LOST Tour: Gag Reel

Hurley's golf course marked the end of our KOS Tour of the Kualoa Ranch. Looking back it is hard to believe we packed so many stops into a mere two hours. I leave you now with a few shots that comprise our gag reel from that day.

First, witness the fear and the bravery of two rather tall Commonwealth lads as they take on The Island's fearsome Smoke Monster (and lose).

Fooled ya! That wasn't the real Smoke Monster, just a bit of blackened cotton coupled with KOS's award-winning ginormo-vision camerawork.

Below photo courtesy @kiwilostie

You'll need to look very carefully, but this polar bear isn't real either! How do they do it?!! And check out my look of subtle terror. Good thing I had a big strong Kiwi to protect me!

We were extremely fortunate that day to find an actual DHARMA van in the jungle. Against our tour guide's objections we recreated the scene where Sawyer & Jin give the van an initial push. So apparently these vans are prone to tipping and flipping. Who knew?

Below photo courtesy @kiwilostie

LOST Tour: Playing a Round on Hurley's Golf Course

One of many genius season 1 plot points is Hurley's creation of the "Island Open" golf course, first seen in the episode Solitary. Not only does it give the show a chance to showcase more of Oahu's natural splendor, but it also gives the characters an opportunity to relax, chill out, and have fun for the first time since their crash. The location was also featured in later episodes -- ...In Translation, Collision and the mobisode Jin Has a Temper-Tantrum on the Golf Course. The Oahu 4 were delighted to find the Island Protector himself there to welcome us.

Below photo courtesy @kiwilostie

Three of the Oahu 4, along with our guide, make their approach to Hurley's golf course.

The golf course is located at the far end of the Kualoa Ranch, close to open water. Imagine yourself standing on the golf course, facing the water -- the peaks below are to your front right, extending out to the water.

This would be the view looking back over your left shoulder. The distinctive row of palm trees can be seen in several scenes from the show.

Here I am getting into the swing of things. I am wearing Hurley green to honor the man and his chillin' dream.

Below photo courtesy @Lottery_Ticket

I'm not quite sure why the golf course warrants a sign while other iconic locations don't, but as Dan would say: whatever happened, happened.

This is the over-the-right-shoulder view down the valley from the course.

Below photo courtesy @kiwilostie

My putting game was dreadful that day, but I'm going to blame our tour guide who had only brought along an 8-iron.

Below photo courtesy @kiwilostie

This view looks out toward the water, slightly left of center. The two distinctive humps in the middle of the frame can be spotted in several scenes.

I didn't get a picture of the view directly down the valley, but here are a couple of screen caps which show that perspective.

My roommate @kiwilostie was overcome with giddy glee at the many awesome sights we experienced at the Kualoa Ranch.

LOST Tour: The Place Where Barry Smashed a Wine Bottle

With so many magical spots to choose from it's hard to pick a favourite from our tour of the Kualoa Ranch, but if pressed I just might choose this one, which I like to call "the place where Barry smashed a wine bottle." It is featured in the final scenes of the sterling season 6 episode Ab Aeterno, when Jacob and the Man in Black (Barry to his friends, of which he has none) reflect on newcomer Richard Alpert and discuss MIB's assassination attempt.

Below photo courtesy @kiwilostie

The LOST production team would have been hard pressed to find a more beautiful location -- no CGI work needed here!

My favourite photo of the Oahu 4. The MIB log is now gone (no doubt into some crazy LOST fan's collection) and in its place is a much less comfortable stump.

Be they real or fictional, everyone enjoys the breathtaking views across this part of The Island.

"Good brother, I gift you this nearly empty and somewhat rancid bottle of red wine to make amends for my outrageously awesome WIN earlier today."

In Jughead, Locke first sets eyes on the Others 1950s camp from a location very near MIB's log.

Below photo courtesy @Lottery_Ticket

The first photo is taken near MIB's log. Note the outline of the hills which also appear in the shot of Locke and Juliet.

The 1950s camp huddles in and around a strand of palm trees in the valley. Today the area is populated by udders rather than Others. (Ba-da-boom.)

It would have been cool to venture into the valley to see things from that perspective, but unfortunately we stuck to the high ground.

Of course busybody Locke couldn't resist striding into camp to visit his old (really old!) buddy Richard Alpert for the first time (kind of).


An ill-timed time jump separates the group from The Others and sends Charlotte ever closer to her demise. The drama continues into the first few minutes of The Little Prince.

We couldn't leave such an iconic location without performing a ritual first practiced by the ancient Egyptians -- planking.

Below photo courtesy @kiwilostie

This is a view not soon forgotten. It is one of the many reasons why we have to go back!