Bay Resort, O'ahu, 13 juni 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 5, 0:25:42
Turtle Bay Resort, O'ahu, 13 June 2017

Waimanalo Beach is one of the locations in "Waikiki Angels". The Angels go undercover as a lifeguard.

Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 6, 0:15:05
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu, 11 June 2017

The Royal Hawaiian and the nearby Diamond Head can be seen again in "Hula Angels". The hotel seems to have been repainted as compared to the screenshots of season 2.

Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 7, 0:19:06
Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, 11 June 2017
Charlie's Angels, season 5, episode 7, 0:22:02
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, 9 June 2017


Tantalus Lookout, Honolulu, 10 June 2017


Screenshots © Spelling-Goldberg Productions/Sony Pictures Television