Getting lost on Oahu itself
From BearWiki
Confirmed: Bear is on Oahu in the Desert Island episode -- Specifically, Kualoa Ranch and Kawela Bay.
After some extensive research, the filming location for the desert island location and the "arrival" sequence have been found: Kawela Bay and Kualoa Ranch.
A tip that Kualoa might be involved came from the Lifesong Adventures site (Lifesong Adventures provided the consultants for this ep and the Sierra ep)[1]:
"and I would like to thank Mike and Jennifer of Kualoa Ranch"
Kualoa Ranch, which borders one of the islands seen in the intro, is a beautiful Oahu vacation spot full of tours and activities which advertises itself with, "Kualoa has been considered from ancient times to be one of the most sacred places in Oahu. Learn about our history and natural beauty."[2]. It is so close (about a thousand feet) from the Mokulii (the intro island) that the island dominates the Kualoa Ranch logo.
A search of pictures from the ranch quickly revealed it as the site of the intro. However, the beach was nowhere to be found in Kualoa. But a careful scan along Oahu's northern coast picked it up: Kawela Bay. According to to-hawaii.com[3]:
"Kawela Bay is one of the most secluded beaches on Oahu. It is located near Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of the island. This beach is so hidden that while there you will hardly notice any people, which makes it a perfect getaway if you want to escape from the busy and crowded beaches. Here you can completely unwind, bathe in the warm water or go on a peaceful stroll and enjoy the waves gently splashing on your toes.
The sandy beach is narrow and it is bordered by a tropical forest. Watch out for falling coconuts! If you want to swim, snorkel or scuba dive, Kawela Bay is perfect for that. The western part of the bay where the houses are is better for swimming because it has fewer reefs. But don’t go too close to the houses because it is a gated community.
The water at Kawela Bay is calmer in the summer. If you visit in the winter, have in mind that the waves on the North Shore are big and can be dangerous. There are no facilities and no lifeguards here, but just natural beauty that is worthy to be seen."
For a video shot from the bay, check out this.[4]
Now, what is this hotel that Bear stayed in in the middle of this ep? We can't say for certain. However, there is a hotel just one mile away, and the second nearest hotel is almost 20 miles away, so it seems a safe bet that he stayed in the near one[5]. And what sort of primitive conditions does this "Turtle Bay Resort" provide? Let's check their website[6]:
"Set on 880 ocean-front acres of the legendary North Shore, Turtle Bay Resort is the only true full-service luxury resort on the island of Oahu. Its natural, unspoiled beauty can be found at every turn. Five miles of pristine beaches and 12 miles of ocean trails await you. At every turn you're literally surrounded by the history and majesty of the island. It's the Hawaii vacation many have hoped for but few have discovered. This is Turtle Bay Resort. This is True Hawaii."
"Resort suites: Our collection of suites includes the Pikake Jr. Suite, Ilima Suite, Maile Suite, and the Ali'i Presidential Suite. Each feature unobstructed ocean views and private lanais to the let the outdoors in. Wireless internet access and telephone data ports keep you connected at all times.
Beach Cottages: Exquisite attention to detail is the signature of the Beach Cottages, located ocean front on the west side of Turtle Bay. You are greeted by handsomely dressed exteriors in imperial yellow with copper flashing. Inside the cottages, Brazilian walnut floors, 15-foot ceilings and large marble baths do their best to divert your attention from the stunning ocean views. With the services of a Ho'okipa (exclusive cottage concierge), you feel as if you are in your own private island home.
Luxury Ocean Villas: Each elegantly furnished with a masterful blend of luxury and elegance, the Ocean Villas are unsurpassed by anything that the island of Oahu has ever seen in oceanfront resort accommodations. Enjoy exclusive amenities such as access to a private courtyard, dedicated pool and Jacuzzi for guests of the Ocean Villas only. For dinner, a Private Chef is available for parties of two or more. Enjoy the finest contemporary cuisine as your Private Chef prepares a 4-course meal right in the comfort of your luxury Ocean Villa. The incomparable luxury Ocean Villas, available in studio, three or four bedrooms, overlook Kuilima Beach Cove."
For video, check out "Man vs Wild: Desert Island Loser" locally (top quality, slow, OGG Theora, high quality, slow, AVI, or mid quality, fairly slow, MOV) or on YouTube (low quality, fast, streaming).
Update: the hotel search doesn't reveal it, but there's also a small beachhouse that they could have been stayed at. No less luxurious, mind you.
Update 2: The rock climb scene and bottle-finding scene can be found at 21.16.53N, 151.40.38W, in Cockroach Cove (also known as the beach of the love scene in "From Here to Eternity") and surrounding coastline -- a formation known as the China Walls, and covered with regular parking lots for the lookout points.
Update 3: The location is confirmed in an interview.
Update 4: The following comments have recently been posted on the YouTube expose of this episode:
"I saw this episode with my husband and kids and recognized Kawela Bay. We started laughing about him heading to Lei Lei's restaurant, a short walk away so he wouldn't starve." -- AlohaColorado
"Yes I know for a fact this episode is staged. I went to the kualoa ranch last weekend. I talked to one of the tour guides and he was talking about this being filmed there. He said that they had to shut down the ranch while it was being taped, and that some of the people that worked at the ranch built his raft for him!" -- Kittikat 2381
"I work at Kualoa ranch and this guys show shut down half the ranch just so no one would see him film in this "remote" location. then he made my boss and some other employees fill his bamboo raft with foam so it float right. What A DDD!" -- deathstarloser
